Williamson Leads Drillers Over Naturals, 6-2
August 2, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
In his last two outings, Joey Williamson failed to surrender a run over the seven innings he had thrown. In their last two victories the Drillers pitching staff had completed eighteen innings without allowing a run. Monday night against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals one of the streaks continued. Joey Williamson tossed six shut-out innings in his longest outing of the year, as the Drillers beat the Naturals 6-2.
With the temperature hovering at a record 109 degrees at the time of first pitch, the Drillers needed their bats to heat up if they wanted to catch up to the Naturals, who currently held the top position in the Texas League north division.
The Drillers jumped on the Naturals early with runs in the bottom half of the first and second innings.
Ben Paulsen drove in Tim Wheeler from second base, in the bottom of the first with an opposite field double to left field.
Joey Williamson tossed six shut-out innings Monday night. Over his last three outings, Williamson has thrown thirteen consecutive scoreless innings. (Rich Crimi)
Paulsen was credited with his fifty-ninth RBI of the year on the play, giving the Drillers a 1-0 lead.
Thomas Field and Mike Zuanich then led off the second with a pair of singles. After a force out at third, runners still remained at first and second with one out. Zuanich and Brian Rike, who had then occupied first base, attempted to steal third and second as Erik Wetzel dropped a single in front of the right fielder.
The single scored Zuanich from second, doubling up the Drillers lead at the time.
Up 3-0 going into the sixth inning the Drillers widened the gap on their opposition, due in large part to the lack of control shown by the Naturals' pitching staff.
Two singles, each by Field and Mike Mitchell, with one out were the only two hits in the inning. However, two walks and a Hector Gomez hit by a pitch, all with the bases loaded, added two runs to the Drillers mounting lead.
After throwing six shut-out innings Monday night, Williamson extended his scoreless innings streak to thirteen over the span of his last three outings. Williamson finished the night with six shut-out innings on two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
A Mike Mitchell triple in the bottom half of the seventh, scored Bronson Sardinha from first base, who had reached one batter earlier on a line drive single to right. The run gave the Drillers a 6-0 cushion after seven innings had been played.
The run proved to be beneficial, as reliever Adam Jorgenson surrendered a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to Wil Myers that cut the Drillers lead to four.
However, Dustin Molleken came in to seal the victory for the Drillers.
The win Monday night granted the Drillers a tie at the top of the Texas League north division with the Naturals, as well.
The Drillers and Naturals will meet for second game of the three game set Tuesday night at ONEOK Field. The Drillers will be sending Dan Houston (3-2, 3.30) to the mound, as the Naturals will give the ball to Will Smith (9-8, 4.54). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM.
Notes: Monday the Drillers announced that Infielder Darin Holcomb has been placed on the Inactive list. Jeffery Squier has been assigned to the Drillers from Tri-City.
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Texas League Stories from August 2, 2011
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