SPRINGDALE -- The long ball cost the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in a 9-3 loss to Tulsa on Thursday night in Arvest Ballpark.
Northwest Arkansas (18-13) gave up three home runs between the second and third inning and couldn't recover from the early deficit, even with scoring three runs late in the game and loading the bases up in the bottom of the ninth.
Tulsa 9, Northwest Arkansas 3
Tulsa^036^000^000^9^16^2
NW Arkansas^000^001^020^3^11^1
Tulsa^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Locastro, SS^5^0^0^0^0^1^2^.243
Holt, T, RF^4^0^0^0^0^2^3^.167
Allie, RF^0^0^0^0^1^0^0^.211
Farmer, C^5^1^4^0^0^1^0^.281
Rios, 3B^5^0^0^0^0^2^5^.333
Garlick, LF^5^2^3^2^0^1^0^.264
Fernandez, 2B^5^2^3^0^0^0^1^.282
Mieses, CF^4^2^1^3^1^1^1^.079
Beaty, 1B^4^1^2^0^0^1^1^.254
Scavuzzo, DH^4^1^3^4^0^0^0^.210
Totals^41^9^16^9^2^9^13^
BATTING
2B: Scavuzzo (4, Beal). HR: Mieses (2, 2nd inning off Lovvorn, 2 on, 0 out); Garlick (9, 3rd inning off Lovvorn, 1 on, 1 out); Scavuzzo (4, 3rd inning off Beal, 3 on, 1 out). TB: Beaty 2; Fernandez 3; Scavuzzo 7; Garlick 6; Mieses 4; Farmer 4. RBI: Mieses 3 (6); Garlick 2 (21); Scavuzzo 4 (13). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Holt, T 2; Locastro; Rios. GIDP: Rios; Beaty. Team RISP: 3-for-7. Team LOB: 7.
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Dewees Jr., CF^5^0^0^0^0^1^3^.217
Escalera, LF^5^0^3^0^0^2^0^.291
Duenez, 1B^5^1^1^0^0^1^5^.297
Schwindel, DH^5^1^3^0^0^0^0^.353
Ramos, 3B^4^1^1^1^0^1^2^.248
Evans, C^5^0^1^1^0^0^5^.205
Arteaga, SS^3^0^2^1^0^0^0^.242
Lopez, Jac, 2B^4^0^0^0^0^1^5^.286
Moon, RF^3^0^0^0^1^1^4^.221
Totals^39^3^11^3^1^7^24^
BATTING
2B: Schwindel (11, Cash). TB: Arteaga 2; Schwindel 4; Duenez; Ramos; Evans; Escalera 3. RBI: Arteaga (6); Ramos (8); Evans (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ramos; Dewees Jr. 2; Moon; Evans 2. SF: Arteaga. GIDP: Duenez. Team RISP: 2-for-11. Team LOB: 12.
Tulsa^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Sborz (W, 1-1)^5.0^5^0^0^1^3^0^4.76
Cash^2.1^3^3^2^0^2^0^6.75
Paredes, Edw^1.2^3^0^0^0^2^0^2.03
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Lovvorn (L, 2-3)^2.1^9^7^7^1^3^2^4.26
Beal^3.0^5^2^2^0^4^1^3.46
Goudeau^2.2^2^0^0^1^2^0^2.70
Redman^1.0^0^0^0^0^0^0^4.32
WP: Sborz; HBP: Ramos (by Paredes, Edw).
Umpires: HP: Grant Conrad. 1B: Kyle McCrady. 3B: Jeff Gorman.
T: 2:45. Att: 3,454.
"When you give up a two-run (home run), three-run (home run) and a grand slam in first three innings, it's going to be a little tough," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said. "Man, when you get down that much it makes it an uphill battle.
"We had a lot of chances early and we couldn't get the big hit."
Naturals pitcher Zach Lovvorn struggled early on the game, surrendering nine hits for seven runs, including two of the Drillers' (15-17) home runs. It was the second straight start for the right-hander where he gave up four or more runs.
Wilson said Lovvorn's struggles stemmed from his lack of command on his fastball but was optimistic this was just an off day.
"His ball was moving, which it never does," Wilson said. "The kid's been really good for us, sometimes pitchers just have days like that."
After the third, the Naturals pitching staff held the Drillers scoreless and the team played great defense, Wilson said.
"Bullpen was really good," Wilson said. "I thought Goudeau pitched really well."
Short Hops:
• Outfielder Terrance Gore was called up to the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, Thursday. Outfielder Elier Hernandez was transferred from Class-A Advanced Wilmington to the Naturals. Hernandez batted .306 with four home runs and 27 RBI in 30 games with the Blue Rocks this season.
• Catcher Zane Evans singled in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to six games, which is the longest, active hitting streak for the Naturals.
On Deck: The Naturals take on the Tulsa Drillers in the second game of their four-game homestand at 7:05 p.m. today. Naturals left-handed pitcher Emilio Ogando (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who is making his second career start for the Naturals, will take the mound against the Drillers. In his first appearance, against the Arkansas Travelers on May 6, Ogando won the decision after throwing six shutout innings and four strikeouts. He will face the Drillers' Walker Buehler (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Buehler, a former first-round pick back in 2015, will be making his first career start as well at the Double-A level after spending the first part of the 2017 season with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Today's Promotion: Fans at tonight's game can arrive early to the ballpark for a pre-game concert, which will start at 6 p.m., put on by Love & The Outcome. After the game, there will be a fireworks' show to conclude the night.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 05/12/2017