SPRINGDALE -- The Texas League's top base stealer couldn't snag a bag Friday night, but Teoscar Hernandez showed off a little power.
The Corpus Christi lead-0ff man hit a solo home run leading off the top of the eighth to give the Hooks a 3-2 win in front of 3,901 fans at Arvest Ballpark.
Hernandez, who went 2 for 5, has stolen a league-best 17 bases this season, but Naturals catcher Cam Gallagher threw him out at second in the third inning. However, he crushed a 3-2 fastball from Northwest Arkansas reliever Evan Beal (2-1) out of the part to dead center field for his fourth home run of the season to snap a 2-2 tie.
The South Division-leading Hooks, who have the best record in the league at 33-20, made three errors in the game but flashed a little defense in the bottom of the eighth to cut down the tying run at the plate.
Mauricio Ramos reached on an error leading off the eighth, and Ryan O'Hearn followed with a shot into the left-center field gap. Naturals manager Vance Wilson elected to send Ramos, but he was out on a strong relay. Hooks reliever Brendan McCurry then retired Bubba Starling and Frank Schwindel to preserve the one-run lead.
Corpus Christi guessed right in the bottom of the ninth on a pitch-out and catcher Roberto Pena threw out Terrance Gore trying to steal second to end the game.
Wilson said his team's struggles with runners in scoring position lately played a part in him sending Ramos with nobody out.
"The problem is we've been terrible with runners in scoring position," Wilson said. "I thought it would be close, but I thought I could sneak it in there. Obviously, the bottom part of our order has been struggling. One of those where you feel like 'I'm gonna be aggressive' and it burned me."
Corpus Christi manager Rodney Linares said Hooks starter Francis Martes did well pitching around a couple of errors and getting a big inning-ending double play in the Naturals' two-run fourth.
"We had a couple of errors that could have been costly, but Martes did a good job of controlling the inning when he had the bases loaded and getting that ground ball," Linares said. "Teoscar came up big tonight. He's been swinging the bat really hot the last couple of weeks and got a good pitch on a 3-2 fastball and hit it out of the park."
Gallagher went 3 for 4 and drove in a run as Northwest Arkansas managed just seven hits.
SHORT HOPS
• Corpus Christi has four of the top 10 prospects in the Houston Astros organization, according to Baseball America.
• Naturals starter Matt Strahm made just one mistake, allowing a 2-run home run to Pena, over six innings. He struck out two and walked only one.
• Martes, the No. 2 ranked prospect in the Astros organization, allowed 2 runs (one earned) on six hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out six and walked three.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their series against Corpus Christi. Jake Junis (4-3 2.86 ERA), the reigning Texas League Pitcher of the Week, will start for Northwest Arkansas against Evan Grills (1-0 0.90 ERA) for the Hooks.
Promotions: The first 2,000 fans will receive a free Naturals navy jersey. It's also Scout Night as scout groups can get discounted tickets, enjoy a post-game movie on the videoboard and camp out overnight on the outfield grass at Arvest Ballpark.
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Sports on 06/04/2016