MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-After scoring only 3 runs in their last 27 innings of play, the Tulsa Drillers scored twice in the first inning Sunday afternoon, then held on for a 6-4 win over the Springfield Cardinals. The victory was the first of the second half for Tulsa and snapped a three-game losing streak.

The Drillers fast start began when leadoff hitter Anthony Jackson singled and stole second base. He eventually scored the game’s first run on a double by Michael Paulk. Mike McKenry made it 2-0 with a two-out single that scored Paulk.

Tyler Henley’s home run over the right field wall in the fourth inning cut the Drillers lead to 2-1.

Tulsa starting pitcher Greg Smith took the scoring into his own hands in the bottom of the fourth. Darin Holcomb led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rex Rundgren. Smith’s grounder up the middle hit the second base bag and kicked high into the air for a base hit that allowed Holcomb to score and extend the lead to 3-1.

The Cardinals fought back again in the fifth inning. Mike Folli drew a walk and scored on a double down the left field line by Derba to cut the lead to 3-2.
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Springfield tied the game 3-3 in the sixth inning. Henley led off the inning with his third hit of the afternoon and scored on a double by Tony Cruz.

The Drillers broke the deadlock in the seventh when Rex Rundgren led off with a double into the left field corner. After he moved to third on a throwing error by shortstop Pete Kozma, Rundgren scored on pinch-hitter Jeff Kindel’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Tulsa added two important insurance runs in the eighth inning to make it 6-3. Paulk singled before Ryan Harvey belted his 11th home run of the year into the left field netting.

The Cards nearly staged a ninth-inning rally against closer Andrew Johnston with the help of two Drillers’ errors.

Steven Hill reached on the first error as Rundgren misplayed a grounder at second. Matt Arbur followed with a fly ball to left-center field that leftfielder Brad Corley settled under. Just as Corley was catching the fly, centerfielder Anthony Jackson collided with him, knocking the ball loose. Jackson was charged with an error on the play that allowed Hill to score and Arbur to move to third base.

Jim Rapoport then drew a walk to put runners at first and third with one out. Johnston was able to strike out Jim Rapoport and get Nick Derba to groundout to secure the win for the Drillers.

Andy Graham (2-3) picked up the win for the Drillers by allowing only one run in 2 1/3 relief innings. Graham came on for starter Greg Smith in the top of fifth inning. Smith threw 4 2/3 solid innings, giving up two runs on four hits with four strikeouts, before reaching his pitch limit.

For Johnston, it was his Texas League leading 22nd save of the season.

Former Oral Roberts University pitcher Marco Gonzalez (0-2) took the loss for the Cards, giving up one unearned run on one hit in one inning of work.

The Drillers will try to even up the series at two games apiece as they finish their series with the Cardinals on Monday night. Samuel Deduno (6-2, 2.98 ERA) will make the start for Tulsa against Springfield’s Brian Broderick (0-3, 4.50 ERA). First pitch is schedule for 7:05 PM at Drillers Stadium.

Box Score

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