Drillers Fall To Springfield In Homestand Opener

The Tulsa Drillers opened a seven-game homestand Monday night with a 9-4 loss to Springfield. The Cardinals scored two first-inning runs against Eddie Butler and never trailed in posting the victory.

The result left the two teams in a third-place tie in the North Division standings of the Texas League, five games behind first-place Arkansas.

The game began with Butler retiring Charlie Tilson on strikes, but Breyvic Valera followed with a liner that split the gap in right-center field for a triple. James Ramsey then lined a double into the right field corner to quickly put the Cardinals on the scoreboard. After a passed ball by catcher Ryan Casteel, Rafael Ortega brought Ramsey home with a sacrifice fly that made it 2-0.

Tulsa plated a run in the bottom of the third. Will Swanner opened the inning with a base hit, and Jared Simon drew a walk. Butler moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Trevor Story lined a two-out single into left field that scored Swanner.

A pair of solo home runs helped the Cards increase their lead to 4-1. The first came from Patrick Wisdom in the fourth inning, the third baseman's 12th homer of the year. Tilson added his first of the season in the fifth.

Springfield scored two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings against reliever Ryan Arrowood to put the game out of reach.

Jonathan Rodriguez capped the Cards big offensive night with his ninth home run.

Jayson Langfels closed out the game's scoring in the bottom of the ninth. Story doubled and Casteel singled in front of Langfels' third home run of the year. The opposite-field drive made the final score 9-4.

The three hits in the ninth accounted for nearly half of Tulsa's seven in the game.

The loss for Butler dropped his record to 4-6. He gave up four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six in his five innings of work.

Springfield starter Jimmy Reed picked up the win in his Double-A debut. Reed pitched six innings, surrendering the one run on three hits.

The two teams will be back in action Tuesday night in downtown Tulsa. Christian Bergman will take the mound for the Drillers in an injury rehabilitation assignment from the Colorado Rockies. Bergman made his major league debut on June 9 for the Rockies and was 0-2 in three big league starts before going on the disabled list with a broken left hand. Mike Mayers (2-4, 3.60 ERA) will make the start for the Redbirds with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at ONEOK Field.