Tulsa Tops Naturals in Game Three of Series

Connor Wong Accounted for Two of Tulsa's Four Runs

August 10, 2019

Springdale, AR- The Tulsa Drillers got another good outing from starting pitcher Edwin Uceta Saturday night, and three relief pitchers closed out a 4-2 win over Northwest Arkansas. The victory was the fifth in the past six games for the Drillers.Uceta was very solid over 5.2 innings. He allowed only

Springdale, AR- The Tulsa Drillers got another good outing from starting pitcher Edwin Uceta Saturday night, and three relief pitchers closed out a 4-2 win over Northwest Arkansas. The victory was the fifth in the past six games for the Drillers.

Uceta was very solid over 5.2 innings. He allowed only one run and struck out five in gaining his fifth victory of the season.

The Drillers took an early lead in the top of the first. After Drew Avans led off the inning with a double, he advanced to third on a ground out. Chris Parmelee then hit a ground ball to Naturals shortstop Kevin Merrell. Merrell threw home attempting to get the hustling Avans, but Avans beat the throw to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead.

The Naturals tied things at 1-1 an inning later. With runners on the corners, a sacrifice fly by Angelo Castellano brought in Gabriel Cancel.

Connor Wong's bat played a role in the Drillers next two runs. In the top of the third, Wong singled, scoring Cody Thomas. In the the sixth, Wong crushed a solo home run, bringing the Drillers lead to 3-1.

Tulsa added an insurance run in the ninth. Avans led off the inning with his second double, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Angelo Mora. Parmelee knocked in Avans with a sacrifice fly, extending the Drillers lead to 4-1.

Stetson Allie recorded the final out in the eighth and was called upon to continue in the ninth. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Northwest Arkansas, spelling the end of the night for Allie.

Luis Vasquez was called upon to escape the jam. After recording a strikeout, Blake Perkins brought the Naturals one run closer with a sacrifice fly. Vasquez was able to strike out the next batter to preserve the 4-2 victory for the Drillers.

WHAT YOU MISSED

Avans and Wong each had two hits in the game, and accounted for two of the Drillers runs.

Shea Spitzbarth struck out three over two scoreless innings of relief.

*Springfield defeated Arkansas, allowing the Drillers to pull within one game of first place in the Texas League North Division standings.
UP NEXT: Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas, Saturday, August 11, 2:05 PM at Arvest Ballpark, Springdale, AR. LHP Markus Solbach (2-0, 0.59 ERA) versus RHP Daniel Tillo (0-1, 3.27 ERA).