Tulsa Falls to San Antonio 6-3 in Series Finale
April 12, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
One night after putting up ten runs on seventeen hits against the San Antonio Missions, Tulsa found hits hard to come by Tuesday night. Although they generated three runs off of just three hits, the Drillers came up short as they fell to the Missions by the score of 6-3 to wrap up their season-opening road trip.
With the loss, Tulsa completed their six-game road trip with a 2-4 record against Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
The Drillers found themselves down early Tuesday as the Missions grabbed a lead two batters into the game on an overcast night. Nelson Ward led off the home half of the first for the Missions by working a full count walk before quickly coming home to score on a subsequent Auston Bousfield double to give San Antonio a 1-0 advantage.
Tulsa answered right back in the second inning using both small ball and the long ball.
After Jacob Scavuzzo doubled and Alex Verdugo walked to lead off the top of the second inning, Yadir Drake moved them each up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Erisbel Arruebarrena followed by bringing Scavuzzo home with an RBI groundout to capitalize on the station to station offensive approach. Brandon Trinkwon then deposited a pitch from Missions starter Fabio Castillo over the right-center field fence for a two-run bomb to put the Drillers up 3-1.
But just as the Drillers responded in the top half of the second, the Missions did likewise in their half of the frame.
With one out, a walk and a catcher's interference call against backstop Kyle Farmer put two men on against Tulsa starter Chase De Jong. Castillo then mirrored what Drake did to him just a few minutes previously as he moved both San Antonio runners up with a sacrifice bunt of his own. Ward stepped up and continued to be a thorn in De Jong's side as he lifted the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer to put San Antonio back on top 4-3.
The Drillers did have a chance to take advantage of free passes in the fourth inning as Castillo loaded the bases by hitting Scavuzzo with a pitch and walking Verdugo and Trinkwon with two outs. Manager Ryan Garko made the decision to pinch-hit Devan Ahart in De Jong's place, but Ahart grounded out to first to end the threat.
It was not the start De Jong was looking for after the right-hander dazzled in the season-opener at Corpus Christi where he tossed six innings of one-run ball. De Jong would only make it through the third inning this game before being lifted for the pinch-hitter.
The Missions padded their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning against Drillers reliever Michael Johnson as Gabriel Quintana knocked in two of his teammates with a double down the right field line, putting the home team up 6-3.
Tulsa relievers Jordan Schafer and Dustin Richardson did their best to keep the Drillers within striking distance as the two southpaws delivered three shutout innings to finish out the contest. But it would not be enough.
After their fine offensive execution in the second and the missed opportunity in the fourth, the Drillers were unable to generate any more offense for the next four innings until Farmer hit a two-out double in the eighth. But he would be stranded there as the final scoring opportunity for Tulsa faded as the rain that had been threatening all game began to fall.
Castillo earned the win for San Antonio with his six innings of work while De Jong took the loss for Tulsa.
The Drillers will have an off-day Wednesday as they travel back to Tulsa before playing their first home game of the season Thursday night. Slated to start the home opener for Tulsa for the second straight year will be workhorse Chris Anderson (1-0, 1.80 ERA.) He will be opposed by Joe Musgrove (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for Corpus Christi in a rematch from last Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM at ONEOK Field following the annual Opening Night Parade and festivities in downtown Tulsa.
Texas League Stories from April 12, 2016
- Tulsa Falls to San Antonio 6-3 in Series Finale - Tulsa Drillers
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- Cardinals Come Back for 7-3 Win and Series Victory in Corpus Christi - Springfield Cardinals
- Ward's Homer Lifts Missions to Series Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Complete Three Game Sweep of RockHounds - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Hit the Road After 6-3 Finale Win - Arkansas Travelers
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- Riders Game Notes - 11:00 a.m. at Arkansas Travelers - April 12, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Natural Atonement - Midland RockHounds
- 'Riders One-Hit Travs, Win 1-0 - Arkansas Travelers
- Bregman Big for Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Hooks Outlast Cardinals in 12 Innings, 5-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Homers Sink Missions as Drillers Even Series - San Antonio Missions
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