San Antonio Relies on the Long Ball to Top Tulsa

The Missions jumped out to a big lead early and hung 23 runs on the Drillers in the morning game Monday.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:20 pm

By: News On 6

San Antonio Relies on the Long Ball to Top Tulsa

Originally Published: Apr 11, 2011 5:29 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Missions’ bats were hot early and the Missions went on to blast the Tulsa Drillers 23-10 in the second game of the three-game series Monday.

Before the end of the fourth inning, San Antonio (2-3) had already scored 10 runs – including five home runs – to take a commanding lead.

In the top of the first with Jaff Decker on third, teammate Cody Decker homered to center field to take a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Sawyer Carroll hit a ground-rule double to bring Vincent Belnome home from second and make it a three-run lead before Tulsa had even come up to bat.

In the next inning, Beamer Weems grounded into a force out, allowing Matt Buschmann to score and take a four-run advantage. Sawyer Carroll added a solo home run in the top of the third to extend the lead to 5-0 for the Missions.

The Drillers (3-2) cut the lead to three runs in the bottom of the third with a Mike Daniel line-drive triple to score Lars Davis and Tim Wheeler, but San Antonio broke it open in the fourth.

Matt Buschmann started off the inning with a home run to center field and two at-bats later Weems added another solo shot to left field to make it 7-4. With two on base and two outs on the board, Carrol added three RBI to his total with a home run to center field to take a commanding 10-2 lead.

Davis grounded out in the bottom of the fourth to score Bronson Sardinha in an attempt to make a dent in the lead, but the Missions’ bats yet-again were loud in the fifth.

Weems notched an addition three RBI in the inning with a home run to left field with Ali Solis and Blake Tekotte on base to take a 10-run advantage.

Buschmann (1-0) was credited with a win for the outing, despite giving up eight hits and seven earned runs in his 5.2 innings of service for the Missions. Josh Sullivan (0-1) received a loss Monday, giving up nine earned runs, including five home runs, in his 3.2 innings of service.

The series and Tulsa’s season-opening home stand will wrap up at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.