CORPUS CHRISTI -- Carlos Rosa pitched six shutout innings and the Northwest Arkansas bullpen added three blanks as the Naturals defeated Corpus Christi 2-0 Tuesday night at Whataburger Field before 5,955.The Hooks slip to 5-1. Northwest Arkansas improves to 2-4.
Rosa (1-0), who benefited from twin-killings in the third and fifth, faced one batter over the minimum. Of his 65 pitches, 40 were strikes.
Roman Colon and Jeff Fulchino, who worked the last two innings, completed the three-hit shutout.
Northwest Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the third. Ovandy Suero led off with a single, stole second and came around on consecutive ground outs by Jose Duarte and Angel Sanchez.
The Naturals threatened two innings later, but Corpus Christi starter Brad James escaped unscathed. With two gone, Suero reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by third baseman Chris Johnson. Suero stole third ahead of Duarte's walk and Duarte moved into scoring position with a theft of his own, but Sanchez grounded out to Kaz Matsui at second for the final out.
James (0-1), allowed three hits, two walks and struck out one over five innings. His relief, Ryan Thompson, allowed a hit and fanned one in two scoreless frames.
Northwest Arkansas added an unearned insurance run in the eighth with Sammy Gervacio on the mound. Sanchez' one-out bunt was fielded by catcher Lou Santangelo, who threw wide of first for a two-base error. Mario Lisson followed with a double to the gap in left-center.
Gervacio, who struck out the side in the ninth, finished with four Ks.
Matsui, on a rehab assignment from Houston, began the Corpus Christi first with a double to the fence in left-center. He hit into a double play in the third and grounded out in the sixth.
The Hooks are off Wednesday. They travel to Tulsa for a three-game series against the Drillers. Northwest Arkansas dedicates its new ballpark in Springdale Thursday as San Antonio comes calling.
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