TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Hooks Rally, Then Fall in Eighth

Published on May 2, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


MIDLAND, Texas - Justin Sellers tripled to the gap in left-center with one out in the bottom of the eighth, sending Anthony Recker home from third with the game-winning run in Midland's 6-5 victory over the Hooks Thursday night at Citibank Ballpark. The result pushes Midland to 16-11 and into second place in the Texas League South, while Corpus Christi drops to 15-12 and third place in the division.

Thursday's game began poorly for the Hooks. Clean-up hitter Tommy Everidge came up in the first with the bases loaded and nobody out and delivered a double into the left field corner that sent everyone home for a 3-0 RockHound lead. Cliff Pennington provided an RBI single in the second to generate an unearned run to make it 4-0. In the third, Everidge led off with a home run to left, and the Hooks were down 5-0.

Corpus Christi's offense, meanwhile, was held at bay by Midland starter Vincent Mazzaro, who notched a season-high 11 strikeouts in 6.2 innings and carried a three-hit shutout into the seventh.

The Hooks, lackluster through six innings, fought back gamely in the seventh. Ray Sadler singled with one out and moved to second when Billy Hart was out trying to bunt his way on base. Rob Cosby followed with a double to get Sadler home with the Hooks' first run. Eli Iorg jumped on the next pitch from Mazzaro and drilled it down the left field line for another double and a 5-2 score.

Pat Currin relieved Mazzaro and fanned Chris Johnson to end the seventh. But the Hooks had more for the RockHound pen in the eighth.

Drew Sutton doubled to right-center and Tommy Manzella walked to put runners at first and second with one out. After Richie Paz lined out to deep center, Sadler pounded a triple off the warning track in center to bring the Hooks to within a run at 5-4.

Andrew Carignan relieved Currin and promptly walked Hart. Carignan (1-0) then struck out Cosby, but did so on a wild pitch that allowed Cosby to reach first and Sadler to score to even the contest at 5-5.

Any momentum gained from the rally was doused when Recker opened the bottom of the eighth with a double to left. Brian Snyder's line drive out to the warning track in right allowed Recker to tag and advance to third.

Reliever Chris Blazek (2-1) was lifted at that point in favor of Ryan McKeller. With the infield drawn in, Sellers hoisted a 1-0 pitch to the warning track in left-center, easily scoring Recker.

The Hooks had runners at first and second with one out in the ninth, but lefty Jay Marshall came out of the pen and induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Manzella to preserve Midland's win and earn his first save.

Manzella extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a double to right-center in the fourth. He was out, however, attempting to stretch the hit into a triple.

Following Thursday's game, Paz learned of his promotion to Triple-A Round Rock. Paz went 0-for-4 Thursday, snapping his hitting streak at 10 games. He leaves the Hooks with a batting average of .386 in 20 games with three doubles, a triple and 17 RBI's. Paz was also an impressive 14-for-22 (.636) with runners in scoring position.

Hooks' manager Luis Pujols says that Paz will be replaced on the Corpus Christi roster by middle infielder Wladimir Sutil, who was batting .268-0-5 with six doubles and six steals in 21 games for Salem in the Carolina League. Sutil is expected to be in uniform for Friday's road trip finale.

Bud Norris (3-0) will try to end Corpus Christi's three-game skid when he ascends the hill for Friday night's 6:30 start. Andrew Bailey (1-1) carries Midland's hopes for a series sweep.

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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Texas League Stories from May 2, 2008


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