FLORES, NATURALS BUST OUT BIG BATS TO TAKE FINALE

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Infielder, Jecksson Flores , fueled the Naturals 11-6 win on Saturday night over the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field with a career-best four runs batted in.
The 23-year old infielder delivered in the five-run sixth inning to extend the Naturals lead to 7-2 and tacked on a three-run double in the seventh frame to make the score 11-2. Flores finished the night going 2-for-4 with the double. It's the most RBIs in a single-game by Flores since he drove in three runs with Wilmington in June, 2017.
Northwest Arkansas (3-6) struck first in the third inning. Luis Villegas  clocked a fly-ball with the wind out to rightfield and watched it sail over the wall for his first home run of the season. The Hooks on left-hander, Emilio Ogando (1-1, 7.00), with two runs in the ensuing home half of the third.

Samir Dueñez  singled to lead-off the fourth and Elier Hernandez  followed with a double to set-up a game-tying RBI single by Donnie Dewees to make it a 2-2 game.
Ogando settled in following the fourth and retired a stretch of six consecutive hitters and put down seven of the final eight he faced. The left-hander finished with a line of 5.0 innings, five hits, two runs and five strikeouts to notch his first winning decision in 2018.
The Naturals knocked Corpus Christi (4-5) starter, Yoanys Quiala (1-1, 4.82) from the game with one-out in the fifth inning. Reliever, Erasmo Pinales , entered and Northwest Arkansas displayed patience by drawing three walks during the five-run frame. Hernandez delivered a run-scoring single during the inning followed by Flores' base-knock later in the inning.
Reliever, Yunior Marte , worked the final 2.1 innings in relief and retired all seven batters he faced on the night. During the series, Marte worked a total of 4.2 innings, allowed one hit and struck out six batters.
The Naturals continue the six-game road trip with a three-game series against the San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres) at Nelson Wolff Stadium. Right-hander, Glenn Sparkman will take the ball in the opener against right-hander, Jesse Scholtens  for the Missions.
Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, with a 1:45 p.m. pregame show, leading up to first pitch on 92.1 the Ticket and the Naturals Radio Network.
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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