Naturals' Rally Falls Short

SPRINGDALE, AR - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals got a solid start from JC Sulbaran, but fell 3-1 to the Tulsa Drillers on Sunday night at Arvest Ballpark. The final game of the regular season will be tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM.

The Drillers were the first to get on the board in a pitcher's duel in the top half of the fifth inning. Lars Davis blasted a solo home run to put the Drillers in front 1-0. The home run was the ninth of the season for Davis.

Sulbaran (0-4) turned in his best start of the season for the Naturals on Sunday night. The right-hander went seven innings allowing six hits and one runs, while walking four and striking out four.

The Drillers started Brandon Hynick out dueled Sulbaran going seven shutout innings allowing just six hits, and striking out six. Hynick (7-3) picked up his seventh win this season.

The Naturals got a rally started in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Drillers' reliever Michael Marbry. Mario Lisson led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a single by Ryan Jenkins. Yem Prades knocked in Lisson with an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-1. The Drillers then went to the bullpen again bringing on Michael Solbach. Solbach got Whit Merrifield to fly out to left-field to strand a pair of runners and preserve the win. The right-hander earned his second save of the season.

The Naturals play their final home game of the 2012 season against the Drillers at on Monday at 1:05 PM. Right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon (3-5, 4.16) will take the mound for the Naturals against a Drillers starter right-hander Dan Houston (9-10, 3.80). All of the action can be heard on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.