Wichita completes sweep
September 3, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The score was closer but the Tulsa Drillers struggles with the Wichita Wranglers continued Sunday afternoon with a 4-2 loss in the final game of the 2006 regular season. The Wranglers broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the 8th inning for a 4-2 victory. The win completed a 5-game sweep for Wichita and left the Drillers with a losing record in the second-half of the season at 34-35.
In the 5-game sweep, the Drillers scored a total of 5 runs and managed only 25 hits. Tulsa is still winless since the promotion of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the major leagues.
Fortunately for the Drillers, these things will mean nothing with the beginning of the Texas League playoffs. Tulsa and Wichita will meet in the best-of-five North Division Playoff Series that begins Tuesday at Drillers Stadium. Tulsa will host games one and two of the series with game three, and if necessary, games four and five in Wichita.
In Sunday's loss, the Wranglers took a first-inning lead when leadoff hitter Chris Lubanski walked and scored on a double by Mitch Maier. A single by Dee Brown brought Maier home to give the Wranglers a 2-0 lead.
It remained that way until the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Jeff Dragecivich walked and Doug Bernier singled. Seth Smith followed with a base hit to center field that cut Wichita's lead in half. A single by Joe Gaetti that loaded the bases was followed by a ground out from Joe Koshansky. The grounder allowed Bernier to come home to tie the game at 2-2 and increased Koshansky's franchise-record RBI total to 109.
The Wranglers two runs in the eighth inning came off reliever Josh Newman. Newman worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning but allowed a leadoff single to Angel Sanchez in the eighth. A one-out single by Lubanski put runners at first and second. After Mitch Maier flied out, Texas League Player of the Year Alex Gordon brought home both runners with a double to right field. The play produced Gordon's 100th and 101st runs batted in of the year.
The Drillers threatened in the ninth off reliever Devon Lowery. Bernier led off with a bunt base hit, and Seth Smith walked. Lowery recovered and struck out Gaetti, Koshansky and Tino Sanchez in order to end the game.
The two teams will now take Monday off before beginning post-season play on Tuesday. In the opener at Drillers Stadium, Juan Morillo will likely pitch for Tulsa, while Zack Greinke is the probable starter for Wichita. Game time at Drillers Stadium is scheduled for 7:05PM.
The Wranglers made a couple of roster moves over the weekend to strengthen their playoff roster. Pitcher Luck Hochevar, the overall number 1 pick in this June's draft, was promoted to Wichita by the Kansas City Royals. Hochevar was 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA for Class A Burlington. He would be the starter in game four, if necessary, of the playoff series. Reliever Jarod Plummer, who was 10-5 in the California League, has also joined the Wranglers.
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Texas League Stories from September 3, 2006
- Wichita completes sweep - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks shutout Missions - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Ray Winder Field goes out in style with 7-3 win - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards fall 7-3 in finale - Springfield Cardinals
- Wranglers Pound Drillers - Wichita Wranglers
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