TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Dump Hooks Sunday Night

Published on July 4, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, AR - Mario Santiago pitched 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball and the bullpen took care of the rest as the Naturals beat the Corpus Christi Hooks by a 6-3 score on Independence Day at Arvest Ballpark.

Paulo Orlando got the Naturals on the board with a solo homer in the second inning, his fifth on the season, to put the Naturals up 1-0. They added another run on a solo shot from Clint Robinson in the third. For Robinson, it was his 14th shot of the year and it put the Naturals up 2-0. Orlando's homer extended his hitting streak to a season high

The Naturals got two more runs in the fifth. Johnny Giavotella walked with one out and then Mike Moustakas hit a scorching double to bring him in. For Moustakas it was his 70th RBI on the season. After Clint Robinson flied out, Orlando drove in Moustakas with a single to put Northwest Arkansas up 4-0.

The Naturals loaded the bases in the seventh and got a fifth run when Hooks' reliever Matt Nevarez walked Anthony Seratelli to force in a run with two out, but that was all they'd get.

The Hooks couldn't get anything going against Santiago (6-6), on a limited pitch count, lasted into the seventh inning, allowing four hits and fanning five without issuing a walk.

Corpus Christi finally got on the board in the eighth when Jhon Florentino hit a two run double to cut the Naturals' lead to 5-2. But Patrick Keating got Koby Clemens and Jon Gaston swinging to end the frame.

The Naturals answered back in the bottom of the eighth. Derrick Robinson singled with two out and then swiped second for his 35th swipe of the season. Johnny Giavotella then followed with a single to bring him in, putting the Naturals up 6-2.

Corpus Chrisit (0-9, 36-43) would threaten again in the ninth and get one run. Keating walked David Cook to leadoff the inning and Michael Affronti singled with one out. After Keating got Marcos Cabral swinging, Jose Vallejo's RBI single brought in Cook to bring the Hooks within three runs. But J.B. Shuck grounded out to end the game and extend Corpus Christi's franchise-worst losing streak to ten games. The Hooks last victory came on June 21st.

Hooks' starter Douglas Arguello, who came into the game leading the Texas League in earned run average, lasted six innings, allowing five hits and four runs, including two homers. He walked two and recorded five strikeouts as he absorbed the loss. Arguello (7-4) hadn't allowed two homers in a start since 2008 with Class-A Advanced Salem.

With the win, Northwest Arkansas (8-2, 50-30) moves 20 games over the .500 mark for the first time in franchise history.

The series continues Monday night with a 7 P.M. start. Right-hander Blake Johnson (1-1,5.90) gets the start for the Naturals opposite right-hander Henry Villar (1-4, 3.14) for the Hooks. Johnson will be making his first start since June 19th, while Villar has made 25 appearances for the Hooks this season, all out of their bullpen.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 4, 2010


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