TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Big Third Propels Drillers Over Naturals

Published on June 16, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Tulsa, OK - A five-run third inning gave the Tulsa Drillers the cushion they needed en route to a 8-2 victory over the Naturals.

Keith Weiser (5-4) pitched six solid innings before the game was called in the top of the seventh due to rain. He scattered seven hits and allowed two runs without issuing a walk. He fanned six in the rain-shortened complete game effort, as torrential rains made it impossible to continue after a 30 minute delay.

Once again, the Naturals jumped to an early lead on Wednesday. In the top of the third, Tim Smith singled with a well-placed bunt down the third base line, and Derrick Robinson tripled him home to give the Naturals a 1-0 lead.

Tulsa's big inning happened with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the third as six straight batters reach base safely against Naturals' starter Aaron Crow. Charlie Blackmon began the rally with a base hit before Eider Torres struck out on a ball in the dirt. The wild pitch bounced away from catcher Jeff Howell and allowed Torres to reach first and prolong the inning. Bronson Sardinha then drew a walk that loaded the bases for cleanup hitter Ryan Harvey. Harvey drove a groundball that deflected off the glove of third baseman Anthony Seratelli and into the left field corner. The double cleared the bases to give the Drillers a 3-1 lead.

Daniel Mayora kept the rally going with a single that plated Harvey. Willin Rosario then grounded to Seratelli, but the third baseman's throw to first was offline, allowing Rosario to reach and Mayora to move to third. With Keil Roling batting, Crow threw a ball into the dirt that allowed Rosario to advance to second. As he was advancing, catcher Howell attempted to throw him out at second, giving Mayora the chance to race home and give Tulsa a 5-1 lead.

The Drillers added another run in the fourth when Anthony Jackson walked, stole second and scored on a single by Torres.

Tim Smith belted a solo home run for the Naturals in the fifth inning to cut the margin to 6-2.

Tulsa picked up two more runs in the sixth just before the rains began. Three straight singles by Jackson, Blackmon and Torres loaded the bases before Sardinha's two-run single put the Drillers in front 8-2.

Crow (3-6) fanned seven in four innings but again, the numbers were not pretty as he was tagged for five hits and six runs (five earned) while issuing two walks.

Both Tim Smith and Derrick Robinson had two hits each for the Naturals (38-26), whose magic number to clinch the Texas League North Division first-half division championship is three. Meanwhile, the win allowed Tulsa (27-35) to salvage a split of the four-game series.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 16, 2010


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