TULSA — The Northwest Arkansas Naturals came from behind for the second night in a row against the Tulsa Drillers, but this time they held on for the victory.
Second baseman Johnny Giavotella went 4 for 5 and drove in 3 runs with a firstinning home run and an RBI single for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to help the Naturals defeat the Drillers 5-3 before 4,881 at ONEOK Field on Wednesday.
Northwest Arkansas trailed 3-2 before scoring one run in the fourth inning and two more in the seventh, and Blake Johnson combined with Patrick Keating to throw four scoreless innings in relief of Naturals starter Eduardo Paulino. The Naturals walked in the winning run to lose Tuesday’s game 7-6.
The Naturals, who extended their Texas League North Division lead to 1 1 /2 games over second-place Tulsa, began the game with a leadoff single by Derrick Robinson and Giavotella’s fourth home run of the year off Drillers starter Ethan Hollingsworth.
Tulsa battled back in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-2 lead on catcher Wilin Rosario’s 19th home run of the year, a three-run shot to left.
Paulino settled in with four scoreless innings after giving up the home run. He allowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings, striking out 5 batters and walking 4.
The Naturals tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning when Tim Smith doubled and scored on a single by Anthony Seratelli.
Like Paulino, Hollingsworthallowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings of work. Ching Lung Lo replaced Hollingsworth and ran into trouble in the seventh inning.
Besides allowing Giavotella’s single that scored Chris McConnell from second, Lo hit two batters in the seventh. Lo (3-4), who took the loss, plunked Paulo Orlando with the bases loaded and two outs to give the Naturals a 5-3 lead that held up the rest of the way.
Johnson (2-2) pitched 3 scoreless innings for the Naturals, allowing just 1 walk and 1 hit to earn the victory. Keating retired the Drillers in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season.
Robinson, Smith and Seratelli had two hits apiece for the Naturals.
Bronson Sardinha went 2 for 4 to lead the Drillers.
Naturals at a glance WHO NW Arkansas at Tulsa WHEN 7:05 p.m. Central today WHERE ONEOKs Field, Tulsa PITCHERS Northwest Arkansas: Aaron Crow (RHP, 7-6, 5.46 ERA); Tulsa: Cory Riordan (RHP, 5-4, 3.83 ERA) RADIO KQSM-FM, 92.1 WEB SITE nwanaturals.com SHORT HOPS The Kansas City Royals have promoted Naturals left-handed pitcher Edgar Osuna to Class AAA Omaha and have moved up left-hander John Lamb from advanced-Class A Wilmington. Osuna, 22, was 6-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 14 starts with the Naturals.
Lamb, 20, began the season at Class A Burlington. He went 2-3 with a 1.58 ERA at Burlington, then went 6-3 with a 1.45 ERA in 13 starts at Wilmington.
He has struck out 133 batters in 114 2 /3 innings while giving up only 85 hits. He was ranked by Baseball America as the Royals’ No. 7 prospect overall going into the season.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
SUNDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
MONDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
TUESDAY vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 17 on 07/29/2010