Tracy, Frisco Take Win From Drillers
August 13, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
Over the course of a 140-game schedule, some losses are tougher than others. Thursday night's 8-6 10-inning loss was especially painful for the Tulsa Drillers.
For much of the game, the Drillers appeared on their way to a second straight win. They carried a 6-1 lead into the top of the eighth inning, but watched as Frisco rallied with five runs to send the game into extra innings.
The RoughRiders completed the comeback when Chad Tracy, the son of Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy, belted his second home run of the night in the 10th inning. Tracy's two-run homer off Tulsa reliever Adam Bright was a line drive that quickly landed into the net above the left field wall.
Frisco collected 9 of its 11 hits after the seventh inning, and 6 of the Riders' 7 runs came on home runs.
It was an especially tough loss because it also hurt Tulsa's position in the standings. The defeat dropped the Drillers three games behind first-place Northwest Arkansas with only 24 games left in the second half.
The loss also spoiled another strong outing from starting pitcher Brandon Durden. The lefthander looked to be headed to his sixth straight win after allowing only one run on two hits in six innings of work. Since returning from Class A Modesto on July 12, Durden has made seven starts, working 47.1 innings with a 1.75 ERA.
Darin Holcomb staked Durden to an early lead with his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the first inning.
Adam Fox produced the only damage against the Tulsa starter when he led off the second with his 16th homer, tying the game at 1-1.
The Drillers retook the lead in the third as Holcomb singled in front of Cole Garner's 13th home run. The two-run homer put Tulsa in front 3-1.
The lead expanded to 6-1 with a three-run fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Holcomb singled for his third hit of the night. After Garner drew a walk, Ryan Harvey belted his team-leading 19th homer to clear the bases. The three-run blast left the park over the center field wall.
Andy Graham followed Durden to the mound and worked a 1-2-3 seventh to preserve the lead before Frisco's big rally in the eighth.
Renny Osuna began the rally with a leadoff single against reliever Jonathan George. George retired the next two hitters before walking Craig Gentry. Tulsa manager Ron Gideon turned to Tommy Baumgardner, and the lefthander was greeted by Mitch Moreland with a run-scoring single.
Edgmer Escalona took over for Baumgardner and Tracy deposited his first pitch into the left field net to trim the Drillers lead to 6-5. Adam Fox then completed the RoughRiders' comeback by sending Escalona's second pitch over the center field wall, tying the game at six.
Escalona finally ended the inning when he retired Steven Murphy on a fly ball to left field.
Tulsa almost reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Harvey was hit by a pitch before Mike McKenry sent him to second with a sacrifice bunt. When Jeff Kindel singled to right with two outs, Harvey rounded third as right-fielder Moreland threw home. Harvey collided with catcher Manuel Pina after the throw, but the Frisco catcher held onto the ball to record the out and end the inning.
The game stayed tied until Tracy's second homer in the tenth gave Frisco its first lead of the night.
The Drillers will wrap up their three-game series with the RoughRiders Friday night. Chaz Roe (6-2, 3.03 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa against Frisco's Michael Kirkman (5-6, 4.71 ERA) at Drillers Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
NOTES: Garner's third inning homer extended his hitting streak to 15 straight games, the longest streak for a Tulsa player this season. . . .Rex Rundgren's 8-game streak ended with a 0-5 night. . . .The home run by Fox in the second inning was only the second homer that Durden has allowed this year in 74.2 innings with the Drillers. . . .Graham is still expected to start on Sunday for the Drillers despite working the one relief inning. The inning was used to get Graham extra work since he has not pitched since August 6. . . . Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler ended his rehab stint with the RoughRiders by going 0-5. He twice flew out to deep center field in the game. Kinsler is expected to rejoin the Rangers in time for their game with Boston on Friday night.
Texas League Stories from August 13, 2009
- Greatest Sports Auction South Texas Has Ever Seen - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Tracy, Frisco Take Win From Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals break late tie, edge Midland - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Royals' reliever Kyle Farnsworth joins Naturals on rehab - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Football Kickoff Night Adds Pregame Happy Hour - Corpus Christi Hooks
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