TEXAS LEAGUE

Naturals lose lead late, fall to Drillers

The Tulsa Drillers scored four runs in the eighth inning to overcome a 4-2 deficit and beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 6-5 before an announced crowd of 5,455 at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, Okla.

Michael Ramirez and Jose Rivera greeted Naturals reliever Scott Alexander with singles.

Cristhian Adames put down a sacrifice bunt, but Alexander made an errant throw to first to load the bases.

Alexander struck out Delta Cleary Jr., but Ryan Casteel singled to center to score Ramirez and Rivera to tie the game at 4-4 and move Adames to second. Brian Humphries doubled down the right-field line to score Adames and Casteel to put the Drillers up 6-4. Humphries would move to third on a throwing error by second baseman Justin Trapp before Joey Wong walked and Jayson Langfels grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Naturals closed to 6-5 in the ninth when Orlando Calixte led off with a single to left-center field, moved to second on Edinson Rincon's groundout and scored on Jared Schlehuber's doubled down the left-field line. Juan Graterol grounded out and Trapp struck out to end the game.

Kraig Sitton (2-1) got the victory for the Drillers, despite allowing three runs in the top of the 8th. Scott Oberg picked up his 9th save of the season, despite allowing 1 run on 2 hits and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.

Alexander (0-2) took the loss for the Naturals, allowing four runs in the eighth.

Jorge Bonifacio led the Naturals by going 2 for 3 with 4 RBI, including a three-run home run in the eighth.

Casteel led the Drillers by going 1 for 3 with 3 RBI. Humphries went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.

Sports on 05/19/2014

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