By BARRY LEWIS Sports Writer on Sep 20, 2012, at 6:59 PM Updated on 9/20 at 7:03 PM
PRO BASEBALL
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Springfield's victory over Frisco in the Texas League Championship Series has left the Tulsa Drillers pondering what might have been if they had not let a 6-0 lead slip away in their playoff opener.
The Drillers went the distance before falling to Springfield in the best-of-five division series, but the series was really lost for Tulsa when it couldn't hold a big lead in the opener.
Earlier this week when I was interviewing Drillers general manager Mike Melega about him winning the 2012 Bill Valentine Texas League Executive of the Year Award, our conversation also included the most painful playoff losses in team history.
We quickly agreed on No. 1.
Below are the five toughest, most painful playoff losses for the Drillers in their 36 seasons:
1. San Antonio 3, Tulsa 2, 10 innings (2002 championship series, Game 1): The Drillers lost despite Tulsa's Ben Kozlowski and Keith Stamler combining on a no-hitter for nine innings. And to make it even tougher for the Drillers, it was former Tulsa outfielder Adrian Myers, who broke up the no-hitter with the winning two-out single in the 10th. Tulsa went on to lose the finals in seven games.
Texas League president Tom Kayser said the game was "unreal."
"This is one of the oddest games in Texas League history," said Kayser.
2. Jackson 5, Tulsa 4 (1981 division series, Game 3): In those days, the division series was best-of-three, hosted entirely by the first-half champion. Tulsa led 4-1 going into the seventh inning and that looked secure with its strong bullpen. Jackson, however, chipped away at Tulsa's lead and won it with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Jackson went on to sweep the championship series over San Antonio.
3. Springfield 8, Tulsa 6 (2012 division series, Game 1): Chris Swauger became the first player in ONEOK Field history to hit three homer in a game, including the winner in the 10th. Greg Garcia lined the tying three-run homer in the eighth. Tulsa lost despite shelling top Cardinals pitching prospect Carlos Martinez for six runs in four innings.
4. Wichita 2, Tulsa 1, 11 innings (2006 division series, Game 1): Tulsa took a 1-0 lead going into the 9th as Drillers starter Juan Morillo outdueled Zack Grienke, but Tulsa relief ace Jim Miller could not close out the win. Wichita won the best-of-five series in four games.
5. Arkansas 9, Tulsa 6 (1977 division series, Game 1): It looked like the first playoff game in Drillers history would be a winner as they rallied to take a 6-4 lead going into the eighth with the TL's best pitcher, Danny Darwin, on the mound. But Arkansas scored five in the eighth.
A night later, Tulsa suffered an equally excruciating loss in Driller Park's final playoff game. Tulsa's Blair Stouffer tied it with a two-out single in the ninth and was at second base with the team's all-time season batting average leader Billy Sample at the plate. Sample, however, was retired and Arkansas scored three in the 10th for an 8-5 win and series sweep. Arkansas then swept the championship series over El Paso.
-- Barry Lewis
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