Drillers Walk Away With Win over NW Arkansas

A bases loaded walk gave the Tulsa Drillers the 5-4 advantage over Northwest Arkansas.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:24 pm

By: News On 6

Drillers Walk Away With Win over NW Arkansas

Originally Published: May 18, 2011 9:41 AM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

TULSA, Okla.—It took extra innings to decide a winner in Tuesday’s game one between the Tulsa Drillers and Northwest Arkansas Naturals, but the Drillers eventually walked away with the 5-4 win.

Tulsa built an early lead in the first after five Drillers reached the bases because of walks or being hit by pitches. Wilin Rosario and James Cesario both added RBI singles to put Tulsa up 2-0 after just one inning of play.

In the bottom of the third, Tulsa added to its lead. Hector Gomez led off the inning with a stand-up triple. Then Rosario stepped up to the plate and crushed a ball off the centerfield wall to increase the lead to 3-0.

The Naturals rallied in the fourth, taking advantage of a walk to leadoff hitter Christian Colon, followed by a balk that advanced Colon to second. Tim Smith then singled in Colon from second and advance to second on the throw to the plate. Smith then stole third and was able to score on a groundout to Gomez. NW Arkansas two runs off one hit cutting it to 3-2.

The Drillers responded in the bottom of the fifth when Holcomb blasted an opposite field home run that landed in the Drillers bullpen off of Naturals reliever Eduardo Paulino.

The Drillers bullpen allowed two late runs to the Naturals that tied the score at four and force the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the tenth with one out, Holcomb would add another hit with a single to right advancing Paulsen to second, who previously reached on a drop third strike by the catcher. A Warren Schaeffer walk loaded the bases with Mike Mitchell due up. Mitchell drew a four pitch walk to send in the winning run.

Tulsa’s Juan Nicasio pitched seven two-run innings allowing two hits and two walks, while striking out nine Naturals hitters.

Gomez, Holcomb and Rosario lead the team with two hits each. Rosario's two hits knocked in the game high two RBI's.

The Drillers will again be facing the Naturals on Wednesday afternoon at ONEOK Field at 2:05 p.m.

Aaron Cook (0-1, 9.00) will take the mound for the Drillers, making his second rehab start while Northwest Arkansas will send lefty Chris Dwyer (1-3, 6.61) making his eighth start of the year.