SPRINGDALE --The Northwest Arkansas Naturals had won all six of Josh Staumont's starts since the hard-throwing right-hander joined the team in early July.
That streak came to an abrupt end Tuesday night as Staumont's struggles with control led to a 7-2 loss against Corpus Christi at Arvest Ballpark.
Staumont looked like the Kansas City Royals' No. 6 pitching prospect when he opened the game by striking out Bobby Boyd on a 97-mph fastball. He ended the first with another heater to strike out Nick Tanielu looking.
In between those lazers, though, Staumont walked Garrett Stubbs on four pitches -- a sign of things to come.
Staumont walked six (including one hit batsman) of the next 10 batters before being relieved by Evan Beal with one out and the bases loaded in the third. Staumont walked three and threw a wild pitch in the second, but managed to escape unscathed thanks to a double play and strikeout.
"He showed really good in the first inning, then just kind of lost his fastball command," said Naturals manger Vance Wilson. "He's a young guy and pretty hard on himself, which the problem with that is it can compound and snowball. He battled through the second, but unfortunately got a little too wild there in the third."
The 2015 second-round pick gave up just two singles, but neither were solid hits, as Ramon Laureano reached on a swinging bunt and Nick Tanilu followed by bouncing a two-run single through the left side of the infield to give the Hooks a 2-0 lead.
A walk later and Stamont's day was done before the sun dispappeared behind the ballpark's sky boxes along the third-base line.
Beal didn't fair much better, but at least he threw strikes. The right-hander got a couple of fly outs, including Chase McDonald's sacrifice fly RBI, to escape the third. In the fourth, Stubbs clubbed a two-run homer and JD Davis led off the fifth with a solo homer to give Corpus Christi a comfortable 6-0 lead. Davis also led off the ninth with a solo shot to create the final margin.
Meanwhile, the Naturals couldn't muster much off Hooks left-hander Evan Grills until the seventh inning when Frank Schwindel led off with a double and Ryan O'Hearn followed by slicing a two-run homer over the left field fence.
"The offense didn't help [our pitchers]," Wilson said. "They're pitcher threw a heckuva game. We got to him in Corpus last week, but he did a nice job of feasting off of our aggressiveness by throwing some nice offsspeed and we weren't disciplined.
"Once a pitcher like that gets rolling with a lead, it's tough to get much going off him."
SHORT HOPS
• NWA's Alfredo Escalera led off the fourth inning by smashing a double off the left field that had an exit velocity tracked at 108 mph.
• Corpus Christi's Garrett Stubbs was walked twice on eight straight pitches. He finally saw a couple of strikes his third time up, fouling off the first one before depositing the second one in the right-field bullpen for a two-run homer in the fourth.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their six-game homestand with Game 2 of a three-game series against Corpus Christi. First pitch for today's game is set for 7:05 p.m. Northwest Arkansas hasn't announced a starting pitcher while the Hooks plan to start RHP Cy Sneed (4-5, 4.73).
Promotions: What's It? Wednesday features chances to win prizes, free tickets and memorabilia before and during the game by following along on social media and the video board.
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On The Web: www.nwanaturals
Sports on 08/17/2016