Fourth good for Drillers against Naturals

Jose Gonzalez singled to left center field to make it 6-4.

The Drillers extended the lead to 7-4 in the fifth when Roling homered to left off Marimon.

The Naturals cut the lead to 7-5 when Matt Fields singled with two outs to score Carlo Testa, who had singled to start the inning, moved to second on Mitch Canham’s single and to third when Manny Pina grounded into a double play.

The Drillers added one more run in the eighth when Parker doubled to right off Jon Keck, moved to third on a passed ball by Pina and scored on Nina’s double.

Tulsa took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Nina hit a two-run home run to left off Marimon.

The Naturals came back with three runs in the bottom of the second when Canham doubled to right, moved toA four-run, fourth inning made the difference for the Tulsa Drillers in an 8-5 victory Monday afternoon over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before an announced crowd of 7,358 at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Trailing 4-2 going into the top of the fourth, the Drillers scored four runs on four hits with one error to take a 6-4 lead and never looked back.

Kiel Roling and Kyle Parker started the inning with singles to left before Kent Matthes hit a home run to left field off Naturals starting pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon on a 1-1 pitch to put the Drillers ahead 5-4. Angelys Nina walked, moved to second on Joey Wong’s sacrifice bunt and to third on an errant pickoff throw by Marimon.

third on Pina’s single to left and scored on Fields’ single to left. Rey Navarro doubled to right to score Pina and Fields to put the Naturals up 3-2.

The Naturals led 4-2 in the third when Orlando Calixte walked to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on Fields’ single.

Danny Houston (1-4) picked up his first victory of the season for Tulsa, pitching 5 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Steven Hensley pitched a scoreless ninth to get his third save of the season.

Nina led the Drillers, going 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and scored 2 runs. Matthes and Parker both went 2 for 4 with Matthes driving in three runs.

Roling went 2 for 5 with a home run and scored twice.

Marimon (2-6) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, on 8 hits while striking out 4 and walking 2. Fields led the Naturals, going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI. Navarro went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Canham also went 2 for 4.