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Gaviglio tops Butler

 

Pitcher Eddie Butler returned to the mound for the Tulsa Drillers Wednesday night, but he was upstaged by Springfield's Sam Gaviglio. Gaviglio limited the Drillers to only two hits and recorded nine strikeouts in six shutout innings, leading the Cardinals to a 10-0 victory at Hammons Field.

 

Butler pitched better than his pitching line showed. He was officially charged with six runs, four earned, in 5.1 innings of work. He left the game with the bases loaded and with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and all three runners eventually scored in a six-run outburst.

 

The Redbirds gave Gaviglio all the support he needed with two runs in the second inning. With one out, former Driller Rafael Ortega reached safely on an error by shortstop Taylor Featherston. Following a walk to Matt Williams, Alex Mejia singled off Butler to plate Ortega with the game's first run. Another hit by Travis Tartamella scored Williams to make it 2-0.

 

The lead increased to three runs in the fifth when Mike O'Neill led off with a base hit, moved into scoring position on an errant pickoff throw from Butler and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Curt Smith   

 

Any hopes of a Tulsa comeback were dashed in a big six-run sixth inning from the Cardinals. After Butler retired Williams to open the inning, Mejia and Tartamella produced consecutive singles. James Ramsey drew a walk that loaded the bases and ended Butler's night.

 

Nate Striz took over and was greeted by a two-run single from Charlie Tilson. Striz then walked O'Neill to again load the bases before getting the second out of the inning on a lineout from Valera. On the next pitch, Smith deposited a drive over the centerfield fence for a grand slam homer. The blast was Smith's eighth of the season and increased the lead to 9-0.

 

The Redbirds reached double figures with a run in the eighth inning off Cole White.

 

The loss for Butler dropped his Tulsa record to 4-5. The right-hander was promoted to the big leagues by Colorado following his May 31 start with the Drillers. Butler made only one appearance in the majors before going on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He made two rehab starts with Colorado Springs and Modesto before being out-righted to Tulsa.

 

Butler showed no signs of a problem with his shoulder in his first start back with the Drillers, reaching 97 and 98 m.p.h. during his final inning

 

Offensively, Tulsa was limited to only 5 hits in the loss while striking out 13 times. Ryan Casteel accounted for 2 of the hits.

 

It was the seventh time this season that the Drillers had been shutout.

 

The win for Gaviglio improved his record to 5-10.

 

The Drillers now move to Little Rock and will begin a four-game series with Arkansas Thursday night. Tyler Anderson (3-4, 2.40 ERA) will pitch the opener for Tulsa against Nate Smith (5-3, 2.90 ERA) of the Travelers. First pitch at Dickey-Stephens Park is scheduled for 7:10PM.


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