Tulsa Drillers Recapture Winning Ways, Beat Springfield Cardinals 10-9 in 11th - AA, Texas League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - May 16, 2008 - It was not easy, but the Tulsa Drillers ended a three-game losing streak Friday night. The Drillers twice blew leads, but finally pushed across the winning run in the top of the eleventh inning for a 10-9 win over the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field. It was the eighth straight loss for the Redbirds.

Early in the game, it looked as if Tulsa was on its way to an easy win. A five-run first inning was highlighted by a grand slam home run by Tony Blanco.

The Drillers added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Dexter Fowler doubled and scored on a base hit by Matt Miller. Blanco picked up his fifth run batted in with a run-scoring single.

The Cardinals first comeback began when they plated four runs in the bottom of the second.

They added another run in the bottom of the fourth on Tyler Greene's fifth home run of the season.

A two-run single by Jose Martinez tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth.

The Drillers responded in the top of the sixth, scoring a couple of unearned runs off reliever Nick Webber to take a 9-7 lead.

The Cards again answered. In the seventh, Steve Hill and Allen Craig hit back-to-back homers off Tulsa reliever Jonathan George to tie the game at 9-9.

It remained tied until the Drillers broke through in the top of the eleventh. Miller walked, and Jeff Kindel singled with one out to put runners at first and third. Springfield elected to intentionally walk Daniel Carte to load the bases. The move failed when Brian Esposito executed a squeeze bunt that scored Miller to give the Drillers their third lead of the night.

Casey Weathers made sure this one held up, but the Cardinals did threaten in the bottom of the eleventh. Weathers walked lead off hitter Brandon Yarbrough, but then struck out Greene. Matt Pagnozzi followed with a double that moved Yarbrough to third. The Drillers survived the jam as Casey Rowlett grounded out and Jon Jay popped up to end the game.

Kindel led a 13-hit Tulsa attack with four hits in six at-bats. Miller was 3-4, and Blanco was 2-6 with 5 runs batted in.

Ryan Mattheus (1-2) collected his first win of the year with two perfect innings, while the save was the first of the season for Weathers.

For Box Score, see: 

BOXSCORE

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