Binford leads Naturals past Missions

SAN ANTONIO — Christian Binford allowed just three hits over six innings, leading the Northwest Arkansas Naturals over the San Antonio Missions in a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Evan Beal got River Stevens to fly out with a runner on first to end the game for his first save of the season.

Binford (1-0) picked up the win after he struck out four and walked two while allowing one run.

Down 1-0 in the second, San Antonio tied the game when Stevens hit an RBI single, bringing home Fernando Perez.

The Naturals took the lead in the seventh inning when Jack Lopez hit an RBI single, driving in Terrance Gore.

Adam Cimber (0-1) went two innings, allowing one run and two hits in the Texas League game.

HOOKS 5, TRAVELERS 0

Rogelio Armenteros and Joshua James combined for a shutout as the Corpus Christi Hooks topped the Arkansas Travelers 5-0 on Saturday.

Armenteros (1-0) picked up the win after he struck out eight and walked one while allowing two hits over five scoreless innings. Brett Ash (1-1) went four innings, allowing three runs and four hits in the Texas League game. He also struck out four and walked three. James pitched four scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

In the bottom of the third, Corpus Christi grabbed the lead on a home run by Ramon Laureano that scored Antonio Nunez and Drew Ferguson. The Hooks then added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. In the fifth, J.D. Davis hit an RBI single before he hit a solo home run in the seventh.

Davis homered and singled, driving in two runs in the win.

FRIDAY’S LATE GAME

HOOKS 5, TRAVELERS 4 The Arkansas Travelers scored all four of their runs in the second inning Friday to take a 4-2 lead, but the Corpus Christi Hooks (5-3) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 5-4 victory in front of 6,606 fans at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas. Marcus Littlewood singled up the middle to start the second inning for