Tulsa Dominates Arkansas Thanks to Dominant Pitching

Drillers' starter Christian Fridrich pitched five shutout innings, while striking out seven batters in the win.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:24 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Dominates Arkansas Thanks to Dominant Pitching

Originally Published: May 13, 2011 11:37 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- The Tulsa Drillers came away with its second consecutive win Friday with a 9-1 win over the Arkansas Travelers, thanks to a strong start from Christian Fridrich.

Fridrich (3-2) kept the Travelers’ (13-17) offense in check with a strong seven-inning outing. The left-handed pitcher gave up just five hits and one earned run – a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth from Angel Castillo – while striking out seven Arkansas batters.

Orangel Arenas (4-1) received a loss for his outing, giving up 11 hits and eight earned runs in his 4.2 innings pitched.

The Drillers (20-13) spread its nine runs over six innings, scoring no more than three runs in one inning. Tulsa started the scoring in the top of the first thanks to a Darin Holcomb RBI single to right field to score Tim Wheeler. Another RBI single in the top of the second, this one from Hector Gomez to bring Thomas Field.

Scott Beerer added another run in the top of the third with a solo home run to center field, his sixth of the season, giving Tulsa a 3-0 advantage.

With Ben Paulsen at-bat, Thomas Field stole home, his first stolen base of the day, as part of a double-steal to take a four-run lead. Paulsen would double to center field to bring Gomez home from third and take a 6-0 lead.

An RBI double from Field and an RBI single from Wheeler in back-to-back at-bats in the top of the fifth put the Travelers in a eight-run hole.

Leading 8-1 in the top of the seventh, Beerer went yard for the second time in the game to put the Drillers in front 9-1.

Tulsa will continue its road series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, before closing it out at 2 p.m. Sunday.