Drillers Take Advantage Of Travs Blunders

Protecting a two-run lead, Arkansas gift-wrapped three runs for Tulsa with a trio of errors and the Drillers eventually posted a 7-3 win at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Thursday, August 21st 2014, 10:47 am

By: News On 6


The Arkansas Travelers currently occupy first place in the Texas League's North Division standings. If the Travelers fail to win the second-half title, they may very well look back at Wednesday night's game with the Tulsa Drillers. Protecting a two-run lead, Arkansas gift-wrapped three runs for Tulsa with a trio of errors and the Drillers eventually posted a 7-3 win at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was the second straight victory for Tulsa.

The defeat for Arkansas reduced its first-place lead to 5 games with 13 contests remaining in the second-half of the season. The Drillers won the first-half title and will meet the second-half winner in the North Division Playoff Series that will open at ONEOK Field on September 3.

The Travelers jumped to an early lead in Wednesday's meeting as Tulsa starting pitcher Jon Gray labored through the first inning. Drew Heid and Alex Yarbrough opened the first with consecutive singles, and Brian Hernandez brought them both home with a double. After a ground out, Hernandez came home on a sacrifice fly from Matt Long to give Arkansas a quick 3-0 lead.

Tulsa got on the board with a run in the fifth inning off Travs' starter Michael Roth. Jayson Langfels led off with a base hit, and Jared Simon followed with another single, before a one-out walk to Chris O'Dowd loaded the bases. A run-scoring ground out from Tyler Massey put the Drillers on the board and cut the Travs lead to 3-1.

Roth's defense let him down in what proved to be the decisive the sixth inning. Taylor Featherston worked a leadoff walk, and Ryan Casteel reached safely on a throwing error by third baseman Kaleb Cowart. After a sacrifice bunt from Trevor Story, Langfels walked to load the bases. Roth retired Simon on strikes to get within one out of ending the inning, but the third out would prove elusive.

Will Swanner hit a routine bouncer to short that Eric Stamets fielded and threw wildly to first, allowing Featherston to score Tulsa's second run. O'Dowd followed with a chopper to third that Cowart also fielded cleanly but again threw wildly past first. Casteel and Langfels both scored on the throwing error, the third of the inning for the Travs, to give Tulsa a 4-3 lead.

A tough ninth-inning for Travs reliever Danny Reynolds ensured the Drillers victory. A walk and a hit batter helped Tulsa load the bases with two outs, and the third out would never come for Reynolds. Simon delivered a two-run double, and Will Swanner a run-scoring single to account for the final score.

Gray departed after needing 68 pitches to get through the first two innings. His final line was two innings pitched with five hits and three runs allowed.

Tulsa's bullpen, which has struggled recently, was outstanding. Ryan Arrowood worked four shutout innings in relief of Gray, surrendering only one hit and two walks while also striking out two. The win for Arrowood improved his record to a perfect 6-0.

Josh Mueller worked a scoreless seventh inning, and Kraig Sitton blanked the Travelers over the final two innings to complete the win.

Game three of the four-game series between the two teams is scheduled for 7:10PM Thursday evening in North Little Rock. Richard Castillo (3-11, 5.40 ERA) will pitch for the Drillers against Tyler DeLoach (2-0, 1.59 ERA) of the Travelers.

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