Four-Run Fifth Inning Not Enough in 5-4 Loss at Tulsa
September 3, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
TULSA, Okla. - The offense broke through against right-hander Jose DeLeon in the fifth inning using back-to-back home runs to highlight the four-run inning; but the Drillers stormed back with a five-run home half en route to a 5-4 loss at ONEOK Field on Thursday night.
Northwest Arkansas (67-68/27-38) put six base runners on against DeLeon in the first four innings before finally breaking through when Ramon Torres reached on a two-base error and Kenny Diekroeger followed with a single to set the table. Jorge Bonifacio plated the first run of the four-run innings with an RBI ground out. Then the action started.
Lane Adams smacked a DeLeon pitch in the into the left-field seats to bring home Diekroeger for a two-run homer giving the Naturals a 3-0 lead. Five pitches later, Bubba Starling hit a high fly ball way out to left field for back-to-back homers in the four-run frame.
The back-to-back homers is the eighth time this season in which Northwest Arkansas has accomplished the feat and the first time since August 14 at home against Corpus Christi when Ramon Torres and Raul Mondesi hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the first.
But Tulsa stormed back. Naturals' starter Paul Clemens had not allowed a hit in his first four innings; but gave up a single to beginning the fifth before walking his final batter. Clemens left the game with a 2-2 count, and two runners on with an apparent injury giving way to Malcom Culver (2-6, 4.26). Culver fanned the first batter on a called strike three; but was on the mound when all five Drillers' runs crossed - three charged to him.
Neither bullpen allowed a run the remainder of the game. Left-hander Daniel Stumpf tossed two shutout innings with three strikeout while Mark Peterson fired a perfect eighth inning getting three straight ground balls.
Torres finished 2-for-5 on the night extending his season-high hitting streak to 10 games while Adams ended 2-for-4 with his 12th home run of the season - his second in the last 11 games. The Red Oak, Okla. native is hitting .415 over his previous 11 games with nine RBI and has recorded a multi-hit game in seven of the last eight games.
Diekroger recorded his first three-hit game of the season scoring one of the Naturals four runs on the night.
The Naturals look to salvage game four as they send left-hander Jonathan Dziedzic (10-6, 2.95) to the mound for the series finale for his 25th start of the season. The Drillers will counter with right-hander Jeremy Kehrt (7-8, 3.48) with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch from ONEOK Field.
Tune in with the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch on the flagship station of the Naturals, 92.1-FM the Ticket.
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Texas League Stories from September 3, 2015
- Missions End Home Woes with Blowout - San Antonio Missions
- Four-Run Fifth Inning Not Enough in 5-4 Loss at Tulsa - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Fall Despite Seven Strong from Payano - Frisco RoughRiders
- Manaea's 13 Strikeouts Cools off Missions - San Antonio Missions
- RoughRiders Add Luis Parra to Roster - Frisco RoughRiders
- Committee Meeting Adjourned - Midland RockHounds
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