TEXAS LEAGUE

Eighth-inning single enough for Naturals

Cheslor Cuthbert’s two-out infield single in the top of the eighth inning scored Brian Bocock with the go-ahead run to give the Northwest Arkansas Naturals a 6-5 victory Friday night over the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Park in Tulsa.

The Drillers (6-9) erased a 5-1 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off Naturals reliever Noel Arguelles, before Northwest Arkansas (4-11) scored the game winner in the top of the eighth off Kraig Sitton (0-1). Parker Morin began the inning with a single to center field. Jayson Langels misplayed Bocock’s sacrifice bunt attempt to put runners on first and second for the Drillers’ fifth error of the game.

Morin was thrown out at third on Lane Adams’ sacrifice before Bocock moved to third on Jorge Bonifacio’s fly out to right field for the second out of the inning. Cuthbert then hit an infield single to second base for his third hit of the game that scored Bocock.

After Tulsa scored in the second to take a 1-0 lead, the Naturals scored five runs - three unearned - over the third and fourth innings to take a 5-1 lead off Tulsa starter Richard Castillo. Cuthbert, Jared Schlehuber and Whit Merrifield each had RBI singles in the third, while Adams and Bonifacio added run-scoring singles in the fourth for the four-run advantage.

Malcom Culver (1-1) ended Tulsa’s threat in the seventh and then struck out the side in the eighth. Hassan Pena picked up his first save of the season, walking one and striking out one in the ninth.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Tulsa 7, Northwest Arkansas 0

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Northwest Arkansas 10, Tulsa 6

Springfield 2, Arkansas 1

San Antonio 4, Midland 1

Frisco 3, Corpus Christi 2

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Northwest Arkansas 6, Tulsa 5

Springfield 9, Arkansas 5

Midland 4, San Antonio 3, 11 innings

Frisco 4, Corpus Christi 3

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central

Arkansas at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.

San Antonio at Midland, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

Northwest Arkansas at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

San Antonio at Midland, 1 p.m.

Corpus Christi at Frisco, 1:05 p.m.

Arkansas at Springfield, 4:10 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES

San Antonio at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.

Springfield at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.

Midland at Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.

Tulsa at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.

Sports, Pages 25 on 04/19/2014

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