Drillers Win First of Three Against Missions

Originally Published: Apr 11, 2010 8:47 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Tulsa Drillers (1-3) won the first game of a three-game series agains the San Antonio Missions (1-3) Sunday, 9-6.

Eight runs in the bottom of the first inning helped the Drillers establish a big lead the Missions just couldn’t reach.

San Antonio put up two runs to begin the game after Logan Forsythe hit a two-run homerun to right field. The lead didn’t last long, as the Drillers stepped up to the plate.

Tulsa’s Anthony Jackson was walked and reached third in the next play after San Antonio shortstop Jesus Lopez made an error off a hit by Jason Van Kooten. A double by Kenny Perez hit both Jackson and Van Kooten home to earn the Drillers their first two runs of the evening.

Perez reached third on the next at bat, awhile Ryan Harvey was walked. Jeff Kindel singled, while Perez scored a third run. Wilin Rosario followed with a triple, hitting home Harvey and Kindel to put the Drillers ahead 5-2. Rosario, on third, scored on the next at bat when Radames Nazario singled.

San Antonio’s Matt Buschmann continued to struggle on the mound, as Jackson hit two-run homer off him to right center field. Wynn Pelzer replaced Buschmann in an effort to regain control on the mound. He finished the inning by striking out Van Kooten.

The Missions answered back in the third, when Cedric Hunter scored off a single by Matt Clark. James Darnell was hit on the next pitch, loading the bases with Forsythe on third, Clark on second and Darnell on first. Sawyer Carroll hit a line drive, hitting home Forsythe and Clark to narrow the Drillers lead to three runs at 8-5.

Tulsa tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third inning, when Rosario, on first, was able to earn the run off a single by Nazario after right fielder Kellen Kulbacki committed an error.

San Antonio attempted to rally back, but their lone run in the eighth inning wouldn’t be enough. The Tulsa Drillers will face the San Antonio April 12 and 13 at 7:05 p.m. as part of the teams’ three-game series.