MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-SPRINGDALE, AR–Making a spot start for the Tulsa Drillers, right-hander Joey Williamson pitched strong on short rest as the Drillers' staff notched their league leading eighth shutout in a 8-0 blanking of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday.

Williamson and three relievers combined on the two-hitter, with Williamson getting through the first four innings and turning it over to the Drillers' bullpen, which did a great job keeping Northwest Arkansas off the board the rest of the way.

Tulsa(32-29) gave him the only cushion he'd need early on in the first on an RBI single by Mike Paulk.He plated Anthony Jackson who led off the game with a walk to put Tulsa up 1-0.

Kansas City Royals' right-hander Robinson Tejeda (0-1), making the start as part of a rehab assignment, issued the walk and was charged with the lone run in 1 2/3 innings.He fanned three before turning it over to Matt Kniginyzky, who kept it close.He allowed a solo homer to Ryan Harvey in the fourth and an unearned run in the sixth before giving way in the eighth as the Drillers blew it open on a three-run blast by Paulk, who was 3-for-5 with four RBI on the day.Two more runs came across in the ninth off of Chris Nicoll to put the game far out of reach.

The Naturals (32-29) had their best chance to score in the bottom of the sixth.Kurt Mertins walked and Jordan Parraz, who's first inning single extended his hitting streak to a club-record 18 games, was hit by the pitch.But Xavier Cedeno (2-2) got Corey Smith to groundout to end the threat and keep the ballgame at 3-0.Cedeno pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth to earn the win.

These two teams are now tied for second place in the Texas League North and will play game two of the series on Monday evening.Game time is 7 P.M.Southpaw Everett Teaford, making his first start in the Texas League, will go for Northwest Arkansas opposite right-hander Brandon Durden (1-1) for Tulsa.

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