Late Rally Not Enough, Hooks Drop Series
Published on July 14, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Cody Strait's RBI single and Jose Duarte's two-run homer in the fourth inning Tuesday afternoon broke a 2-2 tie and keyed Northwest Arkansas' 7-5 triumph over Corpus Christi in their series finale at Arvest Ballpark.
The Hooks, having won twice in their last 10 games, stand 7-11 in the second half and 38-50 overall.
With the score squared at two, Ed Lucas led off the home fourth with a double to left field. Following a sacrifice bunt, Strait ripped a single to right, giving Northwest Arkansas a 3-2 advantage. One out later, Duarte launched an 0-1 offering from Hooks starter Andy Van Hekken into the restaurant beyond the left-field fence for a three-run advantage.
The Naturals (12-5, 48-39) added a pair of runs in the sixth thanks to a run-scoring triple by Strait and an RBI single off the bat of Cody Clark.
Van Hekken (4-3) was charged with five earned runs and eight hits over 5.1 innings. The lefty walked two and fanned three, including the 1,000th strikeout victim of his 12-year career.
Matt Kniginyzky (3-7) earned the victory, yielding two runs and six hits thru six frames.
Corpus Christi rallied for three runs in the ninth. Jhon Florentino hit a double to lead-off the frame. After a strikeout of Felix Molina and a walk by Mitch Einertson, Brian Esposito scratched out an RBI infield hit to the catcher Clark who air mailed the throw over first base. Florentino scored and Einertson advanced to third on the play.
With runners at second and third, an error by first baseman Corey Smith allowed Collin DeLome to reach and Einertson to score Corpus Christi's fourth run. Drew Meyer made it 7-5 with a line single to center in the next at-bat. Greg Holland battled back for the Naturals, coaxing a pop out and strikeout to end the game.
Charles Weatherby and Chia-Jen Lo were effective out of the pen for the Hooks, combining for 2.2 innings of hitless relief.
Jimmy Van Ostrand's RBI single in the first and Florentino's fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the third, accounted for Corpus Christi's first two runs.
The Hooks are off Wednesday before opening a four-game homestand against Frisco. Wilton Lopez (1-2) is slated to face the RoughRiders' Omar Poveda (8-3) in the opener Thursday night.
Texas League Stories from July 14, 2009
- Drillers Fall in Finale - Tulsa Drillers
- RoughRiders Defeat Travs in Slugfest - Frisco RoughRiders
- Redbirds Finish Trip 3-3 After 10-5 Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals fend off late rally, take series from Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Late Rally Not Enough, Hooks Drop Series - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs' Place Walden, Florence on Disabled List - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks End Skid, Beat Naturals 8-2 - Corpus Christi Hooks
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