TL1 Tulsa Drillers

Travelers Strike Early to Drop Drillers

Published on July 18, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release


It is hard to imagine a more disastrous start than what the Tulsa Drillers had in their homestand finale with Arkansas Sunday evening. Not only did the first four batters of the game hit safely for the Travelers, but the fourth hit came from Charlton Jimerson and struck starting pitcher Christian Friedrich in the left elbow, knocking him out of the game. The Travs were held to only two runs in that first inning, but the fast start helped send them to a 6-1 win over the Drillers.

Tyson Auer began the game with a lined single to center field, and second-place hitter Carlos Colmenares did the same. A third straight hit from Ryan Mount brought Auer home with the game's first run. Jimerson then hit a sharp one-hopper that struck Friedrich in the arm and deflected back toward home plate. The result was a fourth straight hit that loaded the bases and left Friedrich unable to continue.

Christian Friedrich reacts after being struck on his pitching elbow by a batted ball in the first inning of Tulsa's 6-1 loss to Arkansas Sunday. The pitcher left the game with a contusion. (Rich Crimi)

Trainer Austin O'Shea escorted the lefthander to the clubhouse with initial reports that Friedrich suffered a contusion on his elbow. The injury is not believed to be serious, but he will be examined further on Monday.

With the injury, Andy Graham was summoned from the bullpen and retired Roberto Lopez on a fly out that turned into a double play when centerfielder Charlie Blackmon threw Jimerson out trying to advance to second on the play. Colmenares did score on the sacrifice fly to put the Travs in front 2-0. Graham finally ended the long inning by retiring Efren Navarro on a fly ball.

Arkansas added another run in the third when Auer singled and stole second base before scoring on another hit by Jimerson.

Travs' starter Will Smith blanked Tulsa through the first four innings before the Drillers ended the shutout with a two-out rally in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Lars Davis singled and Warren Schaeffer drew a walk from Smith. Radames Nazario followed with a base hit that brought Davis home. The Drillers missed a chance to make it a bigger inning as Blackmon walked to load the bases, but Jason Van Kooten grounded out to end the threat.

The Drillers would get no closer as Smith and a pair of relievers held them scoreless over the final four innings.

The Travs scored another run in the sixth off Bruce Billings as Jimerson tripled and scored. It capped a big night for the Arkansas leftfielder as he finished with four hits and was just a homer shy of the cycle. Jimerson is now 7-12 since joining the Travs on Friday.

Arkansas added two more in the ninth off Chris Malone to account for the final score.

Auer also collected four hits for the Travs, and Colmenares added three.

Smith picked up the win to improve his record to 1-2, while Friedrich was charged with the loss to fall to 2-6.

The two teams each finished with two wins in the four-game series. Despite the loss, the Drillers remain in first-place in the North Division standings, tied with Northwest Arkansas.

Tulsa will be in Springfield Monday night to begin a five-game, four-day series against the Cardinals. Cory Riordan (4-4, 3.82 ERA) will pitch the opener for the Drillers against Scott McGregor (1-3, 4.66 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10PM at Hammons Field.

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Texas League Stories from July 18, 2010


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