TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Roughriders Edge Cook & Tulsa

Published on August 23, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


ONEOK Field is only in its first season of existence, but it may never see a more unique pitching match up than what was featured Monday night. Colorado Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook, who has spent nine seasons in the majors, started the game for the Tulsa Drillers. Starting for Frisco was Clayton Hamilton, a pitcher who was playing in a semi-pro league in Pittsburgh for most of this season before signing a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers earlier this month. Both Cook and Hamilton turned in strong outings, but it was Hamilton who finished on top as the RoughRiders defeated the Drillers 2-1.

Cook, who was making his first start since August 3, threw five strong innings, but was forced to take the loss after allowing only one run on three hits. A pitch limit cut Cook's night short as he finished with four strikeouts and threw 60 pitches, 41 of those for strikes.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook allowed one run and three hits in five innings Monday as the Drillers fell to Frisco 2-1. (Rich Crimi)

The strong performance was not enough, however, as the veteran was out dueled by Hamilton who allowed seven hits over seven scoreless frames to pick up his first win of the season.

Frisco staked Hamilton to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Joey Butler drove a long home run that nearly cleared the grass berm in right field.

Tulsa fired off three hits in the fourth inning, but missed an opportunity to break up Hamilton's shutout. Charlie Blackmon led off the inning with a single to leftfield, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Leftfielder Jonathan Greene made a strong throw to second to gun down Blackmon. Bronson Sardinha followed with a base hit, and Jeff Kindel added a two-out single to put runners on first and second. Hamilton was able to escape the jam and by getting Scott Beerer to fly out to end the inning.

The RoughRiders doubled their lead in the seventh when John Whittleman belted a home run into the Drillers bullpen in right-centerfield. It was Whittleman's fifth homer of the year and his second of the series.

Frisco reliever Tim Murphy took over for Hamilton to start the eighth inning, and Tulsa shortstop Radames Nazario welcomed him by belting a home run over the leftfield wall. It was the infielder's second home run of the season and cut the Riders lead in half at 2-1.

It was as close as the Drillers would get as Mark Hamburger worked a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his third save of the season and his second of the series.

The loss ended a positive homestand on a disappointing note for the Drillers. They finished 4-2 in the 6-game set.

The Drillers will now travel to North Little Rock to begin a four-game series with the Arkansas Travelers Tuesday night. Brandon Durden (4-10, 4.99 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa and will face-off against Arkansas' Michael Anton (5-9, 4.86 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10PM at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Check out the Tulsa Drillers Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 23, 2010


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