Jordan Lyles Wins Again
Duran, Lyles Lead Hooks in Arkansas
Corpus Christi Hooks
05/29/2010 11:01 PM ET
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR. - German Duran homered and drove in four while starting pitcher Jordan Lyles allowed just one run as Corpus Christi opened this three-game series with a 6-1 win over the Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park late Saturday afternoon.
The Hooks (25-23) have won three of four on this trip, four of their last five and 14 of their last 22.
Duran, the only position player who did not play for Corpus Christi in Friday night’s win at Springfield, picked up where he left off Thursday, when he smacked a pair of solo homers to help beat the Cardinals 3-2. Saturday in North Little Rock, Duran plated Corpus Christi’s first run with a ground ball out to second in the top of the third, knotting the score at 1. That grounder scored J.B. Shuck from third. Shuck had doubled earlier in the inning.
The Hooks grabbed their first lead and put significant distance between themselves and the Travelers in the fifth. Wladimir Sutil singled with one out and went to second on Shuck’s bunt base hit. That set the table for Duran, who mashed the first pitch far beyond the wall in left and off the perimeter wrought iron fence for his third homer of the season and a 4-1 Hooks’ lead.
David Cook followed with a double down the left field line. Two batters later, Jimmy VanOstrand drilled a 3-0 pitch off the warning track in left-center for a double that plated Cook to make it 5-1.
VanOstrand’s hit chased Travs’ starter Manuel Flores (1-4) after four and two-thirds innings.
Corpus Christi added an unearned run in the eighth when VanOstrand, who reached on an error by shortstop Ivan Contreras, scored from second on a single by Jhon Florentino.
Lyles (5-3) scattered nine hits and did not issue a walk during his 6.1 innings on the hill. He struck out five. Nelson Payano retired the five men he faced in relief, striking out three.
Saturday’s game was called on account of heavy showers with one out in the top of the ninth.
Jeremy Johnson (1-3) takes the mound for Corpus Christi in Sunday’s 5:30 p.m. start. He’ll be opposed by Jeremy Thorne (1-1).
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