Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Double-A Affiliate
The Official Site of the Springfield Cardinals Springfield Cardinals

Drillers top Cardinals in Tuesday's doubleheader

May 14, 2014

Tulsa, OK - The Tulsa Drillers took both halves of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Springfield Cardinals, winning Game 1, 5-4, in eight innings and Game 2, 9-0, in the standard seven innings before 4,542 fans at ONEOK Field.

Game 1:

The Cardinals (17-20) led from the top of the first inning through the top of the sixth, before the Drillers (19-18) came back late and eventually walked off with a 5-4 win in eight innings in the first game.

Springfield struck for one run in each of the first two innings against RHP Richard Castillo. After CF Rafael Ortega reached on an error and moved to third on a RF James Ramsey double with one down in the first, 1B Curt Smith cracked the scoreless tie with an RBI groundout to short, making it 1-0. 3B Patrick Wisdom then led off the second inning with a double, before scoring two outs later on an RBI single from LHP Kyle Hald, doubling the early advantage to 2-0.

The Drillers got the bats going with four straight singles to open the bottom of the second and get on the board with one run against Hald, but the Cardinals stretched it right back out in the top of the fourth. Leading off the frame, C Cody Stanley launched a solo home run to make it 3-1.

Hald kept the two-run lead intact with scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, but Tulsa came back in the bottom of the sixth. With one down, 1B Ryan Casteel sparked the offense with a solo home run, followed later in the inning by a two-run shot from RF Jared Simon to tilt the Drillers into the 4-3 lead.

However, Springfield answered immediately in the top of the seventh inning, their final offensive frame in regulation. OF David Popkins entered the game as a pinch hitter to start the seventh, crushing the first pitch from RHP Cole White over the right-center field fence to tie the game, 4-4, and eventually lead to extra innings.

The Drillers, though, dealt the final blow in the bottom of the eighth. With the game still tied, 4-4, Casteel reached on an error with one down, before motoring to third on a double by C Tom Murphy. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, LF Brian Humphries lined an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Casteel and lifting the Drillers to the 5-4 walk-off win. RHP Nelson Gonzalez (W, 2-1) picked up the win for Tulsa, while RHP Joey Donofrio (L, 2-1) was tagged with the loss.

Click here for the complete box score from Game 1.

Game 2:

The Drillers struck early in the bottom of the first inning in the second game and never looked back en route to the 9-0 win in seven innings.

Tulsa (20-18) opened the scoring with a three-run frame against RHP Seth Blair (L, 3-2) in the bottom of the first. With two on and two down, LF Brian Humphries lined an RBI single to left field that led to a fielding error in left, bringing in both runners and enabling Humphries to get to third on the play. 1B Harold Riggins then ripped an RBI single to center field, bringing in Humphries for the 3-0 lead.

The Drillers then opened the advantage further with a five-run rally in the bottom of the third. With runners at the corners and no outs, C Ryan Casteel and Humphries struck with an RBI single and an RBI double, respectively. Riggins then reached first base after striking out on a wild pitch that got away, loading the bases with no outs. 3B Joey Wong followed with a two-run base hit to right-center, bringing in two runners and putting two at the corners. With LHP Ryan Sherriff on the mound, RF Tyler Massey capped the rally with an RBI sacrifice fly, stretching it to an 8-0 lead.

Sherriff settled things down for the Cardinals (17-21), getting out of the third and dealing a 1-2-3 fourth, but Tulsa added one more in the fifth. With one away and the bases empty, Riggins drove a solo home run to right field, accounting for the eventual final score in the 9-0 win for the Drillers. LHP Carlos Hernandez (W, 1-2) tossed five scoreless innings to log the win.

Click here for the complete box score from Game 2.

Cardinals come back on May 16 for a four-game series

Springfield continues the road trip in Tulsa on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05pm. Catch all the action live on KBFL 1060AM, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cardinals then return home on Friday, May 16 to host the Arkansas Travelers for a four-game series at Hammons Field. Don't miss phenomenal AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring 60s British Rock & Roll after the 7:10pm game. Gates open at 6:10pm.

The Cards and Travs then square off on Saturday, May 17 with a 6:10pm First Pitch. That day features the Coca-Cola 3/4 Sleeve Shirt Giveaway for 2,500 fans. Gates open at 5:10pm.

Sunday, May 18 will be a 2:10pm game at Hammons Field, as well as a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream for kids before the game. All kids can then run the bases just like Cardinals after the game with The Track Family Fun Parks Kids Race the Bases promotion. Gates open at 1:10pm.

The series then wraps up on Monday, May 19 with a 7:10pm First Pitch against the Travelers. Gates open at 6:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a The Cup Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the complete 2014 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

Escape to Cardinals Baseball!