Rain Delays Drillers Win
July 16, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
An afternoon thunder shower that hit Drillers Stadium delayed the start of Monday night's game between the Tulsa Drillers and Springfield Cardinals for 1 hour and 18 minutes. It proved to be worth the wait for the Drillers as they posted a 5-4 victory to end a two-game losing streak.
The delay did not affect the Drillers' bats as they scored in each of the first three innings. Christian Colonel got Tulsa off to a quick start with his tenth home run of the year in the first inning. Corey Wimberly, who reached on a bunt single, scored on Colonel's blast to give Tulsa a 2-0 lead.
Two more runs came Tulsa's way in the second. Tommy Duenas drove in Chris Frey on an RBI single and Jordan Czarniecki scored on a throwing error by Juan Lucena. The two runs put Tulsa in front 4-1.
In the third, Aaron Rifkin scored on a single by Frey to give the Drillers a 5-2 lead.
With Tulsa leading 5-3 in the top of the eighth, Springfield provided some late-inning drama. After an RBI groundout by Mark Hamilton cut the margin to one run, the Cards had Juan Richardson at third with only one out. Lucena followed with a line drive that ricocheted off reliever Jarrett Grube and behind the mound. Second baseman Wimberly grabbed the ball and threw home to keep a sliding Richardson from tying the game. Grube then retired Casey Rowlett on a fly ball to end the threat.
Steven Register worked a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game and to collect his league-leading 28th save of the year.
Tulsa starter Ryan Mattheus pitched seven solid innings giving up four runs on nine hits and one walk. He struck out three Cardinals. The win improved his record to 7-6.
Colonel added his Texas League-leading 31st double in the fifth inning and Springfield's Richardson added his league-leading 61st RBI in the sixth.
The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their series Tuesday. Tulsa's Ching-Lung Lo (4-6, 5.76 ERA) will oppose Springfield's Mitchell Boggs (9-3, 3.60 ERA). Lo has Tulsa's only win in July and Boggs has won seven decisions in a row. Game time is scheduled for 7:05PM.
NOTES: Tulsa infielder Matt Miller was a late scratch from Monday's lineup. . . . .Outfielder Colby Rasmus, the St. Louis Cardinal's top prospect, did not play Monday after getting struck in the head with a pitch Sunday night. . . . .Monday's paid crowd of 2,640 allowed Tulsa to eclipse 200,000 fans for the season.
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