Strong Pitching Leads Drillers to Doubleheader Sweep

Originally Published: Jul 9, 2010 11:6 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Tulsa Drillers swept a doubleheader against the Corpus Christi Hooks Friday, thanks in large part to dominant pitching.

The Drillers (39-43) fought through a pitchers’ duel to win the first game of the night 2-1. Tulsa starter Keith Weiser (6-5) breezed through six innings, giving up only one run on five hits. Stuart Pomeranz shut the door with a perfect seventh to earn his eighth save.

Jeremy Johnson (3-8) also pitched well for Corpus Christi (36-49), but Wilin Rosario blasted a two-run home run in the fifth inning to score the game’s first runs. The Hooks scored one run on a groundout in the sixth, but could not add any more.

In the nightcap, Tulsa again relied on strong pitching. Ching Lung Lo, Bruce Billings and Chris Malone combined to hold the Hooks to two runs on just four hits. Billings (7-5) earned the win after relieving Lo in the fourth inning.

The Drillers’ offense was much more explosive in the second game, particularly in the fifth and seventh innings. The teams entered the fifth tied 2-2, but Tulsa broke the game open with three runs. After one run scored thanks to a throwing error, Bronson Sardinha drove two more home with double.

In the seventh, Tulsa loaded the bases with one out, and Matt Repec drove home a run with a sacrifice fly. Radames Nozario added an RBI single in the next at-bat to stretch the lead to five and finish the scoring.

The doubleheader was played to make up a game that was postponed July 3. The Drillers will have to play another doubleheader Sunday against the San Antonio Missions, forcing them to play five games in three days. They will conclude try to finish a sweep of the Hooks in the series finale at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.