Drillers walk off with 7-6 win on Sunday

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Tulsa Drillers walked off with a walk-heavy bottom of the ninth to take the 7-6 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 3,553 fans at ONEOK Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Cardinals (32-37) came out swinging in the top of the second against RHP Mitchell White. With two away and the bases empty, 1B Stefan Trosclair slugged a solo shot to left field, his third home run in Double-A, lifting the Cardinals into the 1-0 lead.

The Drillers (34-35) responded with an RBI single from C Keibert Ruiz and an RBI fielder's choice from 2B Drew Jackson in the second, but Springfield came right back in the third. After RHP Connor Jones led off with a walk, 2B Tommy Edman collected the first of his three hits on the day, extending his on-base streak to 23 games. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt from SS Edmundo Sosa, before Jones streaked home on an RBI sacrifice fly from CF Lane Thomas. 3B Evan Mendoza then placed an RBI single with two outs, scoring Edman for the 3-2 Cardinals lead.

Jones kept the lead intact until the fifth, when Tulsa plated a pair with a two-run single from LF Zach Reks for the 4-3 lead.

The Cardinals battled back with a two-out RBI double from RF Granden Goetzman in the top of the sixth, but the Drillers countered in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single from 2B Drew Jackson for the 5-4 lead.

Goetzman struck again in the eighth with another game-tying hit, this time ripping a two-out RBI triple to left-center, scoring LF Victor Roache from second base for the 5-5 tie.

However, Tulsa once again had a retort in the bottom of the eighth, plating the go-ahead run on an RBI sacrifice fly from RF Luke Raley to move back in front, 6-5.

The Cardinals refused to go down easily, rallying once more in the top of the ninth. With Thomas at second base and two away, Mendoza came through with a game-tying RBI double to right-center field, plating Thomas to tie the game, 6-6, and force a bottom of the ninth.

LHP Ian McKinney (L, 2-1) started the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout, but then lost Reks and C Keibert Ruiz with consecutive walks. McKinney battled back with a second strikeout, but put on 2B Drew Jackson with a two-out walk that loaded the bases. Out of position players, the Drillers turned to RHP Logan Bawcom as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded and two away. McKinney, though, issued a four-pitch walk to Bawcom, forcing in the game-winning run in the Drillers 7-6 walk-off win. Tulsa RHP Layne Somsen (W, 1-0) notched the win.
Chris Carpenter Bobbleheads, Red Dry Fit Polo Shirts, Fans-On-Field Fireworks and more June 21 - 24
The Cardinals close the First Half of the season in Tulsa at 7:05pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyotes Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

The Cardinals then return home from Thursday, June 21 - Sunday, June 24 for a fun-filled four-game set, featuring:

-Thursday, June 21, 7:10 - St. Louis Cardinals Chris Carpenter Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000) and Klement's $1 Bratwurst Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, June 22, 7:10pm - Fans-On-Field Fireworks & Margaritaville Night at the Ballpark with a Margaritaville Themed Specialty Jersey Auction. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, June 23, 6:10pm - Mercy Red Dry Fit Polo Shirt Giveaway (2,000). Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, June 24, 6:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 5:10pm.


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