Big fourth inning dooms Teaford, Naturals
July 13, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR- Corpus Christi plated five runs during a two-out rally in the fourth inning as the Hooks cruised to a 8-2 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Monday evening.
Naturals starter Everett Teaford set the Hooks down in order in the first two innings and just one hit in the third, but was unable to work himself out of a jam in the fourth. Hooks' second baseman Drew Meyer reached on a bunt single to leadoff the inning. Teaford was then able to retire the next two hitters, Drew Locke and Jason Castro, on groundouts, but then walked Jimmy Van Ostrand to bring up Jhon Florentino. Florentino, who was batting .313 against Naturals pitching this season, singled in Meyer for the game's first run. Mark Ori's ensuing two-run double cleared the bases and made it 3-0, and then Collin DeLome singled home Ori. After an error by shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt allowed DeLome to take second, Mitch Einertson drove him in with a double to put the Hooks up 5-0.
The Naturals had left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third when Hooks' starter Sergio Perez walked Jose Duarte and Jarrod Dyson with one out. After Betancourt grounded out for the second out, Corpus Christi intentionally walked Royals' third baseman Alex Gordon to get to first baseman Corey Smith, who grounded out to leave the bases loaded. Northwest Arkansas would get a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Jose Duarte, but the Hooks wouldn't look back.
Those three walks were amongst five on the day by Perez (7-8). Perez also allowed a leadoff home run in the seventh to Yuniesky Betancourt that cut the lead down to 7-2 after the Hooks plated two more runs in the top of the frame on a double by Drew Meyer. Perez was credited with the win, working around seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed the two earned runs and fanned three.
Teaford (3-3), who was masterful in his last outing, which was against these same Hooks at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, pitched well outside of the fourth inning, but was charged with seven runs (five earned) over seven innings of work. He allowed eight hits, one walk, and struck out one.
Corpus Christi (7-10, 38-49) was back again with the services of their skipper Luis Pujols and catcher Jason Castro, after both had missed Sunday's game while in St. Louis for the XM All-Star Futures Game. Castro homered in the game for the U.S. team.
David Lough had three hits and Alex Gordon added two for the Naturals (11-5, 47-39), providing the lone bright spots for an offense that stranded 13 runners on the day. The Hooks outhit the Naturals by a 11-8 margin.
These two teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series Tuesday with a matinee at 12 Noon. Right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (2-7, 5.65) takes the mound for Northwest Arkansas opposite the veteran southpaw Andy Van Hekken (4-2, 4.22) for the Hooks.
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