Hooks close out first half with loss
Published on June 17, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Drew Macias had four hits and Chad Huffman and Jose Lobaton provided big two-run hits as San Antonio closed out the first half with a 6-4 win over the Hooks at Wolff Municipal Stadium Tuesday night.
The 70th game of the season began well for the Hooks, as leadoff hitter Drew Sutton pounded a 2-1 pitch high off the scoreboard in right in the first inning for his seventh homer of the year and a 1-0 Corpus Christi lead. Sutton had homered off Missions' starter Manny Ayala in his only other at-bat against the right-hander back on May 15.
The Missions responded quickly in their half of the first against Hooks' starter Tip Fairchild. Singles by Gabe Lopez and Macias set the table for Huffman, whose double to the gap in left-center gave San Antonio a 2-1 advantage.
Fairchild (1-4) retired the next seven batters and nine of the next 10, but ran into a buzz saw in the fourth. Craig Cooper and Seth Johnston opened the frame with back-to-back doubles to make it a 3-1 game. Lobaton followed with his fourth home run of the year, a shot that just cleared the wall in right to give the Missions a 5-1 cushion.
The Hooks fought back in the sixth. Wladimir Sutil's bunt base hit with one out ignited a string of five consecutive hits. Singles by Rob Cosby and Ole Sheldon loaded the bases for Jimmy Van Ostrand, whose line-drive single to right brought in two for a 5-3 score. Mitch Einertson hit a soft liner to center to get Sheldon home, and the Hooks were back to within a run at 5-4.
Ayala (1-1) was removed at that point in favor of Wilton Lopez, who struck out the next two batters to douse the rally.
The Missions added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI double by Macias, his fourth hit of the night.
With one out in the ninth the Hooks rallied against San Antonio closer Greg Burke. Consecutive singles by Lou Santangelo, Orlando Rosales and pinch hitter Chris Johnson loaded the bases. Burke got Sutton on the infield fly rule, though, and induced a ground ball to first off the bat of Sutil to end the game, recording his ninth save in as many chances.
Fairchild was charged with five runs on seven hits over four innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out two. Sean Walker followed Fairchild with two innings of shutout relief.
The Hooks finished the half with a record of 30-40. San Antonio hits the mid-season break with a 39-31 mark.
The second half gets under way Wednesday night at 7:05 with the third game in this four-game series. Brad James (5-4), Corpus Christi's opening day starter, will open the second half for the Hooks against San Antonio's Will Inman (7-2).
Texas League Stories from June 17, 2008
- Travs Win, Travs Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards fall to Travs - Springfield Cardinals
- Hooks close out first half with loss - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Tulsa Blasts NW Arkansas Again - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers close out first half with win - Tulsa Drillers
- Dusty Hughes Promoted to Omaha - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Hooks to Honor 1958 Corpus Christi Giants - 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.
