Pelzer Has Second Straight Four-Hit Game in Tuesday’s Defeat
SPRINGDALE, AR – Luke Pelzer had his second straight four-hit game and reached base five times in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ (27-37, 56-75) 7-5 loss to the Tulsa Drillers (38-26, 84-49) on Tuesday night at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals continue their six-game set against the Drillers on Wednesday, with first
SPRINGDALE, AR – Luke Pelzer had his second straight four-hit game and reached base five times in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ (27-37, 56-75) 7-5 loss to the Tulsa Drillers (38-26, 84-49) on Tuesday night at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals continue their six-game set against the Drillers on Wednesday, with first pitch at 7:05 PM CT.
Tulsa scored four runs in the opening frame, and the Naturals responded with a run in the bottom half. Spencer Nivens knocked in Luke Pelzer with a single to cut the deficit to 4-1.
Northwest Arkansas plated runs in the third and fourth to make it a one-run ballgame. Sam Kulasingam, coming off his six-hit, eight-RBI performance on Sunday, singled in Pelzer in the third frame. In the fourth, Connor Scott connected on his second triple of the season, and Canyon Brown brought Scott in with a sacrifice fly.
Naturals reliever Augusto Mendieta kept it a 4-3 contest through five frames. The right-hander came out of the bullpen in the first inning and dealt 4.1 scoreless innings. Mendieta gave up one hit and struck out a pair.
After the Drillers extended their lead to 7-3 with a three-run sixth, the Nats plated one in the home half. Hyungchan Um worked a leadoff walk and Pelzer hit his second double and third hit of the evening. Nivens grounded out to first to plate Um and make it a 7-4 deficit. Pelzer singled in the eighth to pick up four knocks for the second game in a row. The lefty extended his on-base streak to 16 straight contests and has hit safely in eight consecutive games.
The Naturals threatened in the ninth and made it a two-run contest. Daniel Vázquez doubled to lead off the frame and Justin Johnson hit an RBI single to bring the tying run to the plate. The next three Nats were all set down to end the series opener, with Tulsa winning 7-5.
The Naturals face the Drillers in the second game of the six-game series on Wednesday at 7:05 PM CT. Fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, $5 12 oz. cans of Scarlett Letter and Baseball Bingo. Fans can get their tickets at NWANaturals.com for the remainder of the series.
As always, fans can follow along through the Naturals' TV broadcast, available with a subscription to MLB.tv or the MiLB App and for free through the Bally Live Sports App. Additionally, you can listen to the radio call with the "Voice of the Naturals", Shawn Murnin, all season long on the MiLB app and NWANaturals.com.