TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Cardinals Rally Twice to Beat Hooks

Published on August 18, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield shortstop Jose Martinez got to play hero twice Sunday night. His two-run double capped a five-run bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings, and in the 11th, his bouncing single to left through a drawn-in infield plated two more runs to give the Cardinals a wild come-from-behind 9-8 victory over the Hooks.

Through eight and a half innings Sunday at Hammons Field, starter Polin Trinidad and the Hooks were in firm control. Trinidad tossed seven innings of two-run ball, while the middle of the Corpus Christi order - Mitch Einertson, Brian Bogusevic and Ole Sheldon - feasted on Cardinals' pitching to help forge a 7-2 lead.

A sure win evaporated for the Hooks in the ninth. Corpus Christi's bullpen issued four walks in the inning, and the Cardinals took full advantage. With the bases loaded and one out, Brandon Buckman bounced a single to right to bring in two runs for a 7-4 score. Later in the inning, Chris Blazek walked Daryl Jones with the bases loaded to push across another run to make it 7-5.

Sammy Gervacio replaced Blazek and served up a 2-0 pitch to Martinez that was crushed to the gap in left-center. The ball hit the warning track and bounced up onto the short fence above the padded wall and was immediately judged to be a ground-rule double, forcing in two runs to knot the score at 7.

With runners at second and third and two out, Gervacio induced a come-backer off the bat of Matt Pagnozzi. Instead of throwing to first, Gervacio threw home to Lou Santangelo, who started to chase Jones back to third. During that chase, Santangelo whipped a throw to Jonny Ash at second, who tagged out Martinez trying to dive back to second.

Despite the complete meltdown in the ninth, the Hooks regained the lead in the 11th. Wladimir Sutil singled with one out, and with two out stole second. Drew Sutton walked, bringing Ash to the plate. Ash lined an 0-1 pitch to left to plate Sutil from second, giving the Hooks an 8-7 lead.

The Cardinals rallied again in the home 11th, this time off reliever Chris Salamida (0-2). Singles by Andrew Brown and Isa Garcia brought Jones to the plate, who failed on a couple of attempts to bunt the runners up. Jones, though, worked the count full, then walked to load the bases.

Salamida got two strikes on Martinez, who fouled off the first 0-2 pitch. With the infield playing in, Martinez bounced the next offering between Sutton at third and Sutil at short, knocking in Brown and Garcia for the walk-off win.

The club's inability to hold leads in the ninth and 11th snatched a win from Trinidad, who sprayed six hits and a walk while striking out five. The outing was Trinidad's fourth straight quality start, and his eighth quality start among his 15 appearances for the Hooks. Trinidad also went 1-for-3 at the plate with a sacrifice and a run.

Einertson blasted a grand slam home run in the fourth to give the Hooks a 6-1 lead. The homer was Einertson's 10th of the season and the 14th slam in Hooks' history. The result marks just the second time that the Hooks have lost when hitting a grand slam. The other loss also occurred this season, May 19 at Midland, when a slam by Billy Hart got lost in the wash of an 11-5 RockHounds' triumph.

Bogusevic, Sheldon and Sutil had three hits apiece, with Bogusevic scoring three runs and Sheldon picking up two RBI's. The Hooks finished with 17 hits.

Stellar defense by the Cardinals prevented at least another five runs for the Hooks. The most spectacular play came in the first, when 5'8" center fielder Casey Rowlett made a leaping catch on the wall in left-center to take a two-run homer away from Hart.

The series concludes with a 7:10 start Monday night. Chance Douglass (4-8) battles Cardinal right-hander Brandon Dickson (1-1).

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Texas League Stories from August 18, 2008


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