HOOKS OUTLAST NATURALS IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR

SPRINGDALE, Ark - Designated-hitter Anderson Miller drove in four runs, including three on a bases loaded double in the sixth, but it was not enough as the Corpus Christi Hooks (1-1) outlasted the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (1-1) by the score of 11-9 on a chilly Friday night at Arvest Ballpark. The series is now tied 1-1 with the rubber match set for Saturday night at 6:05 p.m.
The visitors from Corpus Christi exploded out of the gate with three runs in the first behind a RBI groundout by Nick Tanielu and a two-run double by Taylor Jones . They would then extend their lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a Yordan Alvarez sacrifice fly.

Northwest Arkansas would start mounting their comeback in the home half of the frame as Luis Villegas got the home team on the board with a run on a two-out RBI single to left to make it a 4-1 game. The Naturals offense then erupted for eight runs over the next two innings as they nearly batted around three times. In the sixth, Northwest Arkansas scored on a defensive miscue before the aforementioned Miller did his damage with the double. Nicky Lopez then got into the action with a RBI single of his own for a 6-4 advantage. Northwest Arkansas would tack on three more in the seventh highlighted by another RBI by Villegas.
Trailing 9-4, the Hooks began to claw back as Myles Straw delivered a clutch, two-out RBI to pull Corpus within four runs in the eighth. Down to their final three outs, the Double-A Houston Astros was able to take full advantage of some control issues by the Naturals pitching staff in the ninth as they stormed back with six runs on four hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. The result of the big frame was an 11-9 lead, which would end up being the final score after RHP Ralph Garza closed the door in the ninth.
Garza (W, 1-0) earned the win for the Hooks with 2.0 scoreless innings while LHP Sam Selman took the loss for the Naturals.
Northwest Arkansas will continue their opening 6-game homestand with the series finale on Saturday, April 7 against the Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A Houston Astros) with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Saturday night's game features an Arvest Ballpark Calendar Giveaway by TCBY and the first Bullpen Craft Beer Bar Happy Hour of the season from 4:35 p.m. until 5:35 p.m. Making his Naturals' debut will be highly regarded starting pitching prospect RHP Scott Blewett and he'll be opposed by RHP Yoanys Quiala of the Hooks. Catch all of the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on AM 1590 - The Ticket 2 at 5:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch at Arvest Ballpark.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Facebook and Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on the 2018 season of Naturals baseball.
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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