Drillers Get Shut Out In Tuesday Matinee

Last year, Springfield right-hander Boone Whiting ended the Tulsa Drillers season with a one-hit gem in the fifth and deciding game of the North Division playoff series. Tuesday afternoon in Springfield, the Drillers saw Whiting for the first time since that season-ending loss and the result was very similar. The 23-year-old Californian allowed only four hits in seven shutout innings to help the Cardinals to a 2-0 victory at Hammons Field.

The defeat for the Drillers came in the final game of a seven-game road trip in which they went 2-5. They now return to Tulsa to begin a nine-game homestand Wednesday afternoon at ONEOK Field.

Tuesday's outing was Whiting's third start against the Drillers since his promotion to the Double A level last August. In those three starts, he has surrendered only 2 runs in a combined 20 innings. In this victory, he did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

The performance overshadowed another strong start from Tyler Matzek. The lefthander suffered the loss despite allowing only two runs on six hits in six innings of work. Matzek, who has not surrendered more than three runs in any of his six starts this season, lowered his ERA to 3.19.

All of the offense in the game came on a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. With a runner at first and two outs, Mike O'Neill extended the inning with an infield single. Matzek walked Thomas Pham to load the bases and big league veteran Ruben Gotay followed with a double down the right field that plated the two runs.

The Drillers were limited to only six hits in the game, but they had chances to end the shutout. Matzek doubled with one out in the third, but Whiting escaped the trouble with a pair of ground outs.

In the fourth, Kent Matthes led off with a double, and Kyle Parker followed with a base hit that put runners at first and third with no outs. But Henry Wrigley struck out and Angelys Nina grounded into a double play to end that threat.

Dustin Garneau led off the eighth with a triple against reliever Kevin Siegrist, but after pinch-hitter Kiel Roling struck out, the Tulsa catcher was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a bunt from Delta Cleary Jr.

The Drillers put two more runners on base in the ninth with a base hit and walk off Cards' closer Michael Blazek, but Jayson Langfels flew out to end the game.

Tulsa will open a nine-game homestand at 4:05PM Wednesday afternoon against the Arkansas Travelers. Christian Bergman (2-1, 3.48 ERA) will pitch the opener for the Drillers against Jarrett Grube (4-1, 2.55 ERA) of the Travelers.

It will be Happy Hour at ONEOK Field with $1 Beer available beginning when the stadium gates open at 3 p.m.