Northwest Arkansas got off to a good start in its opener of a three-game series at Corpus Christi on Wednesday by scoring in the top of the first inning, but the Hooks scored in the next five innings on their way to an 8-2 victory at Whataburger Field.
The Naturals trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning when the Hooks scored four times against Northwest Arkansas starter Yordano Ventura (3-2), who was ejected in the inning by home plate umpire Matt Benham after being lifted for a reliever. Naturals Manager Brian Poldberg was ejected earlier in the inning by Benham after a play at the plate following a two-run double by Domingo Santana.
Corpus Christi starter Jake Buchanan (5-0) gave up 7 hits and 1 walk in 5 innings and had his ERA go up to 1.01.
The Naturals got to Buchanan in the first when Orlando Calixte doubled with one out. After a walk to Carlo Testa advanced both runners, Mitch Canham drove in Calixte with a groundout to second.
Corpus Christi tied the score in the bottom of the second on Michael Burgess’ RBI single.
The Hooks took the lead for good in the third, tacked on another in the fourth and four in the fifth, keyed by Santana’s two-run double to go along with RBI from Castro and Max Stassi.
The Naturals cut the deficit to 7-2 in the top of the sixth inning when Matt Fields hit a two-out double to score Yem Prades.
The Naturals outhit the Hooks 12-10 but hit into three double plays and had a runner thrown out at home plate.
Northwest Arkansas continues its series at Corpus Christi at 7:05 p.m. today.
MISSIONS 4, TRAVELERS 2
Matt Oye allowed 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings and the Arkansas Travelers fell into second place in the Texas League North Division with a loss to the San Antonio Missions on Wednesday night at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio.
The Travs are a half-game behind the Springfield Cardinals, who beat the Frisco RoughRiders 10-4 to move into first place.
Oye (4-3) allowed three runs on three hits. With the Travs leading 2-1, Oye was chased in the bottom of the fifth inning after allowing a RBI double to Missions second baseman Adam Buschini and a run-scoring single to center fielder Rico Noel.
The Missions added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to complete the scoring.
First baseman C.J. Cron went 2 for 4 and was the only Trav to have at least two hits.
- Arkansas Democrat-GazetteToday’s game NW ARKANSAS AT CORPUS CHRISTI WHEN 7:05 p.m. Central WHERE Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi, Texas RADIO KNEA-FM, 92.1, in Fayetteville WEBSITE nwanaturals.com PITCHERS Naturals: Brooks Pounders (RHP, 1-1, 2.20 ERA); Hooks: Bobby Doran (RHP, 5-1, 3.92) THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
SUNDAY at San Antonio, 2:05 p.m.
MONDAY at San Antonio, 2:05 p.m.
TUESDAY Corpus Christi, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Corpus Christi, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY’S GAMES No games scheduled WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Corpus Christi 8, NW Arkansas 2 San Antonio 4, Arkansas 2 Tulsa 8, Midland 4 Springfield 10, Frisco 4 TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Arkansas at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m.
NW Arkansas at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m.
Midland at Tulsa, 7:05 p.m.
Frisco at Springfield, 7:09 p.m.
Sports, Pages 19 on 05/23/2013