TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Tough Trip Ends With Tough Loss

Published on May 6, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


The distance between Tulsa and Springdale, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, is only about 100 miles. It will probably seem like a 1,000 miles for the Tulsa Drillers as they make the trek Tuesday following a dreadful road trip. The Drillers ended an 8-game visit to the state of Arkansas with another one-run loss Tuesday afternoon as the Naturals scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim a 5-4 win at Springdale's Arvest Ballpark. The result gave Northwest Arkansas a sweep of the four-game series between the two teams and sent the Drillers to their sixth straight loss.

Overall, Tulsa lost seven of the eight games on its road trip, with five of the losses by one run. The two other defeats were by only two runs.

Tuesday's loss may have been the toughest of the seven. The Drillers led throughout and carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Kila Kaaihue pulled the Naturals to within one run when he hit Ryan Mattheus' first pitch of the inning over the right field wall for his 9th home run of the year.

The next hitter, Mario Lisson, singled to centerfield and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Geraldo Valentin. After Brian McFall walked, Irving Falu tied the game with a base hit that plated Lisson. The Naturals almost ran themselves out of a chance to win when McFall was tagged out between second and third on the play, but the rundown allowed Falu to advance to second base.

Northwest Arkansas manager Brian Poldberg then elected to have Jose Duarte pinch-hit for catcher Cody Clark. Duarte rewarded Poldberg, who would have been left with a limited bench if the game had gone to extra innings, by blooping the first pitch from Mattheus into right field for the game-winning hit.

The outcome spoiled another good outing by a Tulsa starting pitcher. Brandon Hynick worked 6.2 strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He did not walk a batter while striking out six. At one point, he retired 12 straight hitters.

It was the fourth straight start that Hynick has worked at least six innings, surrendering only two earned runs in each of them. In those four outings, he is winless with one loss.

Early in the game, it appeared the Tulsa offense would provide enough support for Hynick to post a win. In the top of the third, Justin Nelson opened the game's scoring when he doubled and scored on a base hit by Corey Wimberly.

The Drillers used speed to add to their lead in the fifth. Wimberly drew a walk to start the inning, then stole second base and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by pitcher Julio Pimentel. Dexter Fowler drew another walk and also swiped second base. Matt Miller then brought both runners home with a single into left field to give Tulsa a 3-0 lead.

Clark ended Hynick's shutout bid when he homered to begin the sixth inning.

Another home run by McFall in the seventh cut the lead to 3-2.

The Drillers got one of the runs back in the eighth inning as Miller walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Carte.

It remained 4-2 until the rally in the ninth by the Naturals.

Tulsa will begin an 8-game homestand Wednesday night at Drillers Stadium. The stand will include a four-game set with the Arkansas Travelers and another four-game series with the Naturals.

In Wednesday's opener, Ching-Lung Lo (0-5, 9.39 ERA) will look to snap the Drillers skid, while the Travelers will counter with Brok Butcher (2-0, 4.05 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.

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Texas League Stories from May 6, 2008


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