SPRINGFIELD — The Tulsa Drillers struck for two runs in the top of the eighth to catapult in front for the 4-3 win against the Springfield Cardinals before 4,307 fans at Hammons Field on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals (20-12, 55-47) charged in front in the bottom of the second inning. With one down, LF Randy Arozarena worked a walk, before motoring to second on a single from 3B Jacob Wilson. C Andrew Knizner then laced an RBI single, plating Arozarena from second base and extending his hitting streak to 13 games. After getting to third on Knizner’s single, Wilson tagged and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from SS Tommy Edman, doubling the Cardinals lead to 2-0.
Cardinals LHP Austin Gomber dealt a 1-2-3 top of the third, extending his consecutive outs streak to nine straight, before Springfield added to the lead in the bottom of the third. With one away, 2B Darren Seferina lined a single up the middle, extending his 11-game hitting streak. With 1B John Nogowski at bat, a wild pitch bounced away from C Garrett Kennedy and allowed Seferina to race all the way in from second base, increasing the Cardinals lead to 3-0.
Gomber kept the Drillers (19-13, 52-50) off the board through his first five frames, before Tulsa broke through in the top of the sixth. A one out single from SS Errol Robinson started the rally, followed by a double from RF Henry Ramos. After LF Peter O’Brien worked a walk to load the bases, Gomber hit 1B Jose Fernandez with a pitch to force in Robinson. LHP Jacob Evans (L, 0-1) took over on the mound, but 3B Matt Beaty drilled an RBI single to bring the Drillers within one run. Evans, though, battled back with consecutive outs, getting the Cardinals out of the jam with a 3-2 lead.
Tulsa then jumped in front in the top of the eighth. LF Peter O’Brien singled with one away, before a go-ahead two-run home run from 2B Jose Fernandez to jolt the Drillers in front, 4-3.
Drillers LHP Michael Johnson (W, 4-1) capped his 3.0-inning outing with a scoreless bottom of the eighth, followed by a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth from RHP Corey Copping (S, 11), and Tulsa hung on for the 4-3 comeback win.
