Drillers Rally Past Cards
Trailing 5-3 entering the top of the eighth, Eduardo Cornejo doubled with one out, and Tony Blanco followed with a pinch-hit single that trimmed the margin to one run. Corey Wimberly singled and Chris Nelson walked to load the bases. After Tom Collaro struck out, Jeff Kindel reached safely on an error by second baseman Isa Garcia. The miscue not only allowed Blanco to score the tying run, it prolonged the inning. The error proved even costlier when Jeff Dragicevich reached on an infield single that brought Wimberly home with the go-ahead run.
Tulsa relievers Eduardo Valdez and Ryan Mattheus made sure the lead held. Valdez worked a perfect eighth inning, while Mattheus struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth.
The two teams took turns scoring in the game. The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Mark Shorey singled home James Rapoport.
The Drillers answered in the top of the second when Daniel Carte led off with this ninth home run of the season.
Springfield retook the lead in the third with three straight two-out singles. The third single, from Andrew Brown, plated Allen Craig. After a walk, another hit from Jose Martinez scored Shorey to make it 3-1. The lead could have been larger, but Tulsa right fielder Tom Collaro threw out Brown at the plate also attempting score on the hit by Martinez.
The Drillers tied the game again in the fourth inning. Rick Guarno made it 3-2 with his second homer in as many nights. Eduardo Cornejo followed with a double and later scored on a wild pitch from Adam Ottavino that tied the game.
It remained 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh. With one out, James Rapoport belted his 3rd home run of the year to put the Cards back in front. One out later, Craig struck with his 20th homer that increased the lead to 5-3.
The rally by the Drillers made a winner out of starting pitcher Alan Johnson. The victory improved his record to 4-11.
The outcome spoiled a big night from Springfield's Craig. The third baseman finished a perfect 4-4.
Tulsa will close its short, four-game road trip Monday night in southwest Missouri. Brandon Hynick will take the mound for the Drillers, while the Cardinals will counter with Kyle Mura. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10PM at Hammons Field.