SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas came up with a big answer in the bottom of the fifth inning, and right-hander Christian Binford settled down as the Naturals held off Tulsa 6-4 in Texas League baseball Wednesday night in front of 3,205 at Arvest Ballpark.
The Naturals (9-16) got production from the bottom of the batting order to score twice in the fifth, after Tulsa had tied the game with two in the top of the inning.
Northwest Arkansas 6, Tulsa 4
Tulsa^100^020^001^—^4^9^0
Northwest Arkansas^021^020^01x^—^6^11^0
Tulsa^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Torreyes, SS^5^2^2^2^0^0^2^.301
Arruebarrena, 3B^5^0^3^1^0^0^0^.259
Burgamy, LF^4^0^0^0^1^0^3^.288
Anderson, La, 1B^3^0^2^1^0^0^0^.255
Farmer, C^4^0^0^0^0^0^4^.296
Lavin, CF^4^0^1^0^0^0^1^.237
Drake, RF^4^0^0^0^0^2^1^.277
Trinkwon, 2B^3^0^0^0^0^0^0^.171
a-Cunningham, PH^0^1^0^0^1^0^0^.226
Law, DH^3^1^1^0^1^0^0^.256
Totals^35^4^9^4^3^2^11^
a-Walked for Trinkwon in the 9th.
BATTING
2B: Arruebarrena 2. HR: Torreyes (3). TB: Arruebarrena 5; Anderson, La 2; Lavin; Torreyes 5; Law. RBI: Torreyes 2 (11), Anderson, La (41), Arruebarrena (3). RISP: 2-for-6. LOB: 8.
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Torres, Ra, 2B^5^0^1^1^0^0^3^.217
Mondesi, SS^3^1^1^2^2^0^0^.247
Dozier, 3B^3^0^1^1^1^0^3^.221
Liddi, RF^5^0^1^0^0^1^4^.274
Starling, CF^4^0^0^0^0^2^2^.268
Adams, L, LF^4^2^1^0^0^2^0^.259
Schwindel, 1B^4^3^3^0^0^0^0^.271
Morin, P, C^4^0^2^2^0^1^2^.333
Noriega, DH^4^0^1^0^0^1^3^.167
Totals^36^6^11^6^3^7^17^
BATTING
2B: Adams, L (9). 3B: Morin, P (4). HR: Mondesi (5). TB: Schwindel 3; Noriega; Torres, Ra; Mondesi 4; Morin, P 4; Dozier; Adams, L 2; Liddi. RBI: Torres, Ra (2), Dozier (34), Morin, P 2 (15), Mondesi 2 (25). RISP: 4-for-11. LOB: 10.
FIELDING
E: Binford (2, pickoff).
Tulsa^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Anderson, C (L, 9-6)^4.2^10^5^5^3^5^0^3.62
Dennick^2.1^0^0^0^0^2^0^3.06
De Leon, Jor^1.0^1^1^1^0^0^1^2.86
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Binford (W, 4-4)^7.0^7^3^3^1^1^1^4.72
Sulbaran (H, 2)^1.0^1^0^0^0^0^0^4.90
Selman (S, 2)^1.0^1^1^1^2^1^0^4.46
WP: Anderson, C. HBP: Dozier (by Anderson, C). Pitches-strikes: Anderson, C 100-62, Dennick 16-13, De Leon, Jor 17-12, Binford 83-52, Sulbaran 15-8, Selman 17-8.
Umpires: HP: Nestor Ceja. 1B: Matthew Czajak. 3B: Lee Meyers.
T: 2:28. Att: 3,205.
Parker Morin's run-scoring single to right gave Northwest Arkansas the 4-3 lead and Raul Mondesi drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk for some insurance.
Mondesi added a solo home run in the eighth, his fifth of the season.
Naturals manager Vance Wilson said his team always had an answer in the first half when his team was having lots of success. He's hopeful this is a sign of more good things to come. Eight of the nine players in the batting order contributed at least one hit for the Naturals.
"We actually answered back twice in that game, after giving up the solo homer in the first," Wilson said. "We're like 'Maybe that's the thing we need.' We're trying to mix the lineup a little bit. About everybody did something up and down the lineup to help us."
Binford (4-4) settled down with two scoreless innings to notch the win after giving up two in the fifth. He allowed three runs on seven hits.
Tulsa manager Razor Shines said the Naturals made the most of their scoring chances, scoring four of their five runs with two outs.
"They took advantage of every opportunity they had," Shines said. "They've lost some players, but they are still a really good baseball team. So we're gonna have our hands full the whole second half. It's gonna be a good second half.
Short Hops
• Frank Schwindel went 3-for-4 and scored three runs to lead the Naturals' 11-hit attack.
• Tulsa starter Chris Anderson (9-6) took the loss, but still leads the Texas League in wins. The right-hander is rated as the No. 7 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization by Baseball America. He had won four of his last five starts.
• Naturals third baseman Hunter Dozier snapped a 1-for-13 streak with a first-inning single and also drove in a run in the second when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Extra Bases: Binford threw 83 pitches, including 52 for strikes. ... Naturals reliever Sam Selman notched his second save of the season, despite giving up a ninth-inning run. ... Drillers' reliever Ryan Dennick with 2.1 scoreless innings, his 12th consecutive appearance not allowing a run. ... Tulsa shortstop Ronald Torreyes hit a solo home run leading off the game, his third of the season.
On Deck: The Naturals begin a seven-game road trip today at Springfield at 7:10 p.m. LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (5-6 3.77 ERA) will start on the mound for NWA. He will be opposed by RHP Mike Mayers (1-4 6.47 ERA).
On The Air: 1030-AM KFAY
On The Web: www.naturals.com
Sports on 07/23/2015