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TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Saunders 1-hits Drillers

July 1, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


Arkansas Travelers pitcher Joe Saunders was a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels in June of 2002 out of Virginia Tech. His bright future suffered a setback when he missed the entire 2003 season due to a torn rotator cuff.

Friday night at Drillers Stadium, the 24-year old Saunders looked as if he is completely recovered from his injury. The left-hander pitched a one-hit, 9-inning shutout as the Travelers beat the Tulsa Drillers 4-0 in a game that took only two hours and six minutes to complete.

The lone Drillers hit came in the third inning on a one-out double by Luis Guance. The hit produced the only real scoring chance of the game for Tulsa. After retiring Doug Bernier on a ground out, Saunders walked Tony Miller. Miller stole second base to put runners at second and third, but Jeff Salazar flied out to end the threat.

Tulsa would have only one more base runner the rest of the game. Bernier drew a lead off walk in the sixth inning, but he was left stranded at second base. After the walk, Saunders retired 12 straight hitters to end the one-hitter.

The outing spoiled Tulsa starting pitcher Zack Parker's second attempt to become the first 10-game winner in the Texas League this season. The left-hander pitched well despite the loss as he was hurt by two Drillers errors.

Both errors came in the top of the fourth inning when the Travelers broke a scoreless tie with three unearned runs. Reggie Willits led off the fourth with a single, and Alberto Callaspo reached on an error by Guance at third. Erick Aybar singled home Willits with the game's first run, and after Mike Napoli struck out, Callaspo scored on an error by first baseman Cory Slavik. A sacrifice fly by Tommy Murphy scored Aybar to put the Travs in front 3-0.

A one-out home run by Napoli in the sixth made it 4-0. The homer was the 15th of the year for the Travs catcher, tying him for the Texas League lead.

Parker worked eight innings, allowing seven hits, one walk and four runs (1 earned). Ben Crockett worked a scoreless ninth inning in relief.

The Drillers and Travelers will continue their series Saturday night at Drillers Stadium. Jon Asahina (8-3, 3.19 ERA) will pitch for Tulsa against Tim Bittner (1-6, 6.13 ERA) for Arkansas. Starting time will be 7:05PM with a fireworks display scheduled for after the game.

NOTE: Tino Sanchez was scratched from Tulsa's original starting lineup with a sprained ankle.

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