TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Duran's Yard Work Lifts Hooks

Published on May 27, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Second baseman German Duran played the role of hero in Thursday night's game at Springfield. He needed some help from Henry Villar to keep it that way.

Duran socked a pair of home runs and Villar struck out Andrew Brown with the tying and winning runs in scoring position to give Corpus Christi a thrilling 3-2 win at Hammons Field.

The Hooks (23-23) grabbed the early lead, taking advantage of a walk to open the third. Pitcher Douglas Arguello drew that walk and went to second on a single to left by J.B. Shuck. Wladimir Sutil's sacrifice bunt moved both runners, but David Cook flied out to left fielder Aaron Luna in foul ground for the second out.

Koby Clemens snapped a six-game RBI drought with a single to left to plate Arguello for a 1-0 Corpus Christi lead. Shuck tried to score from second on the play but was chopped down at home on a fine throw by Luna.

Springfield loaded the bases in the fourth on a single by Brown and walks to Luna and Curt Smith. With two men out, Mike Folli singled to center, chasing Brown and Luna home to give the Cardinals a 2-1 edge. Smith was out in a rundown between second and third on Shuck's throw from center.

Duran, who struck out swinging in his first two at-bats, connected on an 0-1 pitch in the sixth and got it just over the wall in left-center for his first home run of the year to knot the score at 2.

In the eighth, against reliever Thomas Eager (1-2), Duran again came up with two outs and the bases clear. Down in the count this time 0-2, Duran clobbered a pitch over the fence in left that hit the top of the wall in the back of Corpus Christi's bullpen.

The 3-2 lead was under extreme duress over the final two frames. Facing Villar, the Cardinals loaded the sacks in the eighth with one out. Charlie Cutler, pinch hitting for Eager, hit a grounder to Clemens at first, who threw home to catcher Lou Santangelo to force out Steven Hill. Villar then struck out Folli on a 2-2 pitch to end the inning with the bases full.

Villar recorded the first two outs of the ninth before surrendering a single to Aaron Miles. That brought Hill to the plate, and he hit a routine ground ball to Duran at second. In good position and down to one knee, Duran had the ball glance off his glove and through his legs into right-center for an error that allowed Hill to reach and Miles to race to third.

Brown, 3-for-4 on the night to that point, was up next. Early in the at-bat, Hill took second on defensive indifference. So with runners at second and third, the battle between Villar and Brown ensued.

Fouling off numerous pitches, Brown eventually worked the count full. Ultimately, on the 11th pitch of the at-bat, Villar got Brown on a swinging strike to end the game.

Villar's shaky but third save of the year preserved the win for Arguello (6-3), who allowed seven hits and four walks over seven innings and 98 pitches. Arguello fanned four.

Duran is the second Hook to have a multi-homer game this season. Clemens blasted two home runs in a win at Northwest Arkansas April 13.

The rubber game of the series takes place Friday night at 7:10. Left-hander Tyler Lumsden (3-1) battles Springfield's Gary Daley (3-4).

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Texas League Stories from May 27, 2010


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