TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Hooks avoid Naturals sweep

Published on April 14, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI, TX- Jose Duarte's two hits and stolen base provided a lone bright spot as the Corpus Christi Hooks were able to salvage the final game of the three-game series, sending the Northwest Arkansas Naturals home with a 9-1 defeat Tuesday night.

Dan Cortes (0-2) started for the Naturals and kept Corpus Christi off the board for the first two frames. Collin DeLome's homer in the bottom of the third gave the Hooks a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Cortes, however, gave Corpus Christi (3-3) the cushion they needed in the fourth. After Cortes fanned the first two batters, with a single and a hit batsmen in between, Josh Flores singled to load the bases. Cortes misplayed a grounder off the bat of Brian Esposito, the next hitter, allowing a run to score and the inning to continue. Wladmir Sutil's ensuing single scored two more runs to put the Naturals behind 4-0. The Naturals committed three errors on the evening.

Cortes was removed one batter later after issuing a walk to DeLome. He completed 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, although only one was earned. He fanned five hitters and walked only one. Right-hander Chris Nicoll relieved and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings before Victor Marte and Kyle Crist allowed Corpus Christi five more runs in the seventh and eighth.

The Naturals (3-3) got their lone run in the seventh on an RBI single by Joe Dickerson, driving in John Suomi. Duarte's two hits led the Naturals and also made him the lone Natural to hit safely in all the games he's played in thus far this season.

Corpus Christi ace right-hander Sergio Perez (2-0) was dominant, tossing six innings and yielding five hits and two walks while striking out one.

The Naturals have Wednesday off as they travel back home to Springdale in advance of Thursday's home opener against San Antonio. Right-hander Anthony Lerew (0-0, 6.00) is slated to start for the Naturals while Missions' right-hander Will Inman (0-0, 4.50) will take the hill for the second straight season on Arvest Ballpark's opener.

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

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Texas League Stories from April 14, 2009


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