Drillers Swept by Cardinals in Doubleheader

Originally Published: Jul 21, 2010 12:10 AM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri -- After losing on a walk-off homerun in the series opener, the Tulsa Drillers were swept in a day-night double-header with the Springfield Cardinals Tuesday.

Springfield (47-45) scored eight consecutive runs to win the first game 8-5, and topped Tulsa (44-48) on a walk-off home run yet again to win 5-4 in the nightcap.

In the first game, Tulsa started the scoring with a solo home run by Jason Van Kooten in the second at-bat of the game. Four at-bats later, Scott Beerer singled to center field to score Bronson Sardinha and Jeff Kindel to take a 3-0 lead.

Springfield broke the scoring drought in the bottom of the third when an errant pickoff attempt allowed Jermaine Curtin to score from third and advanced Daryl Jones from second. Later in the same at-bat, Pete Kozma singled to left field to score Jones and pull within 3-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cardinals tied the game on a Thomas Pham line-drive single to left field to bring Andrew Brown home from second. Two at-bats later, Trey Hearne doubled to left field to score Pham from first to take a 4-3 lead.

The Cardinals extended their lead on a Brown RBI single to right field to score Matt Carpenter from third. Two batters later, Pham homered to left field with two on base to take an 8-3 lead.

RBI singles in the top of the seventh closed the gap to three runs, but Sardinha flied out to left field to end the game.

Hearne (1-1) was credited with the win in the opening game for Springfield after pitching allowing only three earned runs in his five innings. Keith Weiser (7-6) pitched five innings and allowed seven runs to receive a loss.

In the second game, Stuart Pomeranz (1-6) blew his second-consecutive save, giving up yet another two-run walk-off home run in the final inning. Blake King was credited with a win for his outing, after striking out five and allowing just one hit in his two innings of service.

With two outs on the board in the bottom of the seventh and Curt Smith on first, Steven Hill sent the second pitch he saw over the wall in left field to hand Tulsa its fourth consecutive loss.

Springfield battled control issues throughout the game, walking in three of Tulsa’s four runs across home plate. However, they capitalized on runners in scoring position to stay in contention.

Tulsa will try to snap the skid against Springfield at 7:05 p.m. in game four of the five-game series.