13 Walks Sour the Series Opener for Amarillo

After a series win in San Antonio over the weekend, the Amarillo Sod Poodles dropped the series opener to the Corpus Christi Hooks 6-5. The Soddies fall to 2-5 vs the Hooks this season.

Avery Short's first start back was a quick one. The lefty threw just 28 pitches getting just a single out before the Hooks drew 4 straight walks before manager Javier Colina turned to Eli Saul who walked in a run to make it 5 straight Amarillo walks, but then got the the final two outs of the first inning. Short would be charged with 3 earned runs in just 0.1 IP. Colina went to right hander Jonatan Bernal in the second inning for Amarillo's third pitcher in just the first two frames. Bernal put out the fire for the Sod Poodles in his first appearance out of the pen, only allowing a solo shot to Wes Clarke and pitching 4 scoreless after the home run, and holding the Hooks to just one more hit.

A singles barrage from the Sod Poodles in the fifth brought the Sod Poodles a little closer as Manuel Pena lined Amarillo into the run column with his single, followed by RBI from Kristian Robinson and Tommy Troy to bring the score to 4-3.

Bernal would get Amarillo into the sixth before Philip Abner took over after his predecessor walked a pair, but it wouldn't take Abner long to get out of trouble, drawing a groundout after two pitches to keep the score close.

Cerda and Pena each had multiple hits, aiding Amarillo in taking the lead in the seventh inning. The catcher hit a single, and the infielder lined a double down the line, initiating the Soddies' offensive threat. Kristian Robinson delivered once more, tying the game with a crucial single. LuJames Groover, although still without a hit since the All-Star Futures Game, contributed like top players do when struggling by using a sacrifice fly to put Amarillo ahead 5-4.

The Soddies wouldn't have the lead for long as another late rally from the Hooks, not unlike the Sod Poodles' first trip to Corpus earlier this season, would once again benefit from the bat of Wes Clarke, this time with a single to tie the game. Hooks left fielder Orlando Martinez's ground-rule double would give Corpus Christi the lead for good in game one.

The Sod Poodles almost stole a game in which the Hooks drew 13 walks, only to lose by a single run. The Soddies will take the field for game two tonight at 6:35.