Springfield, MO -
Tulsa's losing streak was extended to five games with a loss in the first game of a doubleheader at Springfield Thursday, but the Drillers bounced back to end the skid in the nightcap.
In the opener, Springfield exploded for six runs in the fourth -- including homers from Chris Swauger, Zack Cox and pitcher Michael Blazek -- to take a 6-2 win.
Tim Wheeler provided Tulsa's only runs with his league-leading 16th home run of the season in the top of the fifth.
Josh Sullivan (2-3) took the loss for Tulsa, pitching six innings, allowing six runs on six hits. Blazek (7-2) earned the win with a six-inning, five-hit performance.
In the second game, Scott Beerer lined a go-ahead double in the top of the fourth to spark seven straight runs for the Drillers in a 10-5 win.
It was 3-3 when Beerer's double scored Bronson Sardinha. Wheeler and Thomas Field added RBI singles later in the inning for a 6-3 lead and the fifth inning saw homers from Ben Paulsen and Beerer for an 8-3 cushion.
Tulsa scored two more in the sixth when Wilin Rosario grounded into a bases loaded force out that scored Wheeler from third. Field also scored on the play when a potential double-play throw from second baseman Eric Duncan was off the mark.
The Cardinals scored a pair of harmless runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Tulsa got the win. Daniel Turpen picked up his first victory in a Drillers uniform, pitching a 1-2-3 fifth inning.
Despite the win, Tulsa remains a full game behind Arkansas in the Texas League North Division standings. Arkansas has won four straight to vault into the division lead with two and a half weeks remaining in the season's first half.
The Drillers and Cardinals continue their five-game series Friday at 7:07 p.m. at Hammons Field in Springfield.
