SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas leaned on its bullpen on Thunder Chickens Night at Arvest Ballpark.
Four Thunder Chickens relievers combined to scatter eight hits and notch the 2-0 win over Tulsa on Friday night in front of 4,270 fans.
Pedro Fernandez was scheduled to make his first Double-A start on Friday, but Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said he came up with some shoulder soreness Thursday. So reliever Benino Bruneda was tossed into his first start.
But Pruneda combined with newcomers Evan Beal and Kyle Bartsch, along with closer Kevin McCarthy, to shut out Tulsa.
Wilson said the bullpen's effort was huge, along with catcher Zane Evans. But right fielder Orlando Calixte made the play of the game, hauling in Jacob Scavuzzo's long drive with the bases loaded to end the inning.
"So we threw it on your bullpen last night," Wilson said. "You know we've been down bullpen arms, so we bring a guy in and sign a guy, Bartsch, we had in the past and not really knowing what you're gonna get. I've never seen Veal pitch. I've never seen Bartsch pitch except a couple years ago in spring training.
"Zane Evans did a great job behind the dish. Anytime you get your bullpen through with a shutout, that's big. To get through this game and get back our (Eric) Skoglund's and (Alec) Mills coming up is a good sign."
Northwest Arkansas (19-21) got the only run it needed in the bottom of the third as Logan Moon led off with a double, moved to third on a Jack Lopez groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly Ramon Torres. Evans added a sacrifice fly in the eighth to score Terrance Gore with the second run of the game.
Veal, who was sent down from Triple-A Omaha today, picked up the win, pitching three scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, did not walk a batter or strike out a batter. McCarthy worked out of the bases-loaded jam in the eighth thanks to Calixte's snag and went 1-2-3 in the ninth for his seventh save.
SHORT HOPS
• Northwest Arkansas did not commit an error, ending a streak of 12 errors in its last six games.
• Tulsa starter Brock Stewart (1-2) was the hard-luck loser, allowing one run (earned) on five hits over six innings. He struck out nine and walked just one.
• Northwest Arkansas outfielder Bubba Starling sat out on Friday, mired in a 3 for 39 (.077) slump over his last 10 games. He has struck out 19 times during that span.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their series with Tulsa with a 6:05 first pitch. Northwest Arkansas sends left-hander Eric Skoglund 1-1 4.93 ERA), while the Drillers counter with right-hander Jeremy Kehrt, making his first Double-A start, after going 3-3 with a 4.79 ERA in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Promotion: Postgame fireworks display along with a pregame happy hour hosted in the Bullpen concession stand from 4:35-5:35 pm.
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On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 05/21/2016