Drillers Fall on Naturals Big Third Inning
SPRINGDALE, AR – The Tulsa Drillers were hurt by two errors and two home runs in in the third inning in a 6-4 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Wednesday night at Arvest Ballpark. All six of the Naturals runs came in the third inning. The Drillers scored two
SPRINGDALE, AR – The Tulsa Drillers were hurt by two errors and two home runs in in the third inning in a 6-4 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Wednesday night at Arvest Ballpark. All six of the Naturals runs came in the third inning.
The Drillers scored two runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. Ryan Ward hit his second home run in as many nights as he continues to lead Double-A with 26 homers this season.
For the second time this season, Nick Robertson made a start as an opener for the Drillers. The right-hander gave up one hit and struck out two hitters in his scoreless inning of work.
Bobby Miller followed out of the bullpen for the first time in 21 career games with the Drillers. After Miller pitched a scoreless second inning, he could not get out of the third, tossing 33 pitches and earning just one out before his night ended.
The Drillers committed two errors in the third that helped the Naturals score six runs in the frame. A fielding error from Justin Yurchak and a single put two runners on for Tyler Gentry, who gave the Naturals the lead with a three-run homer. Logan Porter drove in a fourth run for the Naturals with a single and CJ Alexander followed with a two-run homer to put Northwest Arkansas up 6-0.
The Drillers cut into the lead with two runs in the fifth inning to narrow the Naturals lead to 6-2. Following consecutive singles, Leonel Valera drove in the first run with a double to right field. Jonny DeLuca followed with a sacrifice fly to plate the second run.
Tulsa kept fighting in the eighth inning with two more runs on Ward's two-run homer to center field, as the Drillers narrowed the Naturals lead to 6-4.
Jordan Leasure threw a scoreless eighth inning to keep the deficit at two runs entering the ninth inning.
The Drillers brought the game-tying run to the plate when Brandon Lewis drew a walk with one out in the ninth. Two wild pitches moved Lewis to third base and Carson Taylor drew a two-out walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Valera flew out to right field to end the Drillers threat and the game.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*Ward is now seven home runs shy of tying the Drillers single-season home run record, set by Tim Wheeler in 2011.
*DeLuca's 15-game on-base streak was snapped as he was 0-3 with one RBI in the game.
*Leasure has not allowed an earned run in his last eight appearances over 9.1 innings, striking out 12 batters during that span.
*Cameron Gibbens worked 1.2 innings and lowered his ERA nine points with the scoreless outing.
*Jose Hernandez earned four outs in his perfect outing with two strikeouts.
*Cole Percival, the son of former MLB closer Troy Percival, made his Double-A debut with the Drillers in the game. Percival pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings while giving up one hit and striking out one in his debut.
*Miguel Vargas made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. In his first at-bat, Vargas hit an RBI ground-rule double in the second inning. Vargas played 83 games with the Drillers in 2021.
UP NEXT: The Drillers will play the third game of their six-game series with the Naturals on Thursday night. Starting time at Arvest Ballpark is again set for 7:05 p.m. The starting pitchers are likely to be:
Tulsa – TBA
NW Arkansas – RHP Jonathan Bowlan, (0-1, 9.82 ERA)