TULSA, Okla. -
One of Tulsa's smallest players provided the game's biggest hit Saturday night at ONEOK Field. Angelys Nina's double off the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Ben Paulsen from first base to give the Drillers a dramatic 2-1 walk-off win over Northwest Arkansas. Nina's clutch hit broke a 1-1 tie that had been in place since the first inning.
Paulsen started the final-inning rally with a one out single to left field off Naturals' reliever Ryan Dennick. Nina followed and belted the first pitch from Dennick deep to left. The ball just cleared the glove of a leaping Brian Fletcher and caromed off the outfield wall. Paulsen was able to race home from first, sliding in ahead of the relay throw with the winning run.
Nina's deep drive came despite a 20 m.p.h. wind blowing in from centerfield. Not only did it beat the Naturals, it also beat the thunderstorms that were nearing downtown Tulsa.
Naturals' leadoff hitter Yem Prades opened the game by drawing a walk from Tulsa starter Josh Outman. Whit Merrifield then reached on a bunt single to put runners at first and second. Outman retired Fletcher on strikes, but Paulo Orlando lined a single into left field that brought Prades home with the game's first run.
The Drillers answered in the bottom half of the inning. Corey Dickerson led off with a base hit against Northwest Arkansas starter Justin Marks and advanced to second on a deep fly out from Nolan Arenado. Rehabbing Jason Giambi drew a walk to put runners at first and second.
Aggressive base running then paid dividends for the Drillers. With both runners moving, Marks struck out Paulsen, and the Naturals looked to have an inning-ending double play with Dickerson being retired on the attempted steal, but the throw from catcher Julio Rodriguez was wide of the third base bag. The ball rolled into left field and Dickerson raced home to tie the score at 1-1.
Tulsa nearly took the lead in the bottom of the second. Mike Zuanich led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out by Chris Pettit. Warren Schaeffer followed with a fly ball to shallow right field. Zuanich tagged and attempted to score on the ball, but right fielder Carlo Testa's throw to the plate was in time to complete an inning-ending double play.
It was the last real scoring chance until Nina's big hit, as the two starting pitchers began to dominate.
Outman struggled with his command in the early innings, but he settled in and recorded the 11th straight quality start for Tulsa starting pitchers. The lefthander worked seven innings and surrendered only the one run on five hits. Outman, who was not involved in the decision, walked three batters and struck out six while throwing 101 pitches, 60 for strikes. The last base runner he allowed came in the fourth inning as he retired ten consecutive batters to end his outing.
Tulsa reliever Zach Simons picked up the win to improve his record to 5-2. Simons worked two perfect innings in relief of Outman.
Giambi, in his second game with the Drillers, started at first base and played five innings. After walking in the first, he was called out on strikes in the third inning.
The Drillers and the Naturals are scheduled to play the second game of their three-game series at 7:05PM Sunday night at ONEOK Field. Joe Gardner (6-8, 4.34 ERA) will take the mound for Tulsa against Noel Arguelles (3-13, 6.62 ERA) of Northwest Arkansas.
Jason Giambi went 0-1 with a walk and a strikeout in his two plate appearances Saturday evening.
