Drillers' Offensive Woes Continue In Fourth Straight Loss

Newson6.com

SPRINGDALE, AR. – The Tulsa Drillers' losing streak stretched to four games Wednesday with a 6-3 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

NW Arkansas (53-46) started the scoring with a flurry in the second inning. After the first batter of the frame reached base on an error, five Naturals in the span of six batters either recorded a hit or drew a walk.

Paulo Orlando, Mario Lisson, Derrick Robinson and Christian Colon all delivered RBI singles in that span. The Naturals scored five runs in the inning – only two of which were earned – and that turned out to be all they needed.

The Drillers (48-54) got on the board with home runs by Ben Paulsen and Thomas field in the fourth inning, and Paulsen added an RBI double in the fifth to cut the lead to 5-3. But Tulsa never drew any closer.

Robinson added another RBI to provide insurance in the sixth, and the NW Arkansas pitchers shut things down from there. Mario Santiago and Kevin Chapman combined to allow just two hits in the final three frames, and Chapman earned his third save of the season.

Jake Odorizzi (3-0) remained undefeated by holding the Drillers to three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Rob Scahill (8-8) came away with a loss after allowing six runs – three unearned – on 10 hits in seven innings.

The Drillers' four-game skid has come thanks to struggles at the plate. Their three runs Wednesday marked the most runs they have scored since Friday. They will try to get back on track in the finale of a three-game series against the Naturals at 7 p.m. Thursday.