Miller and Drillers Beat Naturals for Series Split

SPRINGDALE, AR – The Tulsa Drillers split their six-game series with Northwest Arkansas thanks to 6-3 win over the Naturals Sunday afternoon at Arvest Ballpark.

Northwest Arkansas took an early lead in the game with a pair of unearned runs with two outs in the third inning. The Drillers rallied with home runs from Chris Betts, Ryan Ward, and Leonel Valera to gain the victory, but it was not easy. The Naturals left the bases loaded to end both the eighth and ninth innings.

BOXSCORE

The Los Angeles Dodgers number two prospect, Bobby Miller, made his 15th start of the season for the Drillers on the mound. Miller was one strikeout short of hitting his season-high in strikeouts, finishing with nine in five innings pitched. He allowed only one hit in the contest and no earned runs.

Neither team could get their offense to click in the first two inning due to an impressive pitcher’s duel between Alec Marsh and Miller. Both starters would sit down the lineups in order with four strikeouts each.

The Drillers began to gain momentum in the top of third after Leonel Valera would put the Drillers in the hit column with a base knock to left field. Jeren Kendall and Jonny DeLuca would follow with back-to-back walks, but Tulsa left the bases loaded.

The Naturals would strike first in the game with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning after a fielding error from Abiatal Avelino and a throwing error by DeLuca allowed the runners to advance home.

Betts would give the Drillers their first lead of the afternoon with a three-run homer to right field in the top of the fifth. Ward would add the Drillers fourth run of the game later in the inning with his 19th home run of the season.

DeLuca hit his first double as a Driller to lead off the seventh inning. He would score on the next play when Ward singled into right field to extend the Drillers lead to 5-2. Justin Yurchak would add another hit in the inning, but the runners were stranded at the corners to end the threat.

Valera added the Drillers final run of the afternoon in the eighth with his second home run of the season to increase the margin to 6-2.

Guillermo Zuniga came into the game during the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out. The Naturals would cut into the Drillers lead when a walked forced in a run. However, Zuniga would strike out the next two batters to retire the side and keep the lead at three runs.

Keegan Curtis was called upon to close the game for the Drillers in the bottom of the ninth inning. He would allow two hits and the bases to get full, but the Drillers defense would come up with back-to-back outs to seal the victory.

HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:

*Ward added to his team-high 19th home run of the season. With his two RBI in the contest, his total is now 50 for the season.

*Miller pitched five innings with nine strikeouts, two runs (both unearned), a hit, and a walk. The win improved his record over .500 at 4-3.

*Valera went 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk on the day. He also added an RBI with his home run in the eighth inning.

*Curtis earned his first save of the season.

*Yurchak extended his hitting streak to six straight games with his single in the seventh inning.

*Tulsa outhit Northwest 11-to-5 in the contest.

UP NEXT: The Drillers will continue their two-week road trip as they move to Springfield for six-game set with the Cardinals. The starting time for game one of the series on Tuesday evening is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Hammons Field.
The pitchers for the opener have not been announced.