Tulsa Drillers Outlast Arkansas Travelers 1-0 - AA, Texas League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - North Little Rock, AR - Dan Denham is becoming the epitome of a hard-luck pitcher.  For the third time, Denham (1-3) suffered a shutout loss while giving a fine effort of his own as the Tulsa Drillers scored the game's only run on a balk in a 1-0 victory over the Travelers.  Tulsa RHP Alan Johnson (1-3) matched Denham throughout the game and combined on a two-hitter as the Drillers snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Travs' only base hits came in the first two innings, both two-out infield singles by Mike Collins and Jordan Czarniecki.  Johnson retired 17 of the last 19 batters he faced, while leaving four men on.

Denham allowed just one hit over three innings, but Matt Miller began the fourth inning with a hard grounder to the right of 3B Corey Smith.  He reached out for the ball and it kicked off his foot into foul territory for a two-base error.  A passed ball by C Tim Duff moved Miller to third base with no outs.  Denham responded by getting Tony Blanco on a weak fly ball to right then he struck out Daniel Carte looking.  With Jeff Kindel batting, Denham was called for a balk for flinching while taking the sign and Miller scored from third base.


Advertisement = The Drillers didn't threaten to score for the rest of the game, as Denham finished eight innings with one hit, two walks and seven strikeouts.

The Travs had a few chances to bring home a run against Johnson, but not until the fifth.  Czarniecki walked and advanced to second on a fielder's choice then stole third base with two outs.  But Johnson induced Cody Fuller to foul out to end the inning.

Corey Smith made it to second base with one out in the seventh on a throwing error by Tulsa SS Chris Nelson, but neither Cliff Remole or Czarniecki to score him.  Duff drew a leadoff walk from Johnson in the eighth and Fuller bunted him to second base.  The Drillers brought LHP Adam Bright out of the bullpen and he held the lead after groundouts by Nate Sutton and Hainley Statia.

RHP Ryan Mattheus came on in the ninth for the save (3) and walked Collins to begin the inning.  But Ben Johnson bounced into a double play and Corey Smith struck out to end the game.

Time of game was 2:26 and the paid crowd was 10,007, the largest crowd at Dickey-Stephens Park.

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