Drillers Blow 7-Run Lead, Win to Even Playoff Series
Springdale, AR - Scott Hennessey has been the manager of the Tulsa Drillers for just 42 games, but he will likely have to manage for many years to top what he witnessed Thursday night in Game 2 of the Texas League North Division Playoff Series. Hennessey watched his Drillers storm
Springdale, AR - Scott Hennessey has been the manager of the Tulsa Drillers for just 42 games, but he will likely have to manage for many years to top what he witnessed Thursday night in Game 2 of the Texas League North Division Playoff Series. Hennessey watched his Drillers storm to what seemed an insurmountable 7-0 lead, only to see <st1:place w:st="on">Northwest Arkansas rally to erase the margin and tie the score. That set the stage for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa's
The game was the complete opposite of Wednesday's pitching duel that was won 3-1 by the Naturals to open the series.
The offensive fireworks began early as the Drillers topped their entire output from the previous night in just the first inning.
The lead swelled to 6-0 when the Drillers plated four more runs in the top of the third. Garlick drew a leadoff walk and
Beaty increased the margin to 7-0 when he led off the fifth with his first postseason homer.
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa starting pitcher
<st1:place w:st="on">Northwest Arkansas produced three more runs in the fifth. Three straight singles to open the inning cut the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa lead to three runs. An error by Beaty at first gave the Naturals another run and left runners at the corners. After a strikeout, Beaty fielded a ground ball off the bat of Miller. The first baseman elected to try to turn an inning-ending double play, but the relay to first was late, allowing another run to cross the plate to make it 7-6.
The Naturals completed their comeback with a run off reliever
After seeing the big lead disappear, Hennessey had to be pleased with his team's immediate response. Garlick was hit by a pitch from reliever
Given a second chance, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa made sure this lead held. Moran was superb, working 2 2/3 scoreless innings behind Barlow and Copping. Corcino walked the first batter in the bottom of the ninth on four pitches, but he recovered to retire the next three batters to end the game and even the series at one game each. Moran was credited with the victory in the game that took 3:42 to complete.
The setting now switches to ONEOK Field for the rest of the series. Game three is scheduled for Friday night as
Game 4 and Game 5, if necessary, will also be played in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tulsa on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and Sunday (6:05 p.m.) nights.