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TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Miller, Drillers stage comeback

August 11, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The Tulsa Drillers and the Midland RockHounds staged a slugfest Saturday night in the opening game of a 3-game series at Citibank Ballpark. Midland threw the first big punch, but Tulsa threw the last one. The RockHounds took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and a carried a 7-5 lead into the eighth when the Drillers scored three times and eventually posted a 9-7 victory.

The win moved the Drillers to within 2.5 games of first-place Springfield in the North Division standings. It also put them 2.5 games in front of Arkansas in the race for a possible wild card spot in the Texas League playoffs.

Tulsa's three runs in the eighth all scored with two outs. With the score at 7-5, the Drillers had runners at first and second thanks to a pair of walks. Matt Miller tied the game with a double into the gap in right-center field, his third hit of the game, that plated both runners. Duke Sardinha followed with a base hit that scored Miller to give the Drillers their first lead.

They added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Jonathan Herrera led off with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Rifkin.

Midland's big first inning came against Samuel Deduno. The RockHounds had only three hits in the frame but took advantage of four walks and an error to take a 6-0 lead and chase Deduno from the game after only 1/3 of an inning.

Tulsa's comeback began in the top of the second as Jordan Czarniecki led off with a single. After stealing second base, he scored on a base hit by Matt Macri who then scored on a double by Miller. A ground out later in the inning by Jonathan Herrera brought Miller home to make it 6-3.

After the RockHounds added their seventh run in the bottom of the second, Miller produced a two-run single in the top of the third to make it 7-5.

The game remained 7-5 until the eighth inning, as the two bullpens halted the offenses.

Four different Tulsa hurlers allowed only two hits over the final six innings. Adam Bright worked a pair of scoreless innings, and Jarrett Grube pitched a scoreless sixth inning. After Juan Morillo blanked the Hounds in the seventh and eighth innings, closer Steven Register pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to collect his Texas League-leading 34th save. Morillo gained the win to improve his record to 6-4.

Miller finished 3-4 with 5 runs batted in, tying a season high for the Drillers. Chris Frey added a pair of hits, and Christian Colonel was 1-5 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Tulsa and Midland will continue their series Sunday night. Sean Thompson (6-8, 3.79 ERA) will pitch for the Drillers against Benjamin Fritz (10-9, 5.39 ERA) with first pitch at 6:00PM.

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Texas League Stories from August 11, 2007


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