Gordon, Lough, Clark, Mertins, Smith Twist Hooks

CORPUS CHRISTI - Northwest Arkansas rallied from a 4-0 deficit with 10 runs on nine hits in a three-inning span while rolling past Corpus Christi 14-4 Sunday at Whataburger Field before 6,052.

The Naturals improved to 6-3 in the second half of Texas League play, 42-37 overall. The Hooks are 5-5, 36-44.

Kansas City Royals third baseman Alex Gordon, on a rehab assignment with the Naturals while recovering from hip surgery, topped the visitors with four runs batted in. Gordon, Kurt Mertins, Corey Smith, David Lough and Cody Strait enjoyed multi-hit performances; Lough finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Two-out hits did damage for Corpus Christi in the first. A two-run triple to deep center field by Collin DeLome and Jimmy Van Ostrand's RBI double staked the Hooks to a 3-0 lead. Wladimir Sutil led off with a single, swiped second, and was picked up by Van Ostrand. DeLome's three-bagger plated Van Ostrand and Jason Castro, who reached via a fielder's choice.

Nick Moresi scored the Hooks' fourth run an inning later when Castro singled up the middle.

Then the surge began. Northwest Arkansas hung a five-spot on Hooks starter Brad James. James walked the No. 9 hitter, Cody Clark, who ultimately scored as Gordon grounded out. Jarrod Dyson doubled and moved home on Smith's two-out single. The big blow was Lough's three-run homer to the left-field berm on an 0-2 pitch.

James (2-6) couldn't survive the fourth, when he exited with one gone after 89 pitches. The Naturals added two runs on two hits and stranded three. Mertins contributed a fielder's choice RBI, Gordon a run-scoring single to make it 7-4.

James was charged with seven hits, walked three and struck out three.

The Naturals broke it open during the fifth with three runs off Ryan McKeller, Mertins and Gordon again the culprits with run-scoring singles.

Clark hit a three-run bomb into the Hooks bullpen off Chia-Jen Lo in the ninth.

Northwest Arkansas starter Anthony Lerew left after four innings and 100 pitches, six hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Carlos Sencion (3-1) earned the win with three scoreless frames. He allowed two hits and fanned two.

Neither side was retired in order until Hooks reliever Danny Meszaros accomplished the feat in the seventh.

Sutil, Van Ostrand and DeLome finished with two hits each.

The newest Hook, former Rice star and 2001 first-round draft pick Kenny Baugh, faces Northwest Arkansas' Blake Johnson (5-5) Monday at 7:05.