Caraballo's Blast Lifts Hooks
July 17, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI - Francisco Caraballo hit a two-run, two-out, walk-off home run in the ninth inning to lift Corpus Christi past Midland 10-8 in Texas League play Tuesday at Whataburger Field before 6,834.
The Hooks improve to 13-12 in the second half of TL play. Midland stands 9-16.
After Noochie Varner flew out to right in the Hooks ninth, Ray Sadler singled to right for his fourth hit of the night. Jonny Ash grounded to short before Caraballo drilled a 1-0 pitch from Jerry Blevins (0-1) out of the park to left.
Caraballo was the only Corpus Christi starter without a hit before his game-winning heroics.
Sadler homered in the second and finished with three RBIs. Todd Self hit a grand slam two innings later.
Midland tagged Felipe Paulino for its first run in the second. Richie Robnett singled to right and was trotting to second when Paulino walked Javier Herrera on a wild pitch. Robnett alertly advanced to third and Eddie Cornejo followed with a single up the middle.
Paulino avoided further damage by getting Vince Faison on a fly to left and striking out Anthony Recker.
Sadler immediately tied the contest with a solo shot to left, his 14th round-tripper of the season and first in 25 games.
The RockHounds added an unearned run in the third. Cliff Pennington drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt by Paulino, who'd fanned Luke Appert and Bryan Snyder. Robnett struck again, this time with a double down the right-field line.
Again, Sadler answered for the Hooks. His two-out single up the middle plated Tommy Manzella. Manzella walked with one out and moved into scoring position on Varner's single.
Self broke the 2-2 deadlock with his two-out slam in the fourth. He deposited Mario Ramos' 1-0 offering on top of the fence in right field. It was Self's first homer in 15 contests. Lou Santangelo's one-out double, a single by Josh Flores and a walk to Drew Sutton set the stage for Self's 11th home run of 2007.
Paulino walked Pennington to begin the Midland fifth and then gave up a homer to Appert, cutting Corpus Christi's lead to 6-4. Paulino was pulled in favor of Ryan Thompson to begin the sixth after permitting three earned runs, five hits and four walks. He struck out seven.
Thompson struggled from the outset. Herrera and Cornejo opened the sixth with a single and double before moving home on Recker's single to tie the game at 6. Pennington hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Thompson pitched out of trouble in the seventh. He retired Vasili Spanos and Herrera on called third strikes with RockHounds at first and second.
Mario Ramos, the Midland starter, allowed six runs and eight hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out four.
After Brad Kilby threw two scoreless frames in relief, Travis Foley came on in the seventh. Self worked a walk and one out later, Sadler stroked an RBI double to right-center for a 7-6 Hooks advantage. Ash's single up the middle scored Sadler to make it 8-6.
Midland refused to fold. The RockHounds closed to 8-7 in the eighth when Pennington singled up the middle with two out, scoring Faison, who hit a one-out double off Brian Gordon, Corpus Christi's third pitcher.
Midland tied the game again in the ninth off closer Kyle Middleton, who blew just his third save in 17 chances but later evened his won-loss record at 2-2. Robnett was the culprit again. He led off with a double down the left-field line, moved to second on a Spanos ground out and home on Herrera's single to left.
The clubs wrap up their four-game series Wednesday. Brad James (9-2 at Class A Salem) makes his first start for the Hooks against Andy Shipman (4-5).
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Texas League Stories from July 17, 2007
- Travs Outlast Wranglers 9-6 In Ten Innings - Arkansas Travelers
- Hundley powers Missions past 'Riders - Frisco RoughRiders
- Boggs Misses Out on Tenth Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Caraballo's Blast Lifts Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers End Boggs' Streak - Tulsa Drillers
- Cancer Awareness Day, T-Shirts & Christian Concert Series - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Fall 11-7 On Another Eighth Inning Rally - Arkansas Travelers
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