Hooks, 'Hounds: Hard-Hitting Hardball
July 22, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Colin Moran of the Corpus Christi Hooks
(Corpus Christi Hooks, Credit: Kyle Mazabob)
CORPUS CHRISTI - Down through the years, Midland-Corpus Christi games have been characterized by hard hits and high scoring.
Tuesday provided the latest illustration as the RockHounds outlasted the Hooks 9-7 at Whataburger Field before 5,203.
Both starting pitchers, Chris Devenski and Chris Jensen, endured bitter outings. Midland forged ahead for good with a three-run fifth, and got a solo bomb from Chad Pinder - who finished with four hits - to close out the scoring an inning later.
The long ball produced all five first-inning runs. Consecutive one-out singles from Colin Walsh and Rangel Ravelo set the stage for Renato Nunez's 14th homer of the season when Devenski hung a full-count breaking ball.
Midland's 3-0 lead didn't last long, Colin Moran's second home run in as many nights pulling the Hooks to within a score. Moran drilled the first pitch he saw from Jensen the opposite way to left field with Teoscar Hernandez (single) aboard.
Corpus Christi drew even during the second, Brett Phillips sending Alfredo Gonzalez (single) home by singling to right.
The Hooks benefited from two Midland miscues while building a 6-3 advantage in the third. Second baseman Walsh committed a two-out, bases loaded error that enabled two runs to cross, and shortstop Pinder failed to handle catcher Bruce Maxwell's attempt at nabbing a stealing Chan-Jong Moon.
Devenski (7-3) couldn't bounce back with a shutdown frame as the RockHounds tallied two. Jaycob Brugman lasered a double to right-center and scored on Chad Oberacker's sacrifice fly. Ravelo's RBI single plated Walsh (walk/stolen base).
Jio Mier's RBI groundout in a three-hit fourth gave Corpus Christi a two-run cushion at 7-5.
Devenski wouldn't survive the game-deciding fifth, lifted for Chris Cotton after a double from Ryon Healy and Bruce Maxwell's bases-loaded single, which scored Pinder (lead-off single). Cotton's first hitter, Oberacker, lifted a sacrifice foul fly to left as Midland knotted the score at 7. Brugman (walk) then scored on a Cotton wild pitch.
Devenski allowed 12 hits, two walks, and struck out one over 4 1/3. His pitch count was 89 (55).
Jensen achieved 13 outs, too. He surrendered 10 hits, walked four, and whiffed one, throwing 104 pitches (59). Just four of the seven runs against him were earned.
Omar Duran (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Jensen, and Tucker Healy picked up his third save. The back end of Corpus Christi's bullpen - Reymin Guduan and Jandel Gustave - teamed for five strikeouts in three scoreless innings.
As was the case Monday, the clubs combined for 25 hits. Tuesday's game featured three clean half-innings.
Hernandez, Phillips, and A.J. Reed own five-game Hooks hitting streaks. Moran has four consecutive multi-hit games.
Wednesday is Whataburger Family Day, so adults can purchase a ticket at the box office and get their kid's for free. SHALE Magazine presents Oil & Gas Industry Night. Hooks left-hander Brian Holmes (3-4) meets Tim Atherton (5-3) in the series and homestand finale.
Images from this story
 Colin Moran of the Corpus Christi Hooks (Kyle Mazabob) |
Texas League Stories from July 22, 2015
- Riders Battle Back to Take Series over Missions - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks Salvage Series Split - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Frisco Takes Series with Five-Run Comeback - San Antonio Missions
- Drillers Lose Series Finale to Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Balanced Offense Propels Naturals in Series Finale - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Peyton Meyer, Kids Jersey Day Highlights Riders July 23-29 Home Stand - Frisco RoughRiders
- Drillers Return to ONEOK Field Thursday - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Partner with Toys for Tots on Thursday, July 30 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Just Another Day at the Beach - Midland RockHounds
- Garcia Stays Red Hot in Cards Comeback Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Hooks, 'Hounds: Hard-Hitting Hardball - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Cardinals Rally in 9th for the 6-5 Comeback Win - Springfield Cardinals
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.
