SPRINGDALE -- NWA jumped on Tulsa early, but had to hang on late for an 11-6 win at Arvest Ballpark on Tuesday.
The Naturals exploded for 10 runs on 14 hits in the first three innings before running into a former veteran major-league hitter who's trying to retool his career as a knuckle-baller for the Drillers.
Dan Johnson, who hit two of the biggest home runs in Tampa Bay Rays history, came on as a relief pitcher -- not a home-run hitter -- with two outs in the second inning. The 37-year-old whose homers helped the Rays reach the 2008 and 2011 postseasons is making another run at the big leagues as a knuckleball pitcher.
Johnson didn't shut down the Naturals, but kept them off balanced with knuckleballs in the 71-74 mph range. Three of the four runs allowed by Johnson came in the third inning, but he allowed just one earned run over the next three to keep the Naturals at bay while the Drillers began chipping away.
"You'll see that at times where I guy like Dan Johnson will make the switch (from hitter to pitcher)," said NWA manager Vance Wilson. "I don't know how good of a knuckleball it was, but he obviously did a good job of saving their bullpen."But it's hard to hit, whether it's a good knuckleball or a bad knuckleball, just because of the speed of it."
Frank Schwindel and Samir Duendez each drove in runs during the Naturals' three-run first inning. Ryan O'Hearn, who finished with 5 RBIs, highlighted a four-run second inning with a three-run homer. Mauricio Ramos, O'Hearn and Schwindel each drove in runs to account for the scoring in the third and the Naturals' 10-0 lead.
Nine of the 10 runs came with two outs, something Wilson wanted to see after the Naturals returned from a 2-5 road trip. They ended Tulsa starter Isaac Anderson's outing after just 1 2/3 innings.
"(Hitting coach Brian Buchanan) did a great job of challenging them about staying with their approach," Wilson said. "They knew what (Anderson) was going to do, but not only that, let's get base hits, let's stop trying to pull the ball and stay in the big part of the field and the guys did a nice job of that."
Meanwhile, NWA starter Yender Caramo pitched four shutout innings before running into trouble in the fifth when four runs scored, but only one was earned.
Maintaining focus after building such a large early lead can be an issue, especially when it's Game 137 of the season.
"The problem with a game like that is you get lazy and complacent," Wilson said. "There's nothing you can do. It's human nature, but you've still got to play and you've still got to play for your teammates, and I wasn't real happy about that ... You get lazy on a throw and the next thing you know they drop a four-spot on us.
"But (Caramo) was outstanding before that."
SHORT HOPS
• Wilson, who played catcher in the major leagues for eight seasons, said he won't be attempting a comeback as a knuckle-baller at age 43. "This elbow's had two Tommy Johns (surgeries), so it just throws it straight at 40 feet."
• NWA remains a half-game behind the Northern Division leading Arkansas Travelers. The Naturals control their own postseason destiny as they wrap up the regular season with a three-game home series against the Travelers, which begins Saturday.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their seven-game home-stand with Game 2 of a four-game series against Tulsa. First pitch for today's game is set for 7:05 p.m. Northwest Arkansas will start RHP Josh Staumont (1-1, 3.29) while the Drillers counter with RHP Cy Sneed (4-5, 4.73).
Promotions: What's It? Wednesday features chances to win prizes, free tickets and memorabilia before and during the game by following along on social media and the video board.
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Sports on 08/31/2016