SPRINGDALE --Mistakes in the field and on the bases cost the Northwest Arkansas offensively on Monday night, but a lack of punch at the plate are what hurt the Naturals most in a 3-2 loss to Corpus Christi.
"We're not swinging the bats," said Naturals manager Vance Wilson. "That's why we're not scoring runs."
The Naturals (1-4) suffered their third straight loss and fourth in the first five games to open the season.
The Naturals had runners thrown out trying to steal bases to end both the fifth and sixth innings, and another was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double leading off the seventh.
Corpus Christi, meanwhile, took advantage of a two-base error in the fifth inning to score what would be the winning run in a 3-2 victory before a paid crowd of 2,902 at Arvest Ballpark.
Mott Hyde singled to open the fifth inning for the Hooks and advanced all the way to third base on a fielding error by Ruben Sosa Jr. Hyde scored on a groundout by Ramon Laurearo to break a tie game and give the Hooks a 3-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Josh James, who came into pitch during the fifth inning for the Hooks, earned the win, pitching four scoreless innings. Kevin Comer pitched a scoreless ninth for the save for Corpus Christi (4-1).
Despite five scoreless innings from the Hooks bullpen, Wilson thought the Naturals missed some opportunities to swing the bat.
"Yeah again I thought we missed some pitches," Wilson said. "Good (pitches) or not, we didn't swing the bats. That's the end of the story. That's kind of been the theme so far. I'm not going to tip my cap anymore. We need to swing the bats."
Jack Mayfield hit a solo home run to give the Hooks a 1-0 lead in the first. J.D. Davis then walked and stole second base. He scored on an RBI single by Alejandro Garcia as Corpus Christi took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Naturals tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second.
Humberto Arteaga singled to open the inning and he scored on a double to left center field by Ruben Sosa Jr., who moved up to third base on the throw home. Sosa Jr. then scored on a sacrifice fly from Parker Morin.
Jack Lopez led off the fifth inning with a double for Northwest Arkansas, but he was thrown out trying to steal third base. Samir Nuenez was thrown out trying to steal second in the sixth and Arteaga was thrown out at second in the seventh trying to stretch a single into a double.
Short hops
• Hooks starting pitcher Brock Dykxhoorn and Naturals starter Corey Ray both made their Double-A debuts on Monday night. Dykxhoorn pitched four innings, while Corey Ray (0-1) went five and was saddled with the loss.
• Following Monday's home-opener against the Oakland A's in Kansas City, the Royals optioned outfielder Terrance Gore to Northwest Arkansas. The speedster Gore played parts of the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Naturals, stealing 39 and 44 bases respectively. Left-handed pitcher Erik Skoglund was promoted to Triple-A Omaha.
On Deck: The Naturals wrap up their six-game, season-opening homestand at 7:05 p.m. today against Corpus Christi. The Naturals will send right-hander Zach Lovvorn (0-1, 1.50 ERA) to the mound. Lovvorn was the losing pitcher in the Naturals' season-opener on April 6, despite only giving up one run in six innings of work. Lovvorn will be matched up against right-hander Cy Sneed (1-0), who got the win on in the Hooks' season-opener at Arkansas on April 6.
Today's Promotion: Arvest Customers can purchase $5 premium tickets with Arvest Two for Tuesday. Johnsonville Buck-a-brat is also every Tuesday night where fans can buy $1 brats at select grill carts. Kansas City Royals Kids Zone wristbands and programs are two for one, and T-shirts are buy one, get one free.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com.
Sports on 04/11/2017