Former Hook Stymies Corpus Christi
Published on July 31, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
MIDLAND, Texas - Drew Locke tied a franchise record Friday night at Midland, but the evening belonged to former Hook Kyle Middleton, who led the RockHounds to a 4-1 win in the opener of this five-game series at Citibank Ballpark.
Middleton, who pitched for the Hooks in 2007 and 2008 and is tied for the club record in career saves with 26, held Corpus Christi to a run on four hits over eight innings. He walked two and fanned six during his 95-pitch performance. Middleton, in his second start for Midland since having his independent league contract purchased by the A's, retired eight in a row to close out his effort.
Corpus Christi's lone run came in the sixth. Wladimir Sutil bunted for a base hit and went to second on Drew Meyer's ground out. Locke drilled a single to right-center to plate Sutil, making it a 4-1 game.
The RBI was Locke's 95th this season, tying him with Hunter Pence for Corpus Christi's single-season RBI record. Locke equaled the mark in Corpus Christi's 103rd game this season. There are 37 games remaining in the second half.
Midland jumped on Hooks starter Andy Van Hekken (5-4) for a run in the first and three more in the second. Back-to-back doubles by Shane Peterson and Chris Carter gave the Hounds a 1-0 lead. Carter's double to left extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
In the second, a bad read by center fielder Collin DeLome on a line drive off the bat of Archie Gilbert led to three RockHound runs. Josh Horton singled with one out and scored when Gilbert's liner whizzed just over DeLome's glove in straight-away center. DeLome had started in off the crack of the bat, then quickly turned to race back but could not make the play.
Gilbert, credited with an RBI double, went to third on Raul Padron's single to right. Corey Wimberly hit into a force play, reaching on a fielder's choice as Gilbert scored to give Midland a 3-0 advantage. Van Hekken hit Peterson with a pitch, and Carter followed with a single to left to chase Wimberly home for a 4-0 score.
Jon Hunton came on in the ninth to record his second save. Hunton walked Jimmy Van Ostrand with one out, but got Mark Ori to hit into a game-ending double play.
Van Ostrand went 0-for-3 to go hitless for the first time in 12 games this season at Citibank Ballpark. Meyer finished 0-for-4, snapping his team-best hitting streak at 13 games. Ori was also hitless in four at-bats, effectively ending his seven-game streak.
On a positive note, pitchers Chia-Jen Lo and Tyler Lumsden combined for three frames of shutout relief. Corpus Christi's bullpen has not given up a run in its last 15 innings of work.
Lo's two innings marked his longest outing of the season for the Hooks. Seventeen of his previous 18 appearances had been exactly one inning in length.
The Hooks and Hounds play two starting at 5:30 Saturday afternoon. Wilton Lopez (2-3, 6.48) is slated to face Midland's Tyson Ross (1-0, 1.50) in the opener.
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