Tulsa Gains Ground On Naturals With Win
August 29, 2010 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers inched closer to first place Saturday night as they opened a crucial three-game series against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals with an 8-4 victory at ONEOK Field. The Drillers received a strong pitching performance from Colorado Rockies hurler Aaron Cook, but it was the bats of Matt Repec and Jordan Pacheco that stole the spotlight. Repec sparked the Drillers offense with a clutch two-out base hit in the second and Jordan Pacheco put the icing on the cake with a two-out double in the seventh that ended the Naturals hopes of a comeback.
With the win, the Drillers moved to within two games of the first-place Naturals with only nine games remaining in the regular season. Five of the games will be against Northwest Arkansas.
Cook turned in his second strong outing for the Drillers, allowingonly two runs off five hits over 5 2/3 innings as he recovers from a toe injury. Colorado Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook turned in his second strong outing at ONEOK Field Saturday night as the Drillers defeated Northwest Arkansas 8-4 to move within two games of the first-place Naturals.
Pacheco lead the Tulsa offense with two hits and four runs driven in, while Repec finished 2-3 with three RBIs.
The Naturals jumped to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, despite a brilliant defensive play by Scott Beerer. With Derrick Robinson at first, Tulsa starting pitcher Aaron Cook attempted to pick off Robinson, but his throw was errant and rolled into right field. Beerer fielded the ball and threw a bullet to gun down Robinson as he attempted to move to third. The Naturals were able to rally again in the inning as the next batter Johnny Giavotella doubled, moved to third on a deep fly out and scored on a wild pitch by Cook.
Tulsa answered back in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead when Jason Van Kooten drew a walk and Radames Nazario singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. Repec then doubled down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Drillers a lead.
In the fourth, Van Kooten singled, stole second and eventually scored on a base hit by Nazario to push the margin to 3-1.
The Drillers added a pair of runs in the fifth. Warren Schaeffer led off the frame with a double, and Anthony Jackson followed with a well-placed bunt for a single that put runners on the corners. Jackson then stole second as Charlie Blackman struck out, before a single by Pacheco plated both runners.
Northwest Arkansas pulled closer in the top of the sixth. Chris McConnell started the rally with a single, moved to second on another single by Derrick Robinson and scored on a double by Giavotella. Cook struck out Eric Hosmer for the first out of the inning and then intentionally walked Clint Robinson to load the bases. Cook got Paulo Orlando to pop out, but his night would end there. Reliever Alberto Alburquerque entered the game and got Manuel Pina to ground out to end the threat.
The Naturals continued to chip at the Drillers lead thanks to two-unearned runs in the seventh to inch closer at 5-4.
But Tulsa quickly responded as the first three batters in the seventh reached safely to load the bases. Pacheco followed with a line drive base hit to centerfield that plated two more runs and gave Tulsa a 7-4 lead.
Mike Mitchell tripled to lead off the eight and scored on a single by Repec for the Drillers final run of the game.
Reliever Stu Pomeranz entered the game in the ninth in a non-save situation and recorded three strikeouts around a base hit to finish the game.
The Drillers and Naturals will continue their three-game series with game two Sunday night. Brandon Durden (5-10, 4.73 ERA) is scheduled to start for Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas will counter with Blake Johnson (3-3, 4.28 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05PM at ONEOK Field.
The ONEOK Field Ticket Office will open at 1:00PM on Sunday. Tickets are also available at TulsaDrillers.com 24 hours a day.
Texas League Stories from August 29, 2010
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- Naturals Use Big Sixth Inning to Get by Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Early Homers, Lack of Clutch Hitting Doom Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Hot Pitching Burns Travs 3-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- 'Riders Blanked By Midland Saturday - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals drop opening game in Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RockHounds win over Rangers - Midland RockHounds
- Two Big Innings Undo Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Tulsa Gains Ground On Naturals With Win - Tulsa Drillers
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