Naturals Rally from Way Back... Again
Published on July 7, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI - Northwest Arkansas rallied from a 6-0 deficit after three innings to beat Corpus Christi 11-7 Monday at Whataburger Field before 5,938.
Northwest Arkansas stands 7-3 in the second half of Texas League play, 43-37 overall. The Hooks are 5-6 and 36-45.
The Naturals caught and passed Corpus Christi with a seven-run, five-hit, two-error fifth. They chased starter Kenny Baugh, who walked two and allowed two hits in the fateful inning. Reliever Tyler Lumsden yielded three hits and struck a batter. Corey Smith, Ed Lucas, CodyStrait and Cody Clark had run-scoring hits.
No. 9 hitter Josh Johnson had the distinction of making the first two outs.
Corpus Christi wasted no time jumping on Blake Johnson, who walked lead-off hitter Wladimir Sutil and surrendered an opposite-field double to Drew Meyer before Drew Locke's RBI ground out. Jason Castro followed with a two-run shot into the right-field swimming pool and 3-0 Hooks lead.
An out later, Mitch Einertson reached on Blake Johnson's throwing error, pilfered second and sprinted home when Mark Ori doubled to right.
Locke picked up his second RBI of the night - and minor league-leading 75th - with a single in the second inning. Sutil scored again after drawing a base-on-balls and stealing second.
Blake Johnson was through for the night after just two frames. He walked two, struck out three and threw 54 pitches.
Collin DeLome scored the sixth Hooks run on a fielder's choice by Felix Molina in the third.
A walk to Alex Gordon and consecutive singles by Smith and Lucas enabled the Naturals to push across their first run during the fourth.
Overall, Baugh allowed five hits, five runs, five walks and fanned three. The former Rice standout and 2001 first-round draft pick threw 83 pitches, 49 for strikes, in his Corpus Christi debut.
Jose Duarte's first home run of 2009 and a Clark double highlighted the Naturals' three-run seventh against Lumsden (0-1), who also walked two. Einertson homered off Chris Nicoll for his seventh round-tripper in the home half to account for the final margin.
Gilbert De La Vara (4-1), the second of five Northwest Arkansas hurlers, picked up the win with three innings in relief of Blake Johnson. Erick Abreu struck out four in three innings of scoreless relief to finish the night for Corpus Christi.
Sergio Perez (6-7) takes the mound Tuesday at 7:05 against Northwest Arkansas southpaw Everett Teaford (2-2).
Texas League Stories from July 7, 2009
- RoughRiders Finish Sweep With Big Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Redbirds Sweep RockHounds - Springfield Cardinals
- Missions Erupt Late To Defeat Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Tea(ford) Time at Whataburger Field - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Texas League Update - TL1
- OF Parraz is Topps' Texas League Player of the Month - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- RoughRiders Take Two in Arkansas - Frisco RoughRiders
- Naturals Rally from Way Back... Again - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Trumbo Double Only Travs Hit in 10-0 Loss - Arkansas Travelers
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