Hooks Rally, Outlast Missions
August 31, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - In the highest-scoring regulation game played between the Hooks and Missions at Wolff Municipal Stadium, Corpus Christi rallied from a 5-0 first-inning deficit to edge San Antonio 11-10 Sunday night.
The Hooks have won the first two games in this series and stand 28-34 in the second half.
Sunday's game did not start well for the visitors, as the Missions jumped on Kenny Baugh for five runs on five hits in the first. With two on and one out, Craig Cooper brought in the first of those five runs with a single to right. Sawyer Carroll followed with a three-run home run to right to give the Missions a 4-0 lead. Later in the frame, a Cedric Hunter single and subsequent error in left by Collin DeLome plated Lance Zawadzki from second for a 5-0 score.
The Hooks bounced right back, though, with a four-spot in the second. Nick Moresi's two-run double to center highlighted the inning. Baugh delivered a run-scoring single and Wladimir Sutil added a sacrifice fly.
In the third, Jimmy Van Ostrand's impressive blast over the wall in center came with a man on board to give the Hooks their first lead at 6-5.
San Antonio counter-punched in its half of the third, knocking Baugh out of the game after the first two hitters. Run-scoring singles by Mitch Canham and Eric Sogard sandwiched around an RBI ground out by pinch hitter Jesus Lopez put the Missions up 8-6.
The Hooks retaliated with another outburst in the fourth. Sacrifice flies by Jason Castro and Van Ostrand and a two-run triple to right-center off the bat of Felix Molina gave Corpus Christi the upper hand at 10-8.
San Antonio responded with an unearned run in the fourth on a walk, a failed pick-off attempt and an RBI ground out. In the seventh, Cedric Hunter's single to center scored Zawadzki from second to level the count at 10-10.
The game-winning run crossed home in the eighth. Mark Ori, who entered in the fifth as a pinch hitter for Drew Locke, singled to left-center to open the frame. Castro's ground out moved Ori to second. Van Ostrand's grounder went through the legs of Sogard at second for an error that allowed Ori to score the decisive tally.
Charlie Weatherby (1-3) earned the win and Evan Englebrook worked a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save, but it was Ryan McKeller's performance in relief that brought sanity back to the diamond.
Summoned to replace Baugh in the third, McKeller provided four innings of relief, his longest outing of the year for the Hooks. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk while striking out four. McKeller retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced, and also contributed a single, his first hit of the year, in his only at-bat.
Sunday's victory may have come with a price.
In the fourth, Locke was hit by a pitch thrown by reliever Stephen Faris. He remained in the game and scored a run, then took his position in right field in the bottom half of the inning.
The Faris pitch hit Locke on the back of his left hand, and swelling in the hand forced him from the action. Locke was taken for x-rays, but his status for Monday's game is not known.
While Sunday's game featured the most runs between the two teams at Wolff Municipal in regulation play, it qualifies as second on the list of highest-scoring games between the clubs at this facility in Corpus Christi's five-year history. The number-one slugfest took place May 15, 2008, when the Hooks needed 11 innings to beat the Missions 13-10.
The series concludes with Monday's 7:05 p.m. start. Sergio Perez (10-10, 4.52) takes on San Antonio's Will Inman (5-4, 3.42).
• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...
Texas League Stories from August 31, 2009
- Missions add LHP Steve Garrison; LHP Cory Luebke to join Team USA - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers win, narrow gap on Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cards hold off Travs 2-1 to split series - Arkansas Travelers
- Midland takes finale in Frisco - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cards win 2-1, return Tuesday for seven-game homestand - Springfield Cardinals
- Inman Stifles Sweep - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Missions let early lead, game slip away - San Antonio Missions
- Free Concessions Rewards; Post-Season All-Stars Named - Springfield Cardinals
- Reckling & Conger Named Texas League All Stars - Arkansas Travelers
- Locke, Sutil Claim Post-Season Honors - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals to place single-game playoff tickets on sale Tuesday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Join the Drillers Chase for a Championship - Tulsa Drillers
- Hooks Rally, Outlast Missions - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.