Hooks Set Hit Mark in Rout of Cards
August 11, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A day after J.R. Towles, the Hooks' top offensive performer over the past two months, gets sent to AAA Round Rock, Corpus Christi set a season high with 19 hits in a 13-5 shellacking of the Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series at Hammons Field.
Right fielder Ray Sadler, left fielder Francisco Caraballo, catcher Lou Santangelo and center fielder Josh Flores provided three hits each for the Hooks, who improve to 25-22 in the second half with their eighth win in the last 12 games. Caraballo and second baseman Edwin Maysonet knocked in three runs apiece, while shortstop Tommy Manzella scored three runs.
The Hooks jumped on Springfield starter Eric Haberer (11-6) for three runs on three hits in the first. A single by Neil Sellers and walks by Todd Self and Sadler loaded the bases with one out for Caraballo, who drilled a single to left to plate Sellers for a 1-0 lead. Maysonet followed with a slicing flair into shallow right near the line to get Self and Sadler home for a 3-0 advantage.
The Cardinals scored twice in the second, but the Hooks began to pull away in the fourth. Santangelo opened the frame with a mammoth home run off the scoreboard above the berm in left-center to give the Hooks a 4-2 lead. Later in the inning, and infield hit by Sellers made it 5-2 Corpus Christi.
The Hooks stretched things out with three more runs in the sixth. Singles by Santangelo and Flores started the inning and later, Manzella's double to right gave the Hooks a 6-2 lead. That hit chased Haberer from the game and brought in reliever Chris Russ, who didn't fare much better.
With the bases chucked and two outs, Sadler's hard grounder to third was booted by Juan Richardson, allowing pitcher Josh Miller to score. Russ then walked Caraballo with the bases loaded to force in another run, putting the Hooks up 8-2.
Miller (4-4) entered the game in the bottom of the third when Hooks' starter Brad James had to be removed after getting hit in the hand by a line drive off Richardson's bat. James had the wherewithal to make the play to retire Richardson for the second out in the inning, shoveling the ball with his glove to Self at first.
Miller struck out Cody Haerther to end the third, then proceeded to throw five more innings of shutout ball to secure the victory. Miller scattered five hits in his 5.1 innings on the hill and did not walk a batter while striking out seven.
Miguel Asencio gets the ball for the Hooks in game two of the series Sunday night at 6:10. He'll by opposed by Springfield's Cory Rauschenberger.
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Texas League Stories from August 11, 2007
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- Hooks Set Hit Mark in Rout of Cards - Corpus Christi Hooks
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- Cards Get Hooked on Saturday - Springfield Cardinals
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