Hooks pull away from Cardinals
June 29, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
(SPRINGFIELD, MO) - The Hooks got solid pitching, outstanding defense and a balanced offensive attack to roll to an 8-3 win over Springfield Tuesday night at Hammons Field. Corpus Christi moves to 3-3 in the second half and 30-46 overall, while the Cardinals fall to 2-4 this half and 37-39 on the year.
The bats started slowly but began to warm up in the fifth. Third baseman Tommy Whiteman singled with two men out and scored from first on a double to the gap in right-center off the bat of catcher Hector Gimenez. That broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Hooks a lead they would not surrender.
Singles by Charlton Jimerson and Eric Riggs and a double by Wade Robinson in the sixth gave the Hooks a 3-1 lead. With pinch hitter John Fagan at the plate, Cards' reliever Jeremy Cook uncorked a wild pitch to allow Riggs to score from third to make it a 4-1 game.
Whiteman led off the seventh with his first home run in a Hooks' uniform, a blast to right-center off lefty reliever Anthony Rawson. Later in the inning, RBI singles by Jimerson and Riggs pushed the Corpus Christi advantage to 7-1.
The Hooks tacked on another run in the ninth, this one unearned after Mike Rodriguez reached on an error by second baseman Aaron Herr, the fourth miscue of the night for the home team. Rodriguez moved to second on Jimerson's ground ball out and scored on Riggs' third hit of the evening, a single to left-center.
Starter Philip Barzilla (2-3) earned the win by limiting the Cardinals to one run on six hits over five innings. Fernando Rijo came on in the sixth and finished, collecting his first save with a strong effort that was better than his final numbers would indicate. Rijo was charged with two runs on two hits in four innings. He did not allow a hit until the ninth, when Pete Zoccolillo led off with a single and scored later on Herr's two-run homer to left.
Corpus Christi's defense was also strong on Tuesday, as Whiteman at third, Rodriguez in left and Mark Saccomanno at first all made stellar plays in the field.
The three-game series at Springfield will wind up Wednesday night in another 7:10 start. RHP Chris Sampson (2-10, 3.49) will toe the rubber for the Hooks and be opposed by Cardinals' RHP Jeremy Cummings (1-2, 4.78).
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