Tulsa Avoids Three-Game Losing Streak by Dropping Cardinals

The Drillers kept the Springfield offense in check Saturday and rolled to a nine-run win.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:25 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Avoids Three-Game Losing Streak by Dropping Cardinals

Originally Published: May 21, 2011 10:56 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Tulsa Drillers avoided three consecutive losses Saturday with an 11-2 win over the Springfield Cardinals thanks to a great start from starter Rob Scahill.

The right-handed pitcher, playing his first season with the Drillers (23-18), gave up just three hits and one earned run in his seven innings pitched. Scahill’s (3-3) only earned run of the contest came in the top of the fifth via a solo home run from Niko Vasquez.

Michael Blazek (4-2) was credited with a loss for the outing, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs in her four innings pitched.

Tulsa jumped out in front of Springfield (17-24) early, thanks to a five-run first inning.

With runners on second and third, Darin Holcomb doubled to left field to bring Hector Gomez home from second to score the game’s first run. Scott Beerer singled in the next at-bat to bring Ben Paulsen and Holcomb home to take a 3-0 advantage. Michael Mitchell followed with a ground ball double to right field to bring Beerer home to make the lead four runs.

Two at-bats later, Thomas Field singled to left field to bring Mitchell home to take a 6-0 lead.

Leading 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth, a sacrifice fly from Field and an RBI single from Tim Wheeler made it a seven-run advantage for the Drillers. Three more runs in the bottom of the sixth was all it took for Tulsa to come away with the win.

The two squads will square off for the third of their four-game series at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.