Drillers Edge Missions on Tragic Day

Originally Published: Apr 20, 2010 3:39 PM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- In what was a tragic day for the Colorado Rockies franchise, the Tulsa Drillers took to the field just minutes before the death of Rockies president Keli McGregor was reported.

Despite the news, the Drillers forged through to edge the home San Antonio Missions, 2-1.

After three scoreless innings, the Missions jumped on the board first.

A Matt Clark single and James Darnell walk put runners on base for Sawyer Carroll. The right fielder doubled to center, scoring Clark, but Darnell was thrown out at home to limit the damage.

Jeremy Hefner – four strikeouts, three walks – left the game after five innings with the 1-0 lead intact, but San Antonio’s bullpen couldn’t hold on.

Right-hander Brandon Gomes threw two innings, striking out three, but was stuck with a blown save after Ryan Harvey led off the top of the seventh with his second home run of the season.

San Antonio loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Scott Rice entered the game and induced an inning-ending double play.

For his efforts, the Drillers would earn Rice his first win of the season.

Evan Scribner came in to pitch the top of the eighth, but walked Anthony Jackson with one out. Jackson stole second base, then scored on a Jason Van Kooten single.

Van Kooten – the only Drillers player with a multi-hit game – reached third base on a throwing error, but the Drillers failed to drive him in with one out in the inning.

Chris Baker shut down the opposition 1-2-3 in the ninth inning to earn his fourth save in the young season.