Fletcher Fuels Northwest Arkansas Victory
Published on June 6, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Brian Fletcher hit two home runs and drove in four runs in his first game back from the Disabled List as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals picked up a 10-4 win over the Tulsa Drillers on Thursday. The Naturals smacked a season-high 16 hits in the win.
Rafael Ortega led off the game for Tulsa with a single and scored on a Kiel Roling sacrifice fly to give the Drillers' first run while Cristhian Adames scored on a Dustin Garneau single to give the Drillers a 2-0 lead.
Fletcher made a statement in his first at-bat in the bottom of the inning, sending Christian Bergman's offering to right field for a two-run home run. Yem Prades, Mitch Canham, Manny Pina, Rey Navarro and Alex McClure each singled as the Naturals scored three more runs to take a 5-2 lead after an inning.
Fletcher hit his second home run of the night to lead off the fifth, giving the Naturals a 6-2 lead.
Tulsa cut the lead to two with a two-run home run from Kent Matthes with two outs in the sixth. The Drillers had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth, but Jon Keck struck out Matthes and got Angelys Nina to ground out, ending the inning and keeping the Drillers off the board.
Northwest Arkansas added three insurance runs in the eighth as Canham reached on a one-out single and scored on a two-out hit from Navarro, with Navarro scoring on a Tulsa error. Brett Eibner doubled home McClure, with Fletcher bringing home Eibner on a double for the final run of the game. Fletcher went three-for-five with two home runs, a double, two runs scored and four RBI. Canham and McClure each went three-for-four with three singles. Canham scored two runs, while McClure scored a run and drove one in.
Jason Adam earns his first Double-A win. Adam allowed four runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings. J.C. Sulbaran allowed one hit and struck out one batter in 1.1 innings. Keck earned his second save of the year, allowing one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Bergman is charged with his fifth loss of the year. Bergman allowed six runs, two earned, on ten hits with five strikeouts in five innings.
The Naturals and Drillers will play the final game of the series tomorrow night in Tulsa. Sugar Ray Marimon (2-7, 5.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Naturals. Sean Gallagher (2-0, 1.37) is Tulsa's scheduled starter.
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