First Half Ends with Frustrating 5-4 Loss in 11 Innings

Although the game Monday night mathematically did not mean anything, with the first half standings already determined, it was not apparent by the way the Tulsa Drillers and Springfield Cardinals played. After seeing the Cardinals go up 4-0 early, the Drillers battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth before eventually falling in the eleventh inning 5-4.

Despite out-hitting the Cardinals 16-8 on the night, the Drillers negated their offensive advantage by leaving a season-high 18 runners on base, to go with 4 errors in the field to match their season-high.

 Springfield jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Missouri State product Luke Voit grounded a two-out, RBI single into center to put the Cardinals on top early.

Voit doubled the Springfield advantage three innings later as he launched his 10th homer of the year with one out in the fourth inning. The solo shot made the score 2-0 Cardinals.

Tulsa threatened in the home half of the frame as Cody Bellinger and Paul Hoenecke singled before being moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Chase De Jong. But Springfield starter Corey Baker was able to escape the jam as he struck out Jordan Tarsovich swinging to end the inning.

Feeding off the momentum of Baker's strikeout, the Cardinals opened up the fifth inning with two straight singles. Baker then laid a bunt down the third base line and made it safely to first after Tarsovich threw the ball away. Luis Cruz came home to score and Juan Herrera moved to third on the play before the ball could be retrieved. De Jong was able to settle things down as he got Nick Martini to ground into a double play, but Herrera crossed the plate to put Springfield in front 4-0.

The Drillers came to life in the bottom of the fifth as Brandon Trinkwon led off with a double down the right field line. Willie Calhoun followed with a walk and both runners promptly moved up a base when Baker uncorked a wild pitch. Trinkwon then came home to score when Springfield shortstop Herrera bobbled a groundball off the bat of Alex Verdugo. Calhoun then came home as Jacob Scavuzzo grounded into a double play to bring the score to 4-2.

Bellinger then stepped up to the plate and launched his first home run in his last 22 games to cap the scoring. His 7th homer of the season brought the score to 4-3.

The score would hold there over the next three innings. The Drillers loaded the bases in both the seventh and eighth innings, but came up empty both times. Meanwhile, Joe Broussard and Ralston Cash combined to keep the Cardinals from crossing the plate to keep the game close.

Bellinger sparked the Drillers in the bottom of the ninth as he led off with a double. He then attempted to score on a pinch-hit single by Shawn Zarraga, but was barely thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning. Zarraga moved to second on the throw home and was then pinch-run for by pitcher Tim Shibuya. Following a single by Hoenecke, Lars Anderson delivered a line-drive base hit through the right side to plate Shibuya and tie the game at 4-4.

Following a walk to Tarsovich, the Drillers looked primed for the walk-off victory. But Trinkwon flew out to shallow left field and Calhoun struck out swinging as Tulsa left the bases loaded for the third straight inning.

Springfield threatened to take the lead in the tenth inning, but Verdugo made a sensational throw from center field to nail Martini at the plate and keep the game knotted up. It was the second outfield assist for Verdugo in as many innings after he also threw out Mason Katz at third in the ninth, showcasing his strong arm.

But the Cardinals finally pulled ahead in the eleventh without even picking up a base hit. Facing Kyle Hooper with one out, Katz worked a walk out of the Tulsa reliever. Katz then promptly stole second and third on back-to-back pitches before coming home to score when Hooper bounced a pitch past Hoenecke to put Springfield back in front 5-4.

Pedro Echemendia almost let the Drillers tie things up again in the bottom half of the frame as Tarsovich just missed a home run down the left field line. Trinkwon then ended the game by flying out to the warning track in right field bringing an end to the frustrating finish to the night and the first half.

Reliever Chris Thomas picked up the win with a scoreless tenth inning of work for Springfield while Hooper was saddled with his second loss of the year. Echemendia earned his first save of the year by closing out the eleventh.

Tuesday will mark the first game of the second half of the Texas League season as the Drillers and Cardinals continue their series. Scheduled to start for Tulsa will be RHP Jeremy Kehrt (1-2, 4.57 ERA) while RHP Luke Weaver (3-0, 0.89 ERA) will head to the hill for Springfield. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.