Naturals use big flies in comeback
Published on August 4, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR- After being staked to a 6-1 lead, everything seemed to unravel for the Tulsa Drillers as the Naturals put an exclamation point on a big comeback in a 10-6 victory Tuesday at Arvest Ballpark.
Not only did the Drillers (22-16, 51-56) allow nine unanswered runs and lose the ballgame, they may have to endure an extended period of time without their All-Star catcher Wilin Rosario, who appeared to suffer a painful knee injury during a rundown play in the seventh inning. To top it off, they now trail the Naturals by one game in the Texas League's North Division second half race.
Tulsa was actually the first to stage a comeback, plating five runs in the second inning after the Naturals got a run across in the first. Derrick Robinson doubled to start the frame, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch tossed by Tulsa starter Cory Riordan.
Jeff Kindel drew a walk to lead off the Drillers' second inning. Scot Beerer then reached on a force out as Kindel was out at second. Naturals' starter Mario Santiago then plunked Radames Nazario, and Warren Schaeffer followed with an RBI single that tied the ballgame. After Michael Mitchell fanned, Anthony Jackson drove in two runs on a single and scored on the ensuing double by Charlie Blackmon which put the Drillers up 4-1. It quickly moved to 5-1 when Bronson Sardinha followed with an RBI single to center.
Santiago got Wilin Rosario to fly out to end the second, but was chased early in the fourth. Mitchell started the frame with a single and immediately swiped second. Santiago fanned Anthony Jackson and then southpaw Rowdy Hardy came on in relief. Mitchell swiped third and Charlie Blackmon was able to get him home with a sacrifice fly to left that put Tulsa up 6-1.
From there, the Naturals used the longball to claw their way back while Hardy (4-1) deftly quieted the Drillers' lineup and put himself in line for a win. He tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk while recording two strikeouts after Santiago, who started, failed to get out of the fourth. He was charged with all six Tulsa runs on seven hits. He walked two and fanned four.
Riordan got two quick groundouts in the bottom of the fourth before the homer barrage by the Naturals began in full force. Tim Smith and Manny Pina went deep back-to-back to cut the Tulsa lead to 6-3. Jamie Romak followed Pina and barely missed the third straight homer, ripping a double off the center field wall about halfway up. He moved to third on a wild pitch and Chris McConnell worked a walk before speedy leadoff man Derrick Robinson, not known for longball power, launched a three-run bomb to right to tie the game at six.
Riordan left after the fifth and was charged with all six runs on nine hits. He issued a pair of walks and fanned a pair. Andy Graham (4-3) came on for the sixth and worked around a two out single, but was torched to start the seventh as the Naturals got out the big bats again.
Eric Hosmer drove Graham's 2-2 pitch to the deepest part of the park, homering into the batters eye in center field to put the Naturals ahead by a run. Graham then walked Clint Robinson and hit Paulo Orlando. Tim Smith reached on an infield single to load the bases, and Manny Pina gave the Naturals some insurance with a two-run single. That spelled the end for Graham, who would end up with the loss.
Jamie Romak followed and flew out to right. Smith was attempting to take third on the play, but was hung up between second and third when Tulsa right fielder Bronson Sardinha relayed the ball back to Drillers' catcher Wilin Rosario. Rosario charged at Smith on the basepaths and, after crossing onto the infield dirt, his right knee appeared to buckle, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. Rosario lobbed a throw as he fell, which beat Smith to third by half a step. Rosario had to be assisted off the field, and Chris McConnell followed and hit an RBI double to put the Naturals (23-15, 65-43) up 10-6. Patrick Keating pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to wrap up the win for Northwest Arkansas.
Left-hander Mike Montgomery (3-1, 2.79) will be activated and take the hill for the Naturals on Wednesday, and he will go against left-hander Keith Weiser (8-6, 4.07). Montgomery is making his first start for the Naturals since going on the Disabled List with a forearm injury. He made his last start for the Naturals back on June 15th, where he pitched 3 2/3 innings while giving up one earned run. Weiser, the wins leader for Tulsa this season, is coming off a seven inning shutout performance. He is 1-2 against the Naturals this year.
Texas League Stories from August 4, 2010
- Hooks Battle Back in Triumph - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Give Brasier Support in 6-1 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- 9th Inning Error Dooms Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Ninth Inning Error Gives Naturals Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Baffled by Travelers, 6-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Midland Evens Series with 7-2 Win Over 'Riders - Frisco RoughRiders
- Montgomery Activated, Santiago to DL - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- One Bobble & A 500-Pound Gorilla Escapes - Midland RockHounds
- Drillers Lose, Rosario Injured - Tulsa Drillers
- Cards' Hill Rips Travs With Two Homers - Arkansas Travelers
- Naturals use big flies in comeback - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks Chip Missions - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Springfield Blow Out Travs - Springfield Cardinals
- 'Riders snag a win to end skid - Frisco RoughRiders
- Beltre blazing a trail to the majors - Frisco RoughRiders
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