TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Hooks Gain Early Lead, Can't Hold It

Published on April 12, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


SPRINGDALE, ARK. - The Naturals rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 6-2 to defeat the Hooks 11-8 Monday night at Arvest Ballpark. Northwest Arkansas improves to 4-1 while Corpus Christi has lost twice in Springdale after sweeping three from Tulsa to start the season.

The Hooks jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first on three hits and a pair of walks. Naturals' starter Blake Johnson retired J.B. Shuck, walked T.J. Steele and surrendered a single to German Duran before going to a 3-1 count on Koby Clemens. Johnson left the game at that point with what appeared to be a blister on the tip of the index finger on his right hand.

Southpaw Everett Teaford assumed the 3-1 count and threw a ball to Clemens, loading the bases for Jon Gaston, whose sacrifice fly to center plated Steele with the game's first run. David Cook doubled to right to bring Duran home and Jhon Florentino smacked a double off the wall in left-center to bring in Clemens and Cook for the 4-0 edge.

The Naturals responded with two in their half of the first, including a solo home run by Clint Robinson. The Hooks fought back with two of their own in the second, getting an RBI single from Steele and a sacrifice fly by Clemens.

Trailing 6-2, the Naturals erupted for five runs in their half of the third. Derrick Robinson opened the frame with a double and stayed at second when Johnny Giavotella reached on an error by shortstop Wladimir Sutil. Clint Robinson's single brought Derrick Robinson around for a 6-3 score.

Hooks' starter Jeremy Johnson (0-1) struck out cleanup hitter Ernesto Mejia, but did so on a wild pitch that scored Giavotella from third. Later in the inning, with runners at the corners and two outs, Nick Van Stratten's single sent Clint Robinson home to pull the Naturals to within a run at 6-5.

The next hitter, Paulo Orlando, lifted a fly ball down the right field line. Gaston, playing in right, raced to his left and tried to make a running catch near the foul line. The ball glanced off his glove for a two-run double and a 7-6 Northwest Arkansas lead. The play offered a mild controversy as Hooks manager Wes Clements came out to discuss the call with first base umpire Seth Buckminster, the point of contention being where Gaston's glove was in relation to the line when the ball hit it. The call stood, as did Northwest Arkansas' lead.

Down 10-6 in the seventh, the Hooks rallied with consecutive singles by Shuck, Steele, Duran and Clemens to open the inning, slicing the advantage to two at 10-8. Enter reliever Federico Casteneda.

The former Mexican League hurler fanned Gaston and got Cook and Florentino to hit fly balls to center to squash the threat. In the eighth, Casteneda served up back-to-back, one-out singles by Sutil and Shuck, but struck out Steele and Duran to quell that situation. He retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save.

Casteneda struck out six in his three innings of shutout relief. He did not issue a walk.

The Hooks wrap up the series and the road trip with a 7:05 p.m. game Tuesday in Springdale. Sergio Perez (1-0) battles Aaron Crow (0-0) of the Naturals.

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Texas League Stories from April 12, 2010


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