Drillers Fall 4-3 to Northwest Arkansas

Tulsa gives up leadoff home run in first inning in loss to Naturals.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:56 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Sep 5, 2010 10:16 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SPRINGDALE, Arkansas – Giving up a home run to the first batter of the game is never a good way to start.

But that is precisely what the Tulsa Drillers did in a 4-3 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Tulsa but was especially costly because of the current division standings. Tulsa had pulled to within two games of the Naturals and had a chance to even the standings with two wins to end the season, but instead fell to three games behind with Sunday’s loss.

Outfielder Paulo Orlando started Northwest Arkansas off on a positive note, homering to center field off of pitcher Keith Weiser as the first batter of the game for the Naturals.

The Naturals picked up another run in the second on a fielding error by Tulsa’s Jason Van Kooten to go up 2-0. Tulsa had three errors in the game.

The Drillers surged in the fourth inning, with Bronson Sardinha and Scott Beerer driving in runs to tie the game at 2.

The teams traded another run each, and Northwest Arkansas clinched the win in the bottom of the ninth on a double by first baseman Eric Hosmer, driving in Johnny Giavotella.

Chris Malone picked up the loss for the Drillers, giving up one run in the ninth in what was technically zero innings on the mound as Malone failed to record an out in the game. Weiser gave up three runs and six hits in six innings.

Barry Bowden got the win for Northwest Arkansas.