Naturals Drop Drillers 5-2
July 22, 2018 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
The Tulsa Drillers were back in action Sunday afternoon playing the last of a four-game series against Northwest Arkansas. Tulsa starting pitcher Mitchell White looked to help the Drillers split the series, but the Naturals generated some early offense that propelled them to a 5-2 win.
Northwest Arkansas got the scoring started in the home half of the third when Nick Heath led off the inning by reaching on an error, stole second, and then scored on a single by Khalil Lee to make it 1-0. A single, fielders choice, and the second stolen base of the inning set the table for Samir Duenez to drive in Lee and Erick Mejia with a single to right. The next batter, first baseman Alex Liddi, drove a double to left field to score Duenez and make it 4-0 Naturals.
Jacob Scavuzzo led of the top half of the fourth with his 17th home run of the year after just missing one the pitch before. The blast cut the lead to 4-1.
After two quick outs in the home half of the fourth the Naturals hit back to back doubles by Xavier Fernandez and then Lee to make the score 5-1.
The Drillers continued to cut into the lead as after the first two batters in the fifth went down swinging, DJ Peters singled to keep the inning alive. The next batter Will Smith doubled and Peters scored as he got a great jump off the bat to make it 5-2.
It would be the final offensive production of the day as a trio of Naturals relievers blanked the Drillers over the final three frames.
WHAT YOU MISSED
*Scavuzzo's homerun was his 17th of the season and ninth of July. For the month of July he is 31-76 for a .408 average with 25 RBIs.
*White only allowed one earned run, striking out three over five innings in the loss.
*Tulsa relievers Shea Spitzbarth and Dylan Baker delivered three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, giving up only two hits.
*The loss dropped the Drillers record to 20-9 for the second half.
UP NEXT
The Drillers return home to take on the Springfield Cardinals on Monday night. First pitch at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM, and the probable starting pitchers are:
TUL TBD
NWA Austin Warner (1-3, 6.58 ERA)
Texas League Stories from July 22, 2018
- Anthony Shew Leads Cardinals to 4-0 Shutout of Travs - Springfield Cardinals
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- Riders Earn Split in Series over Missions - San Antonio Missions
- Cards Blank Travs, 4-0 - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks Settle for Split in Permian Basin - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Drop Drillers 5-2 - Tulsa Drillers
- Lee Leads Naturals to Series Win over Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- CC Survives Wild Finish - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals Crush Travelers, 13-7 - Springfield Cardinals
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