Peel hits for cycle in losing cause

Aaron Peel became the first Texas Leaguer to hit for the cycle this season Tuesday, but the Arkansas Travelers squandered an early eight-run lead and lost to the Corpus Christi Hooks, 15-11.

Peel tripled in the fifth inning to complete the Minor Leagues' third cycle in five days. It was the first in the Texas League since Midland's Brant Colamarino did it at Arkansas on June 6, 2006.

"[I saw] a lot of off-speed pitches," Peel said. "They left a couple of them over the plate, and I got them."

The 24-year-old left-fielder started his historic night with a double and scored a run in the first inning, then singled and scored again in the second to help the Travelers (17-26) build an 8-0 cushion.

After hitting his fourth homer of the season, a solo shot in the fourth, he tripled and scored in the fifth.

"I thought it was going to be a blowout," said Peel. "It was one of those things, where when it rains, it pours. Everything was falling. We couldn't believe it - everyone was getting hits."

The 4-for-6 effort extended a 13-game hitting streak for Peel, who had one hit in each of his previous 12 contests -- only two for extra bases.

"Over the last couple of games, I've been starting to feel real good. I'm starting to see things," Peel said. "I've been working on starting to square up, working on a better approach. My hitting has come a long way -- I've had really good help."

Edwin Maysonet spearheaded the comeback for the Hooks (15-30) with three singles and five RBIs. Drew Sutton went 3-for-5 with a double and a two-run homer, while Noochie Varner added a solo shot and two RBIs. Neil Sellers finished 4-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI.

Corpus Christi used a seven-run third to get back in the game, finally tying it, 10-10, on Maysonet's two-run single in the sixth.

Sean Rodriguez scored on Gregory Porter's groundout in the seventh to put Arkansas back in front, but Sutton's two-run shot capped the Hooks' four-run eighth.

Corpus Christi starter Joshua Miller surrendered eight runs on 10 hits and two walks while retiring only four batters. Brian Gordon (1-0) snagged the win, despite yielding one run on two hits over two innings with a walk and a strikeout. German Melendez struck out four over the final two frames to get his third save.

Travelers starter Nick Adenhart lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Aaron Pullin (0-2) took the loss after he was roughed up for three runs on two hits and a walk while retiring two batters.

Peel wasn't the only productive Traveler, Curtis Pride collected five RBIs with a three-run homer in the first and a two-run double in the second. Rodriguez was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.