Naturals Comeback to Thrash Hooks
Published on July 10, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - Chris Dwyer had difficulty finding the strike zone, but fortunately for him, the Naturals didn't have any trouble finding their bats, rapping out 15 hits en route to a 10-7 victory Sunday evening over the Hooks at Whataburger Field.
Northwest Arkansas (7-9, 42-41) gave Dwyer some backing right out of the gate with two runs in the first inning and three more in the third, but the erratic Dwyer displayed the worst control of any of his starts this season, leading to a six-run frame for the Hooks in the third.
In the Naturals first, Christian Colon singled and Jeff Bianchi and both runners moved up on a double steal. Nick Francis then drove in the first run, beating out an infield single for an RBI, and Anthony Seratelli followed with his team-leading 44th RBI.
Derrick Robinson led off the third inning with his first homer on the season for the Naturals, giving Northwest Arkansas a 3-0 lead. Later in the frame, two runs came in on a single from Salvador Perez, the latter of which scored on a wild throw from Hooks' third baseman Jimmy Paredes as he attempted to get the second runner Francis scoring from third.
Now up 5-0, Dwyer was looking to settle in. He worked around a baserunner in each of his first two frames with each of those baserunners reached via the walk. Trouble with more walks struck quickly in the bottom half of the third. T.J. Steele led off with a single and the next two batters both worked walks to load the bases with nobody out. Steele came in on an RBI groundout from Paredes, but Dwyer then issued his fifth walk on the game to J.D. Martinez to reload the bases.
Chris Wallace followed with a three-run double that cut the Naturals' lead to 5-4. Kody Hinze then hit a two-run shot to put Corpus Christi (6-10, 31-55) up by a 6-5 margin.
The struggling southpaw Dwyer didn't make it out of the frame. He was charged with all six runs in 2 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits, struck out just one batter, and threw just 33 of his 72 pitches for strikes.
Eduardo Paulino, who relieved Dwyer, managed to hold the fort despite having some of his own difficulties locating the strike zone. He followed up with three innings, yielding just one hit but issuing four walks and fanning a batter. Just 22 of his 50 pitches were in for strikes.
The Naturals' offense got a run in the fourth on a Christian Colon RBI double to tie the game at six and get Dwyer off the hook.
Northwest Arkansas took a two-run lead in the seventh on a two-run bomb by Nick Francis. That came off of Hooks' reliever Brad James (0-1), who would end up getting charged with the loss.
Corpus Christi got a run back in the bottom of the frame off of Naturals' reliever Blaine Hardy (1-0). Jon Gaston hit a two-out RBI single, but Hardy was able to retire T.J. Steele on an inning ending flyout.
The Naturals got a pair of additional insurance runs off of the Hooks' bullpen in the eighth as Christian Colon added a two-run double, finishing his night with three RBI's and bringing his season total to 41. The two runs put the Naturals up 10-7, making it the third time in four games that Northwest Arkansas had scored ten runs.
Xavier Cedeno started for the Hooks and like Dwyer did not factor into the decision. He has had issues with the Naturals all season, and the Northwest Arkansas offense got to him again with eight hits and six runs, five earned, in 3 2/3 innings pitched. For the Naturals, Kevin Chapman worked around a walk and fanned two in a scoreless ninth for his first Double-A save.
The Naturals will look to win their fourth game of their road trip on Monday night with a 7 P.M. first pitch. Left-hander Buddy Baumann (3-2, 4.08) will take the hill for the Naturals opposite right-hander Jonnathan Aristill (3-6, 5.72) for Corpus Christi. Baumann is making his first start since the All-Star Break, while Aristill is making his second straight start against Northwest Arkansas. Listen to the game live on ESPN 92.1 The Ticket. This game will also be available on milb.tv (subsciption required).
Texas League Stories from July 10, 2011
- Late Inning Heroics Give Missions 3-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Comeback to Thrash Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homerun in 13th Sinks Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Fall to Midland 15-12 - Springfield Cardinals
- Frisco Roughriders: Frisco Rebounds in Extras for Third Straight Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Late Inning Heroics Give Missions 3-2 Win - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Ninth Inning Rally Not Enough, Fall 3-2 - Tulsa Drillers
- Game Notes, July 10 - Nw Arkansas at Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Holcomb Leads Drillers Over Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals fall in series finale vs. Missions - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions end losing streak - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Win Fourth Straight, Sweep Rockhounds - Arkansas Travelers
- Missions dominate - San Antonio Missions
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