Red-hot Naturals lock up North title

No one can accuse the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of backing into the playoffs.

Buoyed by the veteran leadership of Cory Aldridge and the steady presence of manager Brian Poldberg, the first-year franchise clinched the Texas League North Division second-half title Saturday with its eighth straight victory, 7-3, over the Tulsa Drillers at Arvest Ballpark.

The Naturals (42-26) appeared to be wilting down the stretch after losing six straight from Aug. 13-18. But the 29-year-old Aldridge, in his 12th professional season, reminded his younger teammates they still had a lot of baseball to play.

"We had to bear down after we lost all those games in a row," Aldridge said after connecting for his fifth homer in six games in the division clincher. "We had to put everything in perspective. It's not one hero, it's a team effort."

Northwest Arkansas responded by putting together its best stretch of the season, winning 10 of 12, including its ongoing franchise-record winning streak.

"We were dead even with [second-place] Springfield and we knew they were going to be home for seven games," said Poldberg, who is in his 20th season in the Royals' organization.

"To go out and win eight games in a row is a tribute to this team."

The Naturals had to show some fight in the clincher as well.

A 1-hour, 48-minute rain delay forced starter Blake Wood from the game after he tossed three scoreless innings of one-hit ball. The Drillers immediately took advantage when play resumed, putting up two quick runs against reliever Gilbert de la Vara in the fourth.

But once again, Northwest Arkansas battled back as Mario Lisson and Brian McFall started the fifth with back-to-back homers, forging a 2-2 tie.

Corey Wimberly's RBI double in the sixth put Tulsa back in front before Lisson and McFall teamed up for consecutive run-scoring singles in the bottom half that put the Naturals ahead to stay, 4-3.

While de la Vara (3-0), Tim Hamulak and Chris Hayes combined to shut the Drillers down the rest of the way, Aldridge provided some much-needed breathing room with a two-run blast, his 10th, in the eighth. Lisson doubled and came home on Kiel Thibault's grounder later in the frame to cap the scoring.

"Cory gave us the big one in the eighth," Poldberg said. "He has come in and been a big influence in the clubhouse. He's been through the battles before. And he can give the players a lot better advice that we can sometimes."

Aldridge clearly saved his best for last, driving in 16 runs in his last six games after managing only six RBIs in his previous 18 contests.

"I think we've all done our part," he said. "I've been working on my swing, and I'm back to where I trust it."

The Naturals will meet Arkansas in a best-of-5 first-round series beginning Wednesday. Northwest Arkansas completed a four-game sweep of the first-half division champions on Friday, but Aldridge knows the playoffs will be a different type of challenge.

"We've played them a lot and just got through sweeping them," he said. "I hope we just come out there and just play our game, relax and not press. I think if everybody plays their part, we'll have a chance."

Poldberg, who received a champagne shower during the postgame locker room celebration, doesn't want the winning to stop anytime soon.

"This isn't the big one," he said. "We want the final prize. We're going to enjoy this and move on to the next team."

Reliever Adam Bright (3-8) took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits in two innings.

Jeff Dragicevich drew a pair of walks and scored twice for the Drillers (27-41).