Cardinals Take Down Drillers in 12 Innings

Tulsa made several comebacks but eventually fell 8-6.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:25 pm

By: News On 6

Cardinals Take Down Drillers in 12 Innings

Originally Published: May 22, 2011 7:27 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

TULSA – The Tulsa Drillers’ slow and steady approach wasn’t enough in an 8-6 loss in 12 innings on Sunday.

Tulsa trailed Springfield multiple times in the game but rallied to tie the score three different times.

Springfield brought in two runs in the top of the first, but Tulsa responded in the bottom of the same inning. Ben Paulsen knocked home Tim Wheeler and Hector Gomez scored on a wild pitch to knot the game at two.

Neither team scored again until the fifth inning, where each team scored a run to keep the game tied.

But the Drillers picked up their first lead of the evening in the sixth, when Scott Beerer doubled and then advanced to third with a stolen base. Thomas Field singled to bring in Beerer and give Tulsa a 4-3 lead. Gomez then increased the lead to 5-3 with a home run in the seventh.

Then it was the Cardinals’ turn to rally as they pulled off three straight unanswered runs, followed by a game-tying home run from Wilin Rosario to extend the game on into the 11th inning.

Alex Castellanos picked up his ninth home run of the season in the 12th inning to seal the deal for the Cardinals.

Nick Greenwood picked up the win for Springfield and Joey Williamson got the loss for the Drillers.

Tulsa remains a half game in front of Northwest Arkansas in the North Division.

The Drillers will have a day game to finish out the series on Monday at 12:35 p.m.