Big Fourth Inning Leaves Travelers Stranded

Originally Published: May 5, 2010 2:41 PM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Never mind that hard-to-pronounce Icelandic volcano, which stranded hundreds of travelers.

What frustrated the Travelers – as in Arkansas Travelers – on Wednesday afternoon was a dynamite fourth inning in which the Tulsa Drillers scored five runs to take the middle game of the three-game series, 8-4.

Arkansas got off on the right foot, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after knocking in runners in both the third and fourth innings.

The Travelers nickel-and-dimed their way through the third inning, getting players on base through a series of singles, an error and a walk. The big hit came from Julio Perez, knocking in two runs on a ground ball single to left field.

In the following inning, Jay Brossman led off with a double and was soon knocked in on third baseman Hainley Statia’s single to right.

Then, the Drillers’ bats exploded on Ryan Brasier.

A Kiel Roling single got things started and back-to-back doubles by Dayton Buller and Jason Von Kooten knocked in a pair of runs. A pair of singles and a triple by Anthony Jackson capped the fourth inning damage at five runs and six hits for the Drillers.

Tulsa hurler Ching Lung Ho couldn’t last long enough to get the win, going just 4 innings and giving up five hits.

Von Kooten struck again in the eighth inning, taking Barret Browning deep for a two-run home run. From there, Tulsa’s bullpen took the reins, retiring the final seven batters in order.

Tulsa will go for the series sweep Thursday night with Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis on the hill in a rehab appearance.