Nash Mash Starts Ball Rolling
CORPUS CHRISTI - Colin Moran and Telvin Nash combined for six hits and five RBIs as Corpus Christi dispatched Arkansas 8-5 Saturday at Whataburger Field before 6,408.
The Hooks, winners of four straight, improved to 25-30 in second half action and 59-66 overall. Arkansas stands 32-22 and 66-58.
Nash's Texas League-leading 20th home run landed on the back side of the left-field berm, providing Brady Rodgers and the Hooks a 2-0 first-inning lead. Kramer Sneed struck out the first two men before Moran's base hit.
Corpus Christi further separated in the second, Teoscar Hernandez's smash into right field plating Brandon Meredith (lead-off walk) and Rene Garcia (single). Moran posted his second hit, an RBI single.
The Hooks' third baseman again produced two frames later, his sacrifice fly scoring Carlos Perdomo, who opened the home fourth by singling. That chased Sneed (7-10), whose night ended after seven runs, six hits, four walks and three strikeouts over 3 2/3 and 95 pitches. Nash closed Sneed's line authoritatively, greeting reliever Michael Brady with an RBI single.
Arkansas broke through against Rodgers during the sixth, ending his night in the process. Alex Yarbrough's lead-off single set the stage for a yard shot to left from Brian Hernandez, his sixth of 2014. Anderson De La Rosa also belted a two-run bomb to left, pulling the Travelers within three.
Rodgers (5-11) surrendered eight hits - four in the sixth - and whiffed six. Colton Cain worked two scoreless innings, but consecutive four-ball walks forced him from the contest for Mitchell Lambson. Lambson left both Travelers on base and returned for the ninth to book his first save, despite allowing a run on three hits, including Andrew Heid's lead-off triple.
Corpus Christi added eighth-inning insurance, Delino DeShields' single picking up Garcia from third. Garcia stroked an opening double off Kevin Johnson and moved into scoring position when Perdomo laid down a sacrifice.
Moran owns a seven-game hitting streak.
Mike Hauschild (2-8) takes the ball for a 6:10 Sunday start. His opposition is Orangel Arenas (5-7). The first 1,500 children 12-&-under take home a Hooks Insulated Lunch Box from Mrs Baird's. It's also H-E-B Kids Day, so children run the bases postgame.