Junis Pitches Naturals Past Hooks
CORPUS CHRISTI - Jake Junis yielded a run over seven innings and Jack Lopez belted a two-run homer as Northwest Arkansas turned back Corpus Christi 4-1 Sunday at Whataburger Field before 6,614.
With the victory, Northwest Arkansas (23-26) captured its first series win at Whataburger Field since 2011. The Hooks (29-20) remain a game behind Frisco in the Texas League South Division first-half race.
Lopez's fourth home run of 2016, a two-out shot off Angel Heredia, provided ninth-inning breathing room for the Naturals. Frank Schwindel, who stroked a lead-off single, scored ahead of Lopez.
Junis (4-3) was touched for four hits and struck out six in a 78-pitch, 50-strike performance. His ERA dropped to 2.86.
Kyle Bartsch earned a two-inning save, his first. The left-hander pitched around a two-out walk and single in the ninth.
The Hooks took a 1-0 lead during the fourth on Derek Fisher's opposite-field, 381-foot home run. Fisher's 10th round tripper came on a 3-0 pitch and landed in the home bullpen.
His leaping stab in left field of Allan de San Miguel's deep fly robbed the Naturals designated hitter of extra bases in the fifth, Cameron Gallagher aboard via a one-out single.
Northwest Arkansas broke through against Brian Holmes an inning later, taking a 2-1 lead in the process. Corey Toups' RBI triple fell in front of and skipped by right fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Ryan O'Hearn produced a sacrifice fly to plate Toups. Toups' hit came with Carlos Garcia at third; Garcia opened by singling to right and advanced two bases on an errant pickoff throw.
Holmes (3-2) covered six frames in 79 pitches, including 52 strikes. He gave up five hits, walked one, and struck out three. The Wake Forest product was touched for just two hits while throwing blanks at Northwest Arkansas through the first five innings.
His relief, Edison Frias, walked the bases loaded in the eighth but generated a double-play ball off the bat of Mauricio Ramos. It was Corpus Christi's third twin killing of the night.
Houston center fielder Carlos Gomez completed his rehab assignment with the Hooks, leaving the contest after five innings.
The Hooks head north to Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas for a six-game road trip Tuesday through June 5. The Naturals host San Antonio for three games before Corpus Christi arrives in Springdale Friday.