Tulsa’s four-run sixth takes care of NWA

SPRINGDALE — Scott Blewett started Saturday’s game by retiring the first 12 batters he faced and still had a one-hitter going through two out in the sixth inning.

It didn’t take long for the Drillers to turn the tables on Northwest Arkansas’ starting pitcher. The next five Tulsa batters reached base against the right-hander, and the Drillers went on to post a 6-2 victory over the Naturals before 5,329 in attendance at Arvest Ballpark.

Tulsa (68-56 overall, 31-24 second half) batted around in the sixth inning, and Donovan Casey provided the crushing blow when his bases-clearing double snapped a 1-1 tie and caused Blewett (0-3) to exit the game.

“That’s the way baseball is,” Northwest Arkansas manager Darryl Kennedy said. “You know, one pitch here and one pitch there can ruin your night. They always say it’s a game of inches, and this was it.”

Blewett, in his third start since joining the team two weeks ago, allowed an infield single to Chris Parmalee to start the fifth and had seven strikeouts through five innings.

He then retired the first two batters in the sixth before Drew Avans lined a solid single over the head of second baseman Angelo Castellano.

Omar Estevez quickly sent Avans home when he doubled into the gap in left-center, then Tulsa loaded the bases with a walk to Cody Thomas and an infield single by Parmalee despite a shift in the infield, with Castellano’s snag in shallow right field keeping the game tied.

Casey, however, belted his double into the gap in right-center and gave the Drillers a 4-1 lead before the Naturals made a pitching change.

“He was definitely in control for five innings,” Kennedy said of Blewett. “In the sixth, he made a couple of pitches that he left over the plate, and they made him pay for it. He then ended up walking a batter, then they got the big hit to chase him.”

SHORT HOPS

■ The Naturals (50-72, 19-35) took a 1-0 lead in the first off Tulsa starter Markus Solbach (3-0), who entered the game with a 0.89 ERA. Kevin Merrell blooped a single into shallow left and scored when Gabriel Cancel hit a double into left-center field.

■ Northwest Arkansas had back-to-back batters hit by a pitch during the sixth. Khalil Lee took a pitch on the arm that home plate umpire Justin Robinson first called a strike before a conference on the field reversed the ball, then Emmanuel Rivera was plunked moments later.

■ The loss means the Naturals, who had a threegame win streak snapped, will finish the season with a losing record against the Drillers. Tulsa enjoys a 14-11 cushion with today’s game remaining.

On Deck: The final game of a three-game homestand begins at 2:05 p.m. today. Right-hander Jackson Kowar (2-6, 3.28 ERA) draws the start for Northwest Arkansas, while Tulsa will send right-hander Parker Curry (4-5, 3.08) to the mound. It will be the final game the Naturals will play against their fellow North Division teams as they finish the season with series against South Division teams Midland and Frisco.

Today’s Promotion: It’s Kids Eat Free Sunday, and all children 12 and younger will receive a voucher good for a hot dog and soda. Kids of all ages can run the bases after the game.

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