TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Merrifield, Naturals Hold off Drillers

Published on June 20, 2013 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


TULSA, Okla. - Whit Merrifield's two-run home run in the sixth inning and solid pitching combined to give the Northwest Arkansas Naturals a 4-3 win over the Tulsa Drillers on Thursday night.

With the Naturals and Drillers tied at two, Merrifield hit his second home run of the season to left field, giving the Naturals a 4-2 lead. Tulsa got a run back in the bottom half of the inning on a Kent Matthes double, but were able to get out of that inning as well as the eighth without allowing the tying run to score.

Tulsa scored the first run of the game on a Kiel Roling sacrifice fly in the first inning. Merrifield tied the game with a squeeze bunt in the third inning, scoring Rey Navarro. The Naturals took the lead later in the inning on a two-out single by Brian Fletcher before the Drillers tied the game on a Roling double in the home half of the third.

Brooks Pounders earns his second win of the season, allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in six innings. J.C. Sulbaran followed Pounders with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out one. Zach Jackson picked up his sixth save of the year, holding the Drillers scoreless while allowing one hit with a strikeout in 1.2 innings of work.

Tyler Matzek falls to 3-6 on the season. Matzek allowed four runs on nine hits with four walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

Andy Ferguson (1-1, 5.00 ERA) will make the start for the Naturals tomorrow. He will be opposed by Tim Gustafson (4-5, 5.40 ERA).

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from June 20, 2013


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