Former Texas A&M Aggie Martin leads Hooks past Naturals

CORPUS CHRISTI 5, NW ARKANSAS 2

SPRINGDALE — Corpus Christi’s Corbin Martin likes pitching against teams from Arkansas.

Martin went six strong innings in leading the Hooks to a 5-2 win against Northwest Arkansas on Sunday in the opener of a three-game series before a crowd of 2,829 at Arvest Ballpark.

As a junior for Texas A&M last year, Martin went eight innings in a 5-2 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks and struck out a career-high 12 for his best outing as a collegian.

“Oh, definitely, it was,” said Martin, a second-round draft pick last June.

Sunday was Martin’s first start as a professional against an Arkansas team.

“The last time I faced an Arkansas team, I was in college,” Martin said. “Looking back, now they just lost in the World Series finals.”

Sunday was just Martin’s ninth start at the Double-A level after helping Texas A&M to the College World Series last year.

“Just the level of talent,” Martin said of the difference playing in Double-A. “You have to be more consistent, make your pitches at better times. You can’t get away with bad pitches here. Then the wood bat, you have to adjust to that.”

On Sunday, Martin allowed just four singles, a lone earned run and struck out five in earning the win in six innings of work.

“I hadn’t faced this lineup; it was a new challenge,” Martin said. “I just stuck with the game plan and threw well.”

He started off with five scoreless innings before allowing two singles with an out in the sixth inning before an error that led to two runs, but only one earned.

“Just mixing in pitches well and not throwing the same sequence of pitches,” Martin said. “They’re a very aggressive team and a very good-hitting team. I knew if I was making my pitches in certain spots, getting soft contact, that I’d have a good day.”

Martin, who threw 57 of 90 pitches for strikes, had plenty of run support on Sunday with his teammates staking him to a 5-0 lead.

“It always helps when you look up and you’re getting run support,” Martin said. “You’ve got to back out there and give them what they’re giving me. I tried my best to get deep into the game and give them a chance to win the ball game.”

Josh Rojas put Corpus Christi up 1-0 when he hit a solo homer high off the back wall of the right-field bullpen in the second inning.

Yordan Alvarez added to the lead with a run-scoring single in the third inning to score Anibal Sierra, who led off with a double.

Andy Pineda hit another home run off the back wall of the right-field bullpen in the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead.

Pineda put the Hooks up 5-0 in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run homer just over the fence and just inside the right-field foul pole after Alex De Goti had singled.

Eight of nine Hooks accounted for 12 hits on Sunday.

Leadoff hitter Chas McCormick was on base five times with two singles, a

“They’re a very aggressive team and a very good-hitting team. I knew if I was making my pitches in certain spots, getting soft contact, that I’d have a good day.”

— Corbin Martin Corpus Christi Hooks pitcher

double and a pair of walks.

SHORT HOPS

■ The Hooks became the first Double-A club to reach 50 wins for the season with Sunday’s win.

■ Andy Pineda, who slugged two homers on Sunday, was just promoted on Friday from short-season Tri-City.

■ Houston Astros reliever Joe Smith, who is on rehabilitation assignment, pitched one inning of scoreless relief with an infield hit for the Hooks on Sunday.

On Deck: Scott Blewett (4-4, 5.70) earned the start for Northwest Arkansas in the middle game of the threegame home series against Corpus Christi, which will start Ryan Hartman (6-2, 3.09). Blewett, who won the Texas League All-Star game bowling competition with a game of 198, will face Corpus Christi for the first time in his career. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in each of

his last three outings. Hartman has not allowed a run in two appearances against the Naturals this season in 61/3 innings combined in a start and a relief stint. Hartman is a lefty, and the Naturals are 9-10 against southpaw starters this season.

Tonight’s Promotion: Gates will open at 5 p.m. for a Bullpen Craft Beer Bar Happy Hour from 5-6 p.m. in the Bullpen Craft Beer Bar, located down the first-base line. A

Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular will be held following the game for the second of three straight games during the homestand, presented by Ozarks Electric. Fans will enjoy some of the greatest hits from legendary musicians throughout the game on Music Legends Night.

On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1

On The Web: www.nwa naturals.com