Velasquez Vexes Naturals
June 2, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI - Vince Velasquez carried a no-hitter into the seventh and Conrad Gregor drove in two runs as Corpus Christi seared Northwest Arkansas 6-1 Tuesday at Whataburger Field before 4,381.
Velasquez, who put in a bid for the Hooks' second no-hitter in five days, gave up Jorge Bonifacio's solo homer to left with one out. Bonifacio had the green light on a 3-0 pitch and the Naturals trailing 5-0. Velasquez (3-0) went on to strike out the side, running his total to nine. Houston's second-round selection in the 2010 draft walked two and threw 98 pitches (61). He retired 11 straight Naturals before the Bonifacio breach.
Chris Devenski and Josh Hader combined on the first no-hitter in team history Friday at Arkansas in a 4-0 rain-shortened contest called in the sixth.
Right off the bat, Corpus Christi (34-16) jumped to a 2-0 lead off Miguel Almonte. Jio Mier drew a one-out walk and ultimately scored when Tyler White singled to left. Andrew Aplin, who reached via a bunt single after Mier's base-on-balls, crossed on Gregor's sacrifice fly.
The Hooks added a second-inning score, Danry Vasquez's opening double preceding a Roberto Pena single and Tony Kemp's one-out safety.
Lead-off man Kemp and two-hole hitter Mier were at it again during the fourth as Corpus Christi extended its lead to 4-0. Kemp lashed a two-out single to center field and came around on Mier's double inside the third-base bag.
Almonte (4-3) exited after four innings, seven hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.
His relief, Matt Murray, was not immune from the Hooks' sticks. Aplin reached on an infield single and advanced 180 feet as the result of another White single. Gregor again produced, lifting a sacrifice fly to left.
Corpus Christi closed the scoring in the seventh, Mier (lead-off single) racing home on a throwing error by shortstop Raul Mondesi.
Travis Ballew covered the final two frames for the Hooks as Northwest Arkansas dropped to 31-18.
Mier has a 10-game hitting streak; Kemp's streak sits at seven.
The Hooks and Naturals meet Wednesday at 7:05, Corpus Christi's Mark Appel (3-1) facing J.C. Sulbaran (4-3). Whataburger Family Day means you can buy a ticket and get your child's ticket free.
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