Hochevar, Reynolds meet in Texas League
Tuesday's game, which featured last year's top two draft picks as the starting pitchers, was suspended due to rain and lightning with Tulsa and Wichita tied at 1-1 in the 12th inning.
The game resumed on Wednesday and the Wranglers quickly staked themselves to a 3-1 lead in the 13th on a two-run homer by Chris Lubanski. But Tulsa neutralized Lubanski's homer in the bottom half of the frame when Aaron Rifkin's two-out double brought in the game-tying and game-winning runs.
But the real story began at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, when a crowd of 10,656 at Drillers Stadium in Tulsa witnessed the first time in professional baseball history that the top two picks from the same draft have started against each other in a game.
Wichita's Hochevar, the top pick by Kansas City last year, allowed an unearned run on five hits, striking out five and without issuing any walks over seven innings.
"I felt like I stayed within myself and executed good pitches," Hochevar said. "I'm concerned with their hitters, and you really can't get caught up in that regardless of who you are going against.
"You know who the opposing guy is. Greg Reynolds is an outstanding pitcher, and he showed it again. It makes things fun pitching in tight ballgames."
Reynolds, who was selected second overall by Colorado, didn't allow any runs on two hits, striking out one and walking one over five innings. It was his first start for Tulsa since besting Wichita on May 15.
"The main thing was to treat it like any other game and not put any added pressure on myself," Reynolds said. "It was fun to be a part of this."
Tulsa did get to Hochevar in the bottom of the first. Corey Wimberly reached on a fielding error by shortstop Irving Falu and crossed the plate when Christian Colonel doubled to left-center field.
"Luke stepped up [Tuesday] and had one of his best games of the year," said Wichita pitching coach Larry Carter. "Whether that (the pitching matchup with Reynolds) had anything to do with it, I don't know. The things he did are the things we are looking for him to do. He took some big steps tonight. He gained a lot of confidence."
Reynolds left after five innings because he was on a limited pitch count in his return from right-shoulder inflammation. The 6-foot-7, 225-pounder from Stanford threw 48 pitches.
"The results were good, and I was able to shake some of the rust off," the 21-year-old said.
"It looked like he hadn't missed a beat," added Drillers manager Stu Cole.
Hochevar, a 23-year-old right-hander from Tennessee, came into the game with a 3-6 record and a 5.05 ERA in 14 games.
"I feel like I've come a long ways," the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder said. "It's good to get back to pitching like I pitch and being myself. When things get tough, you have to turn to your strengths."
Reynolds came into the game with a 4-1 record and 1.58 ERA in seven games. It looked as though he would pick up his fifth win, but the Wranglers' Mike Stodolka smacked a homer to left center with two outs in the top of the ninth off reliever Steven Register to tie the game.
"It was good to see him back in there competing," said Tulsa pitching coach Bo McLaughlin. "He kept us in the game."
The teams played scoreless ball over the next 2 1/2 innings, and the game was then delayed by rain.
The only other time in the draft, which was instituted in 1965, that pitchers were taken with the top two picks was in 1976 when Houston drafted Floyd Bannister and Detroit followed by picking Pat Underwood. The two never faced each other in the Minors and didn't start against each other in the Majors.
Bannister and Underwood did meet twice, in 1979 and 1982, with Bannister starting and Underwood pitching in relief.
Larry Lewis is a contributor to MLB.com.