TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Hooks' Miscues End Up Costing Them, Naturals Triumph

Published on April 12, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR- The Naturals lost their starting pitcher and allowed four runs in the top of the first inning, but a five-run third opened up a 7-6 lead that Northwest Arkansas did not relinquish as they downed the sloppy Corpus Christi Hooks by an 11-8 margin on Monday night at Arvest Ballpark.

Naturals starter Blake Johnson got the Hooks' leadoff man J.B. Shuck to groundout for one quick out to begin the game, but issued a walk to T.J. Steele, allowed a single to German Duran, and ran up a 3-1 count on cleanup hitter Koby Clemens before departing with a right index finger blister. Southpaw Everett Teaford came on in relief and finished the walk to Clemens and allowed a sacrifice fly to Jon Gaston, an RBI double to David Cook, and a two run double to Jhon Florentino that put the Hooks up 4-0.

Northwest Arkansas instantly halved the Hooks' lead in the bottom of the frame on an RBI groundout from Johnny Giavotella and a solo homer from Clint Robinson, his first on the season. The Hooks would get those back, however, in the top of the second on Steele's RBI single and a one-out sacrifice fly from Clemens.

The Naturals broke the game open in the third, scoring five runs to take the lead. Derrick Robinson led off with a double and, after Giavotella reached on a bobble by Hooks' shortstop Wladimir Sutil, Derrick Robinson came in on an RBI single from Clint Robinson. The error proved to be costly. Giovatella had moved up on the single and then scored on a wild pitch from Hooks' starter Jeremy Johnson, and, after Kurt Mertins flied out and Manny Pina drew a walk, Nick Van Stratten drove in Clint Robinson with an RBI single that brought the Naturals within a run. They scored two more on an RBI double by Paulo Orlando, who had three RBI for the game.

The Naturals padded their lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single from Chris McConnell, and scored another run in the sixth when Ernesto Mejia came across on another wild pitch. Corpus Christi (3-2) pitchers threw four wild pitches on the evening.

The Hooks would close to within two runs in the seventh on an RBI single from German Duran and an RBI single from Koby Clemens. That came off of southpaw Kelvin Villa, who came on in relief of Teaford (2-0), who was eventually credited with the victory. Teaford allowed three runs in a 3 2/3 inning relief effort. Federico Castaneda came on to relieve Villa who pitched two strong frames but failed to record an out in the seventh. With two on and nobody out, Castaneda fanned Jon Gaston and retired David Cook and Jhon Florentino on fly balls to center to retire the side.

Castaneda also pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, striking out six total, to earn his first save of 2010 for the Naturals, who are off to a franchise-best 4-1 start this season.

The Hooks' starter Jeremy Johnson (0-1) was saddled with the loss. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs, four of which were unearned. He walked one and had one strikeout.

The Naturals had five steals for the second straight day, and both Paulo Orlando and Derrick Robinson had three hits apiece amongst the Naturals season-high 14 hits.

Northwest Arkansas seeks a series sweep Tuesday night at 7:00 P.M. with a match up between Aaron Crow and Sergio Perez. Crow, the Royals No. 2 prospect, made his debut in the Naturals season opener, and turned in a solid performance. Crow went four and two thirds innings and gave up only one unearned run. Crow finished one out away from being eligible for the win and was pulled after reaching a pitch count of 80 pitches. Perez, making his second turn in Double-A, was impressive himself in the Hooks' opener at Tulsa. Perez shutout Tulsa over five innings, and only gave up four hits.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from April 12, 2010


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