Drillers Drop Series Opener to Naturals
Springdale, AR – Runs continued to be tough to come by for the Tulsa Drillers Tuesday night in Northwest Arkansas in the opening game of a six-game series. The Drillers were limited to just two runs, with both coming on solo home runs. The result was a 5-2 loss to
Springdale, AR – Runs continued to be tough to come by for the Tulsa Drillers Tuesday night in Northwest Arkansas in the opening game of a six-game series. The Drillers were limited to just two runs, with both coming on solo home runs. The result was a 5-2 loss to the Naturals at Springdale’s Arvest Ballpark.
In four games since returning to action following the break for the Major League All-Star Game, the Drillers have scored a total of just 11 runs and have lost three of the four games.
The Drillers out-hit the Naturals 7-5 on Tuesday, but Northwest Arkansas benefited from six walks and six wild pitches from Tulsa pitchers.
The Naturals jumped in front in the first inning when leadoff man Tyler Tolbert doubled, moved to third on the first of the wild pitches and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Kody Hoese got the Drillers on the board in the top of the third with his sixth homer of the season, but Northwest Arkansas answered in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a rare play. A walk and a single put runners at the corners with one out for Peyton Wilson. Wilson grounded to first baseman Brandon Lewis who stepped on the first base bag and threw to second for an inning-ending double play, but the speedy Tolbert crossed home before the tag at second, giving the Naturals a second run.
Imanol Vargas tied the game again in the top of the sixth with his 13th home run, but again there was a quick response.
With Wilson on second base thanks to a walk and a stolen base, Luca Tresh hit his ninth home run to put the Naturals on top to stay.
They added a final run in the bottom of the seventh, an inning that featured three walks and three wild pitches.
Tulsa starting pitcher Kyle Hurt pitched five effective innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six.
Reliever Jack Harris, who was the victim of Tresh’s home run, suffered the loss to drop his record to 1-3.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*Lewis finished with two hits in the game while batting in the ninth spot in the lineup.
*Tulsa is now 7-6 against the Naturals this season.
*Drillers pitchers lead the Texas League with 87 wild pitches in 85 games this season.
*Drillers hitters were 0-4 with runners in scoring position.
UP NEXT:
The Drillers will face the Naturals again on Wednesday night in the second game of their six-game series. First pitch at Arvest Ballpark is set for 7:05 p.m. and the starting pitchers are expected to be:
Tulsa – RHP Ben Casparius (0-3, 9.76 ERA)
NW Arkansas – RHP Andrew Hoffman (2-5, 6.42 ERA)