SPRINGDALE — Tulsa used the long ball to rally from an early deficit for an 8-5 victory over Northwest Arkansas in Texas League baseball Monday at Arvest Ballpark.
The Lingo
“First inning, he utilized his fastball a little bit more. Got away from his fastball and went to the off-speed pitch and was very predictable and he got hurt. The long ball, we got down 2-0, came back, took the lead and went back out and gave up four. Offensively we got ourselves back in the game. But we couldn’t get them out.”
— Brian Poldberg
NWA Naturals Manager
Kent Matthes cranked a three-run home run, the second of three for the Drillers in the game, to give Tulsa a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth inning it would not relinquish.
Matthes helped the Drillers win three of four against the Naturals, going 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound outfielder went 7-for-17 in the series with two homers and seven RBIs.
The middle of the order did almost all the damage on Monday for Tulsa as hitters three through six in the lineup combined to go 9-for-16 with three homers and drove in seven of the Drillers’ eight runs.
The Naturals rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a three-run second inning. They added another run in the third to lead 4-2. Matt Fields had RBI-singles in the second and third innings, while Rey Navarro added a two-run double. But Tulsa answered with four in the top of the fourth.
The Drillers victimized Northwest Arkansas starter Sugar Ray Marimon (2-6) for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and all three homers over 5 2/3 innings. Marimon now leads the Texas League, allowing 11 home runs in 46 2/3 innings.
Short Hops
Fields continued his recent hot streak, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs on Monday. He finished 8-for-16 in the series.
The Drillers’ bullpen combined for four scoreless innings in the game. Three Tulsa relievers combined to allow one hit. They struck out three and walked one.
Kiel Roling hit his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning, to tie him for third in the Texas League.
Extra Bases: Marimon threw 80 pitches in 5 2/3 innings, 54 for strikes. … Fields now ranks seventh in the Texas League with 28 RBIs, one behind Roling. … The Naturals grounded into two double plays.
Royals Pipeline: Former Naturals second baseman Johnny Giovatella ranks ninth in the Pacific Coast League with 29 RBIs while playing for the Class Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.
On Deck: The Naturals are off today and start a six-game road trip at Corpus Christi on Wednesday. Following the road trip, the Naturals will play 17 of their next 20 games at Arvest Ballpark.
Today’s Promotion: Monday was the third and final Swepco School Days promotion at Arvest Ballpark. The crowd was 7,358.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com.
Tulsa 8, Northwest Arkansas 5
Tulsa^020^410^010^—^8^10^0
Northwest Arkansas^031^010^000^—^5^9^1
Houston, Frazier (6), Gonzalez (8), Hensley (9) and Jo. Gonzalez; Marimon, Keck (6), Ridings (8), Sulbaran (8) and Pina. W-Houston, 1-4. L-Marion, 2-6. Sv-Hensley (3). HRs-Tulsa-Nina (4), Matthes (6), Roling (10).