Drillers Beat Cards Behind Weiser

One night after playing 13 innings, the Tulsa Drillers needed a strong outing from their starting pitcher Tuesday night to give their bullpen a much-needed rest. They got it from Keith Weiser. The lefthander worked seven innings, allowing only two runs, as the Drillers defeated Springfield 4-2.

It marked the Drillers' fifth win in their last six games and moved them ahead of the Cardinals into second place in the North Division standings, two games behind the Naturals.

Tulsa had only three hits in the game but benefited from four Springfield errors. Mike Paulk, Dayton Buller and Rex Rundgren were the only Drillers to collect a hit with one each. Only one of Tulsa's four runs was earned.

The Drillers scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead. After Brad Corley and Rundgren walked, Weiser hit a sacrifice bunt back that pitcher Scott Gorgen fielded and threw over the first baseman's head. The errant throw allowed Weiser to reach first while Corley came home and Rundgren went to third. Anthony Jackson's sacrifice fly to center brought Rundgren across the plate.

Tulsa went up 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth after Rundgren led off the inning with a double to center. Weiser reached on another sacrifice bunt when catcher Nick Derba threw to third in an unsuccessful attempt to throw out Rundgren. Rundgren then scored when first baseman Andrew Brown fielded a grounder off the bat of Danny Sandoval and threw wildly to second in an attempt to force Weiser.

The Cards only runs in the game cam in the top of the seventh. After a Shane Peterson single, Steven Hill lined a two-run homer into the net in left-field to bring the Cardinals within 3-2.

The Drillers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 4-2. Corley walked and advanced to third when pitcher Francisco Samuel fielded a Rundgren ground ball and threw wide of second base. The throwing error also allowed Rundgren to reach first. Corley eventually scored on a wild pitch by Samuel.

The win for Weiser improved his record to 6-9. He allowed only five hits while striking out four.

Alberto Alburquerque and Andrew Johnston each tossed a scoreless inning with one strikeout each. Johnston worked the ninth for his Texas League leading 24th save of the year.

The Drillers will try to win their third game of the series over the Cardinals Wednesday night. Tulsa's Jhoulys Chacin (8-6, 3.17 ERA) will take the mound against Springfield's Lance Lynn (9-2, 3.50 ERA) with first pitch set for 7:05PM at Drillers Stadium.

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