Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Drillers continued to hit home runs on Saturday night at ONEOK Field, recording their fifth straight multi-homer game, but it was not enough to record a fifth straight victory. Northwest Arkansas erupted for 13 hits, including two of its own homers, then held off a ninth-inning rally from the Drillers to hand a Tulsa an 8-7.
The loss ended the Drillers ten-game winning streak over the Naturals at ONEOK Field and dropped their second-half record to 19-13.
The loss, combined with Springfield’s win over Wichita, again dropped the Drillers two games behind the Cardinals in the second-half standings of the Texas League’s North Division.
The night got off to an unusual start when outfielders Zyhir Hope and Kendall George were removed from the Tulsa lineup just prior to the national anthem as media rumors spread online about a possible trade for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Once the game began, the offensive production from the Naturals started early. They scored in each of the first three innings and it came against Tulsa starting pitcher Christian Zazueta, who entered the contest with a 2.14 ERA in five Double-A starts.
Northwest Arkansas leadoff batter Luke Pelzer lined a single on Zazueta’s second pitch of the game. He eventually scored the game’s first run on an error by Tulsa shortstop Elijah Hainline who was attempting to complete a double play with a throw to first base.
The Drillers took a brief lead in the bottom of the first, thanks to a pair of home runs. With one out, Josue De Paula deposited his 18th homer of the season into the Tulsa bullpen in eight field. One out later, Chris Newell matched De Paula with his 18th homer to give Tulsa a 2-1 lead.
The Naturals went in front to stay in the second inning on a two-out, two-run homer from Justin Johnson.
The lead swelled to 7-2 when the Naturals plated four more runs in the top of the third. The first two scored on Carson Roccaforte’s two-run homer. Connor Scott singled home the third run before a balk produced the fourth.
Tulsa’s bullpen settled in from there, holding the Naturals to just one more run when Daniel Vasquez doubled and scored on a base hit from Canyon Brown in the fifth inning.
A pair of homers late in the game from the Drillers made things uncomfortable for the Naturals. De Paula struck again in the eighth, hitting his second solo home run of the game.
Down by five runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Drillers did not go away quietly. Hainline drew a walk and Taylor Young singled. After pair of fly outs, Kole Myers hit a long home run that easily cleared the fence in deep, right-center field.
With the deficit cut to just two runs, the Drillers continued to battle. A hit batter and a walk set up an RBI-single from Chris Newell pulled Tulsa to within 8-7 and moved the potential game-tying run to third base.
Naturals’ reliever Dennis Colleran Jr. recovered to strike out Jake Gelof to end the attempted rally.
It was an unusually tough outing for Zazueta who was charged with is first Double-A loss. The 21-year-old native of Mexico allowed eight hits and seven runs in three innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.
Tulsa’s bullpen was solid over the game’s final six innings. Evan Shaw followed Zazueta and allowed just one run in 2 2/3 innings.
Former University of Oklahoma hurler Christian Reubeck did not allow a hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Four of the seven outs that Reubeck recorded came on strikeouts.
Antonio Knowles finished with a scoreless ninth inning.
GAME NOTES
*The Drillers are conducting a FLASH SALE for Sunday afternoon's series finale between the two teams. All seats within the seating bowl, excluding John Zink Club Seats and ONEOK Diamond Seats, are on sale for just $8.00 and can be purchased by clicking HERE.
*De Paula finished the night 2-3, extending his hitting streak to six straight games. He has now homered in two straight games and is hitting .409 in the streak.
*Newell had his fifth three-hit game of the year, finishing 3-4.
*The Drillers totaled 4 homers in the game and have hit 19 home runs through the first five games of their series with the Naturals.
*Tulsa pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Drillers and Naturals will conclude their six-game series on Sunday afternoon at ONEOK Field. Starting time is set for 12:05 p.m. and the pitching matchup is scheduled to be:
NW Arkansas – RHP Felix Arronde (5-4, 5.32 ERA)
Tulsa – RHP Aiden Foeller (0-0, 0.00 ERA)