Record Crowd Sees Missions Rally Past Drillers
Published on July 5, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
For seven innings Monday night, it seemed to be the perfect 4th of July for the Tulsa Drillers. In front of the largest Drillers crowd in ONEOK Field history, Tulsa led San Antonio 5-3, but the perfect night ended when the Missions rallied with two runs in the eighth inning and one more in the ninth for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory.
Pearl Harbor survivor Arles Cole threw out the cermonial first pitch before a record-setting crowd of 8,686 at ONEOK Field.
The loss, before a paid attendance of 8,686, was the second straight for the Drillers to the Missions who boast the best record in all of Minor League Baseball.
Early in the game, it seemed the Missions were on their way to an easy victory as they jumped to a 3-0 lead after three innings against Tulsa starter Christian Friedrich.
In the first inning, after Friedrich struck out the leadoff batter, four of the next five San Antonio hitters would reach on singles. The four hits eventually led to two runs that gave the Missions a 2-0 cushion.
They built on their lead in the top of the third, when major league veteran Bobby Kielty hit his first home run of the year. The solo shot gave the Missions a 3-0 cushion.
Held scoreless through the first five innings by San Antonio starter Rob Musgrave, the Drillers rallied against reliever Aaron Breit in the bottom of the sixth.
Tim Wheeler opened the inning by drawing a walk, and the Drillers followed with three consecutive hits. A Thomas Field double to left field advanced Wheeler, and a single from Ben Paulsen produced Tulsa's first run.
Darin Holcomb then hit his sixteenth double of the season to plate Field to cut the deficit to one run.
With runners at second and third and still no outs, the Drillers took a 4-3 lead as a ground out from Wilin Rosario and a single from Scott Beerer scored both Paulsen and Holcomb.
Field added to the Drillers lead in the seventh, as he clubbed his 11th home run of the season into the terrace at ONEOK Field. The hit was Field's second of the game and provided the Drillers with an insurance run and a 5-3 lead.
But minutes later the Missions would start their comeback. Reliever Joe Torres replaced Friedrich on the mound to open the eighth and surrendered Jaff Decker's 14th home run of the season on a fly ball to left field. The home run was the fourth for Decker in eight games against the Drillers.
With one out in the eighth, Jedd Gyorko, playing in his first Double A game after arriving in Tulsa only hours before game time, doubled over the head of Wheeler in centerfield. After Sawyer Carroll flied out to the track in left field for the second out of the inning, the Drillers called on Adam Jorgenson from the bullpen. A wild pitch moved Gyroko to third, and it would prove costly because catcher Ali Solis followed with a sharp one-hopper to the right of Field at shortstop. Field dove and made a backhanded stab of the grounder before jumping up and firing to first. Solis slid feet first into the first base bag and was ruled safe on a close play by umpire Nick Bailey, allowing Gyroko to score the tying run. After an argument from Tulsa manager Duane Espy, Jorgenson walked Anthony Contreras, but he escaped the jam by retiring pinch-hitter Dean Anna on a pop out.
The Missions disappointed the large crowd in the top of the ninth when they completed their comeback as Blake Tekotte led off with his 10th home run of the year.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Drillers threatened when Mike Mitchell drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third with two outs, but Nick Vincent retired Wheeler on strikes to end the game.
Friedrich missed a chance to gain his 7th win of the season. He worked seven innings, surrendering the three runs on seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.
The Drillers will wrap up their homestand Tuesday night with the finale of their three-game with the Missions. Tulsa will send Rob Scahill (6-5, 4.52) to the mound, while San Antonio will counter with Juan Oramas (4-0, 2.17). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM at ONEOK Field.
Texas League Stories from July 5, 2011
- Perez' Walkoff Hit Clinches Series - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- San Antonio Powers Its Way Over Tulsa - Tulsa Drillers
- Travs Snap Two-Game Skid - Arkansas Travelers
- Travelers Avoid Sweep with 8-3 Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Beat Midland 5-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Game Notes, July 5 - Corpus Christi at NW Arkansas - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Quick Six Thursday-Tuesday - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Record Crowd Sees Missions Rally Past Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
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