Walks Doom Drillers in Defeat against Cards
Published on May 5, 2018 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers first trip to Springfield to face the Cardinals on Saturday night was one that they would like to get back. The pitching staff struggled with their command and the Cards offense took advantage of the mistakes in a 15-5 rout of the Drillers.
Things looked promising for the Drillers early in the game. In the top of the third, Luke Raley smashed his sixth long-ball of the season for the first run of the game. After D.J. Peters reached on a wild pitch after a strikeout, Connor Joe launched a monster home run that left Hammons Field.
With the early 3-0 lead, things fell apart for the Drillers starting in the bottom of the third. Yadier Alvarez got the start for Tulsa and gave up a double to start the inning. After a pair of walks, the righty yielded a second double to plate a pair of Cardinal runs. Alvarez then gave up his sixth walk of the game to load the bases once again, and was pulled from the game after only two innings pitched.
Karch Kowalczyk was tasked with handling the bases loaded dilemma. He got the first man he faced to ground to third for a force out, and then struck out Edmundo Sosa. A single then plated the Cardinals go-ahead run for their fourth of the inning.
The bottom of the fourth inning presented a tough one for Kowalczyk. The righty's inning included a single and four walks before his night came to an end.
Michael Johnson relieved him with the bases loaded, and gave up a grand slam to Randy Arozarena to put the Cards on top 10-3.
The Drillers got one back in the top of the fifth. Johnson drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs in the inning, Joe smashed a clutch RBI single to plate a run.
Johnson went back out for what would be a forgettable bottom of the fifth. The lefty gave up two doubles, a single and a pair of homers in the inning for a total of five more Springfield runs, stretching the Cardinal lead to 15-4.
Another Driller run came in the top of the eighth after Keibert Ruiz walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Drillers pitching gave up a season high 11 walks in the game.
*Joe was one bright spot in the game for Tulsa in a forgettable game. He had three of the Drillers five hits and three RBI including the home run.
*Nolan Long had 2.2 innings of fantastic work out of the pen with no walks and five strikeouts.
*After a rough outing on Thursday night, Shea Spitzbarth had a scoreless inning out of the pen and had three strikeouts.
*Johnson was the first Drillers pitcher to reach base and score this season. When both parent clubs are National League teams, the game is played without a designated hitter.
*The Cardinals batted around in three straight innings.
*Former Driller was a part of Dodgers and baseball history on Friday night as he pitched six innings in a combined no-hitter. The righty had eight strikeouts in six innings of work. It was the 23rd no-hitter in Dodgers history and their first combined no-hitter.
UP NEXT
The Drillers will take on the Cardinals again in Springfield on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. in Springfield, and the probable starters are:
TUL Mitchell White (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
SPR Connor Greene (2-2, 3.96 ERA)
Texas League Stories from May 5, 2018
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- Los Jinetes de Frisco Drop Opener to Midland 4-2 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Walks Doom Drillers in Defeat against Cards - Tulsa Drillers
- Bats Bust out 17 Hits in 10-4 Triumph over Travs - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Take Opener from Travs at DSP - Arkansas Travelers
- Adam Wainwright Expected to Make Rehab Start this Monday at Hammons Field - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks Hold Line for Series Split - Corpus Christi Hooks
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