Tenth-Inning Slam from Mieses Beats Drillers
Published on August 27, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Former Tulsa Drillers outfielder Johan Mieses came back to haunt his old club Sunday night at ONEOK Field. Mieses, now playing for Springfield, broke a tie game with a tenth-inning grand slam that propelled the Cardinals to a 7-4 win over the Drillers.
The result tightens the second-half pennant race in the Texas League's North Division standings. The first-place Drillers now lead both Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas by 3.5 games with 9 games remaining in the regular season. The Naturals defeated the Travelers 4-3 on Sunday to move into the second-place tie.
For much of the night, the Drillers looked on their way to their third straight victory. Tulsa jumped in front early, courtesy of Jacob Scavuzzo. With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the first, Keibert Ruiz extended the inning with a base hit. Scavuzzo followed with his 21st home run of the season to put Tulsa in front 2-0.
The Cardinals tied the game with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth. After a two-out walk to former Driller outfielder Johan Mieses put runners at the corners, John Nogowski brought them both home when he lined a double into the left field corner.
Tulsa quickly went back in front as starting pitcher Ben Holmes helped himself in the bottom half of the fourth. Just like the first-inning rally, Springfield pitcher Matt Pearce retired the first two batters before Mike Ahmed walked. After Errol Robinson lined a single into centerfield, Holmes singled on the first pitch he saw, plating Ahmed to give the Drillers a 3-2 lead.
The Cards came close to tying the score, or possibly taking the lead, in the seventh. The first two batters of the inning reached safely against reliever Andrew Sopko on a walk and a single. After a ground out advanced the runners to second and third, Victor Roache lined a pitch back up the middle, but it struck Sopko in the backside and dropped to the mound. Sopko picked up the ball and retired Roache at first while the two runners held. The Tulsa reliever escaped the jam when he struck out pinch-hitter Evan Mendoza to end the inning.
The Redbirds did push across the tying run in the eighth. Edman greeted reliever Marshall Kasowski with a base hit before scoring on a one-out double by Andy Young, tying the game at 3-3.
The game remained tied until the tenth inning when Mieses delivered the game's crucial hit. With the extra-innings rule, the Cards began the inning with a runner at second, facing Shea Spitzbarth. They loaded the bases with one out on a single and an intentional walk. Mieses followed by hitting the first pitch he saw into the Busch Terrace beyond the left field fence.
The Drillers scored one run in the bottom half of the tenth as Ruiz doubled home D.J. Peters on the first pitch of the inning.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Tempers flared following the grand slam from Mieses. On the next pitch, Spitzbarth threw a pitch high, the Springfield's John Nogowski took exception to as he yelled toward the Tulsa pitcher. Nogowoski eventually struck out, and he and Spitzbarth again exchanged words with the Cards first baseman being ejected by the umpires. Both teams were given warnings, prompting and argument from Springfield manager Johnny Rodriguez, ultimately leading to his ejection.
*Scavuzzo has now hit a combined 23 home runs this season at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, setting a career high.
*Holmes appeared headed to his second win since joining the Drillers, as Tulsa led 3-2 when he departed. The lefthander surrendered only two runs on four hits in six innings of work on the mound, and he was a perfect 2-2 at the plate.
*The run surrendered by Kasowski in the eighth was just the second he has given up since joining the Drillers on July 25.
*Springfield used six pitchers in the game.
UP NEXT
The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their series Sunday night with the second game of a three-game set. First pitch at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The starting pitchers will be:
Casey Meisner (1-, 3.41 ERA)
Dustin May (1-1, 2.82 ERA)
Texas League Stories from August 27, 2018
- Mieses and Cards Beat Drillers Again - Tulsa Drillers
- SA Blanks CC, Avoids Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Riders Hurdle 'Hounds in Series Finale - Frisco RoughRiders
- Arkansas Salvages Finale over Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Three RockHounds Earn Player of the Week Honors - Midland RockHounds
- Michael Wacha to Rehab Tuesday in Springfield - Springfield Cardinals
- Ryan Rua Scheduled to Rehab with Riders Starting Tonight - Frisco RoughRiders
- Bats Come Alive in Hounds Fourth Straight Win - Midland RockHounds
- Mieses and Cards Slam Drillers, 7-4, in 10 Innings - Springfield Cardinals
- Hood Drives Riders Offense in 7-3 Loss - Frisco RoughRiders
- Tenth-Inning Slam from Mieses Beats Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- McCann Leads Raspas to Series Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
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