Walks Hurt Drillers in Series-Opening Loss

Springfield, MO – With just two weeks left in the first half of the Texas League season, the Tulsa Drillers looked to keep their division lead as they traveled to face the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field. Pitching has been the strong point of the Drillers all season, but on Tuesday evening, five Tulsa pitchers combined to issue nine walks as the Cardinals took a 9-3 game-one win.

BOX SCORE

Springfield took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on consecutive home runs from Arquimedes Gamboa and Mike Antico.

Carson Taylor cut the lead in half in the fifth inning with his fourth home run of the year, making the score 2-1.

The two runs in the second were the only runs allowed by Tulsa starting pitcher Nick Nastrini. He exited his tenth start after completing four innings and giving up five hits and four walks.

In the sixth inning, the Redbirds broke the game open by scoring seven runs that began with a lead-off home run from L.J. Jones. Five walks and three hits helped Springfield score the final six runs of the inning, making the score 9-1.

The Drillers used three pitchers in the inning as Braydon Fisher, Ben Harris and Tanner Dodson each took the mound.

Tulsa benefitted from two walks in the eighth inning to score two more runs. With one out, Austin Gauthier and Jorbit Vivas drew consecutive walks, and Jose Ramos singled to give the Drillers their second run. A wild pitch advanced both Tulsa runners to second and third for Imanol Vargas, who plated a third run on a ground out to shortstop Gamboa.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*The Arkansas Travelers earned a 4-3 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks, putting the Travelers and Drillers in a first-place tie in the Texas League North Division.

*Dodson and Kevin Gowdy were the only Tulsa pitchers to have a scoreless outing as the two hurlers combined to pitch the final 2.2 innings.

*Wilfredo Pereira earned the win for the Cardinals, pitching seven innings. The Panama native is now 2-1 against the Drillers this season.

*Ramos was the lone Driller to earn two hits in the game, and Gauthier was the only Tulsa batter to draw two walks.

*Springfield’s Manager, Jose Lager, was ejected by the home plate umpire in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes.

UP NEXT:

The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their six-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Springfield. First pitch for game two at Hammons Field is slated for 12:05 p.m. and the starting pitchers are expected to be:

TUL- RHP Ben Casparius (0-0, 2.79 ERA)

SPR- LHP Kenny Hernandez (6-2, 5.33 ERA)