Van Hekken Beats Drillers Again
Published on July 9, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
For the second time in the past week, the Tulsa Drillers faced Corpus Christi pitcher Andy Van Hekken Thursday night. For the second time, they could not solve the lefthander. Van Hekken allowed only two hits and one run in seven innings as the Hooks defeated the Drillers 7-1 at Drillers Stadium.
In Thursday's outing, Van Hekken retired the first 13 Tulsa hitters before walking Mike McKenry with one out in the fifth inning. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Brad Corley homered with one out to account for the Drillers only run in the game.
In his two outings against Tulsa in the past six days, Van Hekken has surrendered only two run in 13 combined innings. Two of his four wins in Double A this season have come against the Drillers.
Tulsa starter Keith Weiser matched Van Hekken early as the game was scoreless through the first four innings. The Hooks ended the shutout with three unearned runs in the top of the fifth.
With two outs, Drew Meyer reached first on an error by Weiser when the Tulsa pitcher dropped a popped bunt attempt. Andrew Locke then walked before Jason Castro singled to load the bases. James Van Ostrand cleared the bases with a three-run double off the center wall.
Corley's first home run with the Drillers cut the margin to only two runs before the Hooks pushed their lead to 4-1 in the top of the seventh when Jhon Florentino's single to center brought Locke home from second.
Corpus Christi put the game out of reach with three more runs in the top of the eighth. Wladimir Sutil singled home two runs before scoring himself on a sacrifice fly by Locke.
Weiser (5-8) suffered the loss despite giving up only one earned run in seven innings.
Hooks' relievers Chia-Jen Lo and Daniel Meszaros each worked a scoreless inning to complete the game.
The Drillers take on the Hooks in game two of their series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Drillers Stadium. Andy Graham (2-3, 6.53 ERA) will start for Tulsa against Corpus Christi's Wilton Lopez (1-2, 6.75 ERA).
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