LEE HOMERS, NATURALS HOOK'D IN CORPUS, 12-3

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Kansas City's No. 2 prospect, Khalil Lee , walloped a two-run home run down the rightfield line in the sixth inning, cutting the Naturals' deficit to 5-3 for his first home run of the season; but Corpus Christi responded late with a big eighth inning en route to a 12-3 decision on Tuesday night at Whataburger Field. The loss snapped the longest win-streak of the season at five games.
Northwest Arkansas (9-10) took an early 1-0 lead. Lee singled to rightfield and swiped second base with two outs. Samir Dueñez socked a breaking ball into shallow right-centerfield, beating the shift, and plated Lee to give the Naturals a 1-0 lead.

But big innings doomed the Naturals on Tuesday night. Starter, Ofreidy Gomez (1-1, 5.21 ERA) allowed a four-run third inning to cut his start short. The reigning Texas League Pitcher of the Week allowed four runs on five hits over three innings and struck out one.
Corpus Christi (9-10) scored a single run in the fifth and one more in the sixth before erupting or a six-run frame in the eighth to put away the Naturals.
Left-hander, Emilio Ogando helped cover the middle innings in relief of Gomez. He worked 2.2 innings, allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Right-hander, Yunior Marte threw a scoreless seventh inning over his 1.2 innings. Marte fanned two batters in his outing. Walker Sheller was touched-up during the six-run eighth.
Lee led the offense with two hits and has now hit safely in five of his last six games and has collected a team-best 14 RBIs on the season. His home run extended a home run streak of three straight games for the Naturals, the longest stretch of the season. Kort Peterson racked up his second triple of the season for the lone hit off reliever, Ronel Blanco .
Hooks starter, Tyler Ivey (2-0, 1.13 ERA) earned the win going 5.0 innings of one-run baseball with seven strikeouts.
The third game of the four-game set is slated for 6:15 on Wednesday night. Right-hander, Andres Sotillet (0-0, 0.60 ERA) takes the hill for his third start and fourth appearance on the season. The 22-year has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.1 innings. Countering for the Hooks will be right-hander, Brandon Bailey (0-0, 1.80 ERA) who will make his third start and fourth appearance.
Catch the live play-by-play action of the road opener in Corpus Christi on Monday night with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on AM-1590, Ticket-2 starting at 5:55 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading to first pitch at 6:15 p.m.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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