Hooks' Slams Sink Naturals Sunday
Published on July 3, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
SPRINGDALE, AR - Two different Corpus Christi batters hit grand slams, the first time that's ever happened in that club's history, and former Hog Dallas Keuchel took care of the rest as the Naturals fell to the Hooks 16-3 on Sunday evening at Arvest Ballpark. It was the Hooks' first win in Springdale since April 13, 2010, which was their lone win in six tries in Springdale last season.
The Hooks (5-5, 30-50) jumped on Naturals' starter Edgar Osuna and they did it quickly, plating six runs before the Naturals' even came to bat. Osuna plunked Corpus Christi leadoff man Brandon Wikoff in the shoulder blade with the first pitch of the game. Jimmy Parades followed with a single and, after Osuna fanned Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez singled. Osuna fanned Jacob Goebbert and then Chris Wallace hit a grand slam to put the Naturals in a 4-0 hole.
The Hooks got two more as Jon Gaston reached on an bobble by Naturals' first baseman Anthony Seratelli and T.J. Steele was hit by a pitch. Jimmy Van Ostrand hit a two-run single to bring in both runners, but was hung up for the third out as the Hooks took a 6-0 lead to the bottom of the first.
Jimmy Parades hit a one out homer in the second inning to close the book on Osuna (6-4), who was charged with all seven runs, although only five were earned.
The Hooks poured it on from there, getting an RBI double by Gaston in the third to go up 8-0 before the Naturals finally got a run in the bottom of the third as Ben Theriot hit his fourth homer on the season to leadoff the frame.
The Hooks loaded the bases in the sixth off of Naturals' reliever Willy Lebron, on in relief of Osuna. With two outs in the inning Heath Rollins relieved and J.D. Martinez greeted him with a grand slam, Corpus Christi's second of the game, to put the Hooks up by a 12-1 margin.
Mario Lisson hit an RBI single and the Naturals (2-8, 37-40) plated another run on a double play in the seventh to cut the margin to 12-3, but on the whole, former Hog Dallas Keuchel kept them off balance. Keuchel (7-6) allowed six hits and the three runs, only one earned, in seven frames. He walked two and fanned four.
Corpus Christi got four more off Rollins in the eighth, getting a two-run double from Geobbert and a two-run triple from Gaston to cap the scoring. Infielder Jamie Romak made his second scoreless mound appearance of the season in the ninth, retiring the Hooks in order.
On Independence Day, Manauris Baez (1-0, 4.84) will make a spot start for the Naturals against the Hooks' Xavier Cedeno (4-5, 3.54), who racked up a whopping 14 strikeouts against Frisco in his last start. The Naturals handled Cedeno in two previous outings. Game time is 6 P.M. and it can be heard on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.
Texas League Stories from July 3, 2011
- Drillers Lose Opener to Missions - Tulsa Drillers
- Stoneburner, 'Riders Rally to Win 7-6 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks' Slams Sink Naturals Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Beat Midland 6-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Corpus Christi Hooks Game Notes - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Former Natural Crow named as AL All-Star - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Aim to Continue Mastery of Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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