Chatwood threw four wild pitches in the fifth inning, the single-most in an inning in Drillers history and the most in the Texas League since 1966, as the Arkansas Travelers dealt the Drillers their fourth consecutive defeat with a 6-2 decision at ONEOK Field before 3,906 fans.
With Arkansas already holding a 2-0 lead, the fifth inning was either feast or famine for Chatwood. While he struck out three batters in the frame (including one that reached first on a strikeout and wild pitch), the Travelers took advantage of Chatwood's wildness to score a pair of runs and push their advantage to 4-0.
As was the case in the previous two games of the series, Arkansas scored in the first inning to take a quick lead. On Sunday night, it was leadoff hitter Travis Witherspoon doing the damage as he launched Chatwood's 1-0 pitch into the terrace seats beyond the left-field fence for a 1-0 lead.
Two innings later, Witherspoon would strike again, this time blasting a 3-1 pitch over the left-center wall to push the visitors to a 2-0 lead.
"When you throw a strike and a guy smokes it out of the park, you can't do much about that," said Tulsa manager Duane Espy. "However, there were some things that happened tonight that we could control and we didn't. We have to do a better job of that."
Witherspoon, the 2011 Midwest League Home Run Derby champion, would finish 2-for-4 with three RBIs, adding a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the sixth to expand the Arkansas lead to 5-0.
While Witherspoon's bat was wreaking havoc, Tulsa's bats were once again held in check. Arkansas starter Mike Piazza, a distant cousin to the former All-Star catcher with the same name, limited Tulsa to just one hit through the game's first six innings.
That hit came as part of Tulsa's best chance to score against Piazza.
After Tulsa catcher Lars Davis reached on an error in the third inning, Mike Mitchell laced a one-out double down the left field line to give the Drillers runners at second and third. Piazza, however, induced Corey Dickerson into a popout to second and struck out Angelys Nina to end the threat.
Piazza allowed just two Tulsa hits before departing with two outs in the sixth inning. In his last six appearances overall, Piazza has not allowed a run in 18 2/3 innings of work.
Original Print Headline: Driller pitcher loses control, game
Texas League baseball
Travelers 6, Drillers 2Drillers up next
Vs. Arkansas 7:05 p.m. MondayRadio: KTBZ am1430
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