TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Hooks' tempers flare in Naturals' win

Published on April 13, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI, TX- While Jordan Parraz was one of three players to get two hits Monday evening for Northwest Arkansas, he led the team with two RBI and scored a run, drawing the ire of the Hooks in the process as the Naturals doubled up Corpus Christi 8-4. The Naturals got an early lead, scoring three runs in the first. Josh Johnson led off with a walk and moved to third on a double by Joe Dickerson. Mario Lisson then grounded softly to Hooks' pitcher Brad James, who gunned down Johnson at home. Cody Strait then drew the second free pass of the inning before a ball off the bat of Corey Smith was mishandled by Hooks' shortstop Wladmir Sutil to score Dickerson. The Naturals got two more off a sac fly by Brian McFall and a single by Jordan Parraz. Parraz would drive in his second run in the third on a sacrifice fly.

Naturals' starter Matt Kniginyzky would hold Corpus Christi to a single run until the fifth when Collin DeLome unloaded a two run homer to right field. The Canadian right-hander, making his first Texas League start after spending last season with Advanced Class-A Wilmington, acquitted himself well, going five-plus innings and allowing three earned runs in a no-decision. He fanned two, walked only one, and yielded to southpaw Carlos Sencion after issuing a walk to Jhon Florentino in the sixth.

With Northwest Arkansas clinging to a 4-3 lead, Sencion would allow the Hooks to tie it in the seventh. Hooks' catcher Brian Esposito singled but was thrown out at second on a bunt attempt by the shortstop Sutil. The speedy infielder stole second base and scored after a throwing error was committed by Naturals' third baseman Corey Smith. But Sencion was able to fan Drew Meyer and Mark Ori to end the threat.

That cleared the way for the Naturals (3-2) to break out the bats in the eighth off Hooks' reliever Andy Van Hekken (0-1), who had stymied Naturals' hitters in his first three innings of relief of Corpus Christi starter Brad James, who was lifted after reaching his pitch limit after four innings. James allowed four hits, four runs, and fanned one. Although only two of the runs were earned, the right-hander also issued five walks.

Designated Hitter Brian McFall, batting .368 on this young campaign, doubled to start the eighth before Parraz, Kurt Mertins, and John Suomi hit consecutive singles. Mertins' single drove in McFall. Parraz scored the second run of the frame on a groundout by Josh Johnson, and in the process barreled over the Hooks' catcher Brian Esposito. With two out, Mertins raced home on a wild pitch by Van Hekken before Mario Lisson drove in the final run with a single that brought in Suomi.

Corpus Christi (2-3) reached a boiling point in the ninth. With one out, Hooks' reliever Chris Salamida plunked Jordan Parraz, his former teammate last season with the Salem Avalanche, Houston's former Class-A affiliate. Parraz, who had a run-in with Hooks' backstop Brian Esposito an inning earlier, came to the Royals' organization in a trade for Tyler Lumsden last December. As Parraz took first base Esposito was ejected by home plate umpire Brad Myers. An ensuing protest from Corpus Christi manager Luis Pujols also led to his departure as well as the ejection of Salamida.

The lefty Sencion (1-0) blanked the Hooks in the bottom of the eighth and the ninth to complete four innings of masterful work and notch the win. He yielded three hits, an unearned run, and a walk while fanning four batters.

The Naturals look to sweep the series with Corpus Christi at 7:05 P.M. Tuesday evening. Right-hander Dan Cortes (0-1, 15.00) takes the hill for the Naturals while the Hooks counter with right-hander Sergio Perez (1-0, 1.80).

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The home opener is Thursday, April 16th against the San Antonio Missions. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from April 13, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central