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TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Fall in Final Road Game

August 30, 2010 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Tulsa, OK - The Naturals played their final road game of the regular season tonight in Tulsa. Unfortunately for the Naturals, they could not hold on to an eighth inning lead, and fell to the Drillers 6-5.

The Naturals (38-25, 80-53) scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Josh Fields led off the inning with a double to left field, and Clint Robinson followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly by Nick Van Stratten scored Fields from third, and put the naturals out front.

Down one, Tulsa (36-27, 66-66) came back and tied the game in bottom half of the second. Scott Beerer was walked to lead off the inning. After advancing to second, Beerer was able to score off a base hit from Radames Nazario.

With the game tied up, The Drillers offense went to work again in the bottom of the third. Anthony Jackson reached on a walk, and Charles Blackmon doubled to right field. Jordan Pacheco then brought Jackson home on a sacrifice fly to left. A single from Scott Beerer later in the inning brought Blackmon home, and gave the Drillers the two run advantage.

Johnny Giavotella cut the Naturals' deficit to just one when he hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. It was the seventh home run of the season for Giavotella.

The Naturals remained down one until the eighth inning. Derrick Robinson hit a one out single, and Giavotella followed with a double to right. After Eric Hosmer was walked to load the bases, Fields doubled on a line drive to right field. The double brought all three base runners home, and it gave the Naturals a 5-3 lead.

When it seemed that the Naturals grabbed control, Tulsa came back and tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. A two out base hit by Blackmon brought both Matt Repec and Nazario home.

With the game tied, it came down to the bottom of the ninth. Jason Van Kooten singled to lead off the ninth inning, and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Beerer. A two out base hit from Nazario brought Van Kooten home for the winning run, and Tulsa gained the victory.

Rowdy Hardy (4-3) suffered the loss for the Naturals. Hardy pitched on inning, and gave up the winning run in the ninth. Starter Mike Montgomery pitched 4 2/3 innings in a no decision. Montgomery gave up three earned runs, walked five, and did not strike out a batter. Eduardo Paulino pitched a scoreless inning. Ben Swaggerty pitched two innings, and gave up the two tying runs.

Bruce Billings (10-6) picked up the win for Tulsa. Billings pitched one inning, and struck out two. Cory Riordan pitched well for the Drillers. Riordan pitched 7 1/3 innings, gave up three earned runs, and struck out eight.

With their road games now over, the Naturals head home for the final seven game home stand of the regular season. First up for the Naturals is a four game series with in-state rival Travelers. The series gets underway Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.

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