Kozma Leads Cards Past Drillers
Owasso native Pete Kozma played a big role in the comeback, finishing with three hits, including a grand slam home run. He fell only a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
The loss for the Drillers dropped them three games behind the first-place Redbirds in the North Division standings of the Texas League with only 14 games remaining in the first half of the schedule.
Tulsa jumped to a quick lead when Cole Garner led off the bottom of the first with a double off the wall in center. He took third on a wild pitch before he scoring on Mike Paulk's line drive single to left to make it 1-0.
The Drillers increased their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second. The inning started when Darin Holcomb reached with a walk. He moved to second as Rex Rundgren grounded out, and then to third on a passed ball. Holcomb scored on Anthony Jackson's single to left. With two outs, a single to center by Garner pushed Jackson to second. Both runners scored when Paulk doubled a liner to right, giving the Drillers their four-run lead.
The Cardinals cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the third. Daryl Jones' led off with a single to center, and then advanced to second when Tyler Henly reached on a catcher's interference call. Jones came around to score on Daniel Descalso's ground ball single to center. Henley later scored on a sacrifice fly from Tony Cruz.
An RBI single by Cruz in the fifth cut the lead to a single run. The Cards eventually loaded the bases for Kozma who belted his second Double A homer over the wall in left-center field. The grand slam put Springfield in front 7-4.
The lead increased to 8-4 when pinch hitter Matt Arburr followed the Kozma slam with a solo homer.
Tulsa cut the margin to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth. After Garner walked, he came home on Paulk's double to left, his third hit of the night. The Drillers lost a chance to get closer when Paulk was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play.
The Drillers scored another run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within two at 8-6. Jackson grounded a double to right before he scored on Garner's line drive double to left.
Paulk, Garner and Jackson each collected three hits in the game.
Kozma had a chance to complete the cycle when he batted in the seventh, but reliever Adam Bright retired him on a ground ball to third.
Tulsa's Brandon Durden (1-1) received the loss after surrendering eight hits and six runs (5 ER) while pitching 4 1/3 innings.
Eddie Degerman (2-1) picked up the win for the Cardinals with two innings of relief work.
The two teams will continue their series with a doubleheader on Thursday with the first game starting at 6:05 p.m.
Tulsa's Jhoulys Chacin (4-4, 3.19 ERA) will pitch against Trey Hearne (4-1, 3.16 ERA) of Springfield in the first game.
The second game will feature Joey Williamson (7-0, 2.83 ERA at Modesto) for the Drillers against Brandon Dickson (2-4, 4.41 ERA) of the Cardinals. Williamson will join the Drillers from Class A Modesto on Thursday.
NOTES: Wednesday's game began 16 minutes late because of rain in the Tulsa area. . . Williamson will be activated prior to Thursday's game after arriving from Modesto. . . .Infielder Danny Sandoval was activated prior to the game. Sandoval was a Texas League All-Star for the Drillers in 2004 and later played in the majors for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was signed as a free agent and replaced Samuel Deduno on the active roster. Deduno has been placed on the disabled list retroactive to June 7. . . .Catcher Dayton Buller was also activated on Wednesday. He replaces Jose Gonzalez who will join Tri-Cities. . . .Thursday's doubleheader became necessary because of the rainout on May 5.