Drillers week in review, week 19

With just 20 games remaining in the Texas League season, the Tulsa Drillers are finding ways to make their race for the playoffs interesting. The Drillers finished up a home series with the Springfield Cardinals with a win, before heading out for a six-game road swing through Texas that produced two wins and three losses. Tulsa is currently sitting three games behind first place Northwest Arkansas in the North Division standings, while the Springfield Cardinals have pulled even to share second place.

LOOKING BACK

Monday, August 9: Drillers 6, Cardinals 5 - Tulsa posted a four-run eighth inning to secure a one-run win and avoid being swept by Springfield in their four-game series. Matt Repec came through in the clutch, hitting a two-run double in the eighth that put the Drillers ahead for good. Adam Jorgenson picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits in one inning of work.

Wednesday, August 11: Drillers 9, Rockhounds 4 - Tulsa exploded for 15 hits, four coming from Anthony Jackson, as they started off their six-game road trip with a win. Greg Reynolds picked up his fifth win of the season, as he allowed just two hits through five scoreless innings. Jackson added two stolen bases and four RBI’s as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second and never looked back.

Thursday, August 12: Rockhounds 7, Drillers 4 - The Drillers once again got on the board first, but Midland used a three-run eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and pull off a win. Jason Van Kooten turned in a solid performance from the batters box, going three-for-four with a homer in the second inning. Bruce Billings suffered his sixth loss of the year, allowing three runs on three hits in one and two-thirds innings.

Friday, August 13: Rockhounds 11, Drillers 5 - It was a rough night all the way around for Tulsa, as they surrendered a season high 19 hits to Midland as the Rockhounds cruised to a six-run win. Midland posted runs in every inning except the seventh as they posted six runs before Tulsa got on the board in the fifth. Scott Beerer went three-for-four on the night, but it was little help for the Drillers who were unable to pull themselves out of a hole during a late-inning rally attempt.

Saturday, August 14: Drillers 4, RoughRiders 1 - The Drillers jumped back into the win column thanks to a productive tenth inning. Radames Nazario broke a 1-1 tie with a bases-loaded squeeze before Jordan Pacheco added two insurance runs to seal the deal. Tulsa held a 1-0 lead into the seventh before Joey Butler hit a game-tying homer for Frisco, eventually extending the game into extra innings.

Sunday, August 15: RoughRiders 11, Drillers 4 - For the second time in three games, the Drillers pitching staff was roughed up for 11 runs. Frisco busted the game wide open, taking a 6-0 lead with a five-run fourth inning before Tulsa cut the lead in half with three runs in the fifth. Frisco responded with four more runs in the sixth as they walked away with a lopsided victory. Keith Weiser picked up his seventh loss on the year, as he gave up eight runs on 11 hits. 

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tulsa finished their six-game road swing on Monday, and will return home to ONEOK Field on Wednesday. Their upcoming six-game homestand is just one of two remaining in the 2010 season. The Drillers will likely break the all-time season attendance record for Tulsa professional baseball at some point during the homestand. 

In 53 home games this season, Tulsa has seen a paid attendance of 336,065 for an average of 6,341 per game. The current record was set in 1999 when 351,929 people cheered on the Drillers at the fairgrounds.

Monday, August 16 at Frisco; Wednesday, August 18 vs. Midland, 7 p.m. (Remember whensday night); Thursday, August 19 vs. Midland, 7 p.m. (Augtoberfest / Thirsty Thursday, presented by 97.5 KMOD and Urban Tulsa Weekly); Friday, August 20 vs. Midland, 7 p.m. (Friday night fireworks, presented by XETA, 2 Works for You and Star 103); Saturday, August 21 vs. Frisco, 7 p.m. (Rockies mania night/ Rockies mascot Dinger performs, presented by Incredible Pizza and 94.1 The Sound); Sunday, August 22 vs. Frisco, 7 p.m. (TTCU family funday Sunday, presented by TTCU The Credit Union / Mascot mania).

STANDINGS

Texas League North: Northwest Arkansas (30-20), Springfield (27-23), Tulsa (27-23), Arkansas (21-29).

Texas League South: Midland (27-23), San Antonio (24-26), Frisco (23-27), Corpus Christi (21-29).

BATTING LEADERS 

Average: Bronson Sardinha (.300). Hits: Anthony Jackson (91). Doubles: Jason Van Kooten (26). Triples: Anthony Jackson (5). Homeruns: Wilin Rosario (19). RBI: Jason Van Kooten (52).

PITCHING LEADERS 

Wins: Keith Weiser (8). ERA: Bruce Billings (3.54). Saves: Stu Pomeranz (14). Strikeouts: Cory Riordan (115).

Tickets are available for all upcoming Drillers games  are available at the ONEOK Field box office, by calling 744-5901 or online at Tulsadrillers.com.