Drillers' Big Inning Dooms Naturals
Published on June 4, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
TULSA, Okla. - A four-run fourth inning erased a 2-0 deficit as the Tulsa Drillers defeated the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 5-3 in the opening game of a four-game series on Tuesday night.
Brett Eibner led off with a triple against Tulsa starter Roy Oswalt and scored on an Orlando Calixte sacrifice fly to give the Naturals a 1-0 lead in the first. Yem Prades hit his sixth home run of the season with one out in the fourth to give the Naturals a 2-0 lead.
Tulsa cut the lead in half as Kiel Roling scored on an Angelys Nina groundout. Dustin Garneau provided the big blow, hitting a three-run home run to left field off of Naturals starter Brooks Pounders to give Tulsa a 4-2 lead. The Drillers added a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Matt Fields hit his team-leading 12th home run to lead off the sixth, cutting the lead to 5-3. The Naturals had Calixte at second with no one out in the eighth inning, but a flyout and a double play that gunned down Calixte at third base ended the inning.
Oswalt earns his second win with the Drillers, allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in seven innings. Cole White, who began the season with the Naturals, recorded the final three outs of the game to earn his first save.
Pounders falls to 1-4 as he gave up five runs, four earned, on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts in five innings. Matt Ridings held the Drillers hitless in two innings, with Sam Runion sending the Drillers down in order in his one inning of work.
The Naturals and Drillers will play the second game of the series at Noon on Wednesday. Danny Duffy is scheduled to make his third Major League rehab start for the Naturals. Tyler Matzek (1-5, 4.70 ERA) will start for Tulsa.
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