Frias Fashions Fine Performance
CORPUS CHRISTI - Edison Frias struck out nine over 7 1/3 innings and A.J. Reed popped a three-run homer as Corpus Christi turned away Northwest Arkansas 6-2 Sunday at Whataburger Field before 4,045.
Corpus Christi (31-25; 79-47) captured the best-of-three series. Northwest Arkansas stands 21-34 and 61-64.
Frias (2-1), who beat Arkansas last Tuesday, won for the second time in six days while allowing three hits and no walks. Sunday, he threw blanks at the Naturals for seven frames, retiring 10 consecutive men, then nine.
Frias exited following his 89th pitch, Parker Morin's one-out eighth-inning single. Hooks closer Jandel Gustave entered to yield Kenny Diekroeger's double and Terrance Gore's high-bouncing two-run single to left.
Gustave retired the final five Naturals he faced in order.
Alex Liddi extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a lead-off double in the Naturals second. It was wasted, Frias striking out Hunter Dozier and Morin to end the threat.
Kyle Zimmer retired all six men he faced through the first two innings before Corpus Christi struck for a run. Alfredo Gonzalez laid down a bunt single and was safe at second when third baseman Dozier threw the ball away. Gonzalez reached third on Danry Vasquez's single to center and home when Leo Heras produced a sacrifice fly.
The Hooks added a run in the fourth. Jon Kemmer singled to right, stole second, and crossed when shortstop Raul Mondesi dove to field Gonzalez's two-out infield single and then overthrew first base.
Zimmer (1-4) was lifted for pitch count (80) reasons after four innings, two earned runs, a walk and five strikeouts.
Corpus Christi kept the pressure on reliever and former Hook Paul Clemens. A Heras walk, stolen base, and Jack Mayfield's single preceded Reed's seventh Double-A home run (30th overall), a liner into the right field visitor's bullpen.
Colin Moran's eighth homer of 2015 - a shot to left off Clemens in the seventh - extended the Hooks lead to 6-0.
Gonzalez finished with three hits; Kemmer and Vasquez had two.
The Hooks embark on a four-game road trip to Midland, returning Saturday for a seven-game homestand to close the regular-season home schedule.