Sports stats

TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Hooks win in Wichita, 2-1

May 25, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


(WICHITA, KS) – Good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting...a formula for success throughout the years in baseball, and all were in place for the Hooks on Tuesday in Wichita. Toss in a little riverboat gambler on the part of the man in charge and the result was a 2-1 victory for Corpus Christi, effectively ending the Hooks' eight-game losing streak.

Tuesday night's game seemed headed in the same direction as many of Corpus Christi's games this season, complete with top-notch pitching but not enough hitting to get over the hump. The Wranglers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third against Hooks' starter Fernando Nieve (3-2). Wilkin Ruan opened the third with a single and advanced to second on a Nieve wild pitch. Adam Keim followed with a single to left to chase Ruan home for the game's first run.

Wichita maintained its 1-0 lead through the fifth, as the Hooks, who scored just one run on three hits in Monday's loss to the Wranglers, were getting blanked on three hits by Wichita starter Derrin Ebert (1-1). Corpus Christi's luck began to change, however, with some aggressive base running in the top of the sixth.

Center fielder Josh Anderson, batting ninth in the order for the first time this season, led off with a scratch infield hit that traveled about 25 feet up the first base line. Second baseman Brooks Conrad was up next, and Anderson stole second for his 17th theft of the season. Conrad then rolled Ebert's 1-1 pitch about six feet up the third base line. Wichita catcher John Draper picked up the ball and threw to third, but remarkably not in time to get Anderson sliding across the bag. Conrad was safe at first on the fielder's choice.

Third baseman Pat Peavey bounced a hard grounder to third which was bobbled by Brennan King, who recovered in time to throw Peavey out. Anderson scored on the play, though, to knot the game at 1-1, and Conrad advanced to second. With catcher Hector Gimenez at the plate, Conrad surprised with an aggressive steal of third. That set up a runner at third with one out, infield in situation for Gimenez, who drilled a line drive over shortstop Brett Groves into left-center for a 2-1 Hooks' lead.

That slim margin was in jeopardy in the home sixth, when the Wranglers loaded the bases with one out. But Nieve induced Groves to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The Wranglers would threaten again in the ninth. With Draper at second and two men out designated hitter Rudy Gomez reached first on an error by shortstop Eric Riggs. Draper moved to third on the play. Gomez was lifted in favor of pinch-runner Mel Stocker. Wichita manager Frank White opted for a left-handed hitting pinch-hitter, Matt Tupman, to bat for Ruan, a right-handed hitter, against Hooks' right-handed reliever Jailen Peguero. Corpus Christi manager Dave Clark raised some eyebrows with his next move.

Clark ordered Peguero to intentionally walk Tupman. That loaded the bases, putting the speedy Stocker in scoring position as the potential game-winning run. But that decision gave the Hooks the favorable righty-righty match-up with Peguero facing Keim. Peguero justified Clark's move when he struck out Keim swinging at a 2-2 pitch to end the game.

Nieve earned his third win by allowing just one run on three hits and four walks over six innings. He fanned six. Peguero collected his third save with his tension-filled scoreless ninth inning. Ebert took the loss despite a solid effort that included two runs allowed in seven frames.

The third and final game of the series takes place Wednesday night at Lawrence-DuMont Stadium. Hooks' RHP Jason Hirsh (4-4, 3.38) will battle RHP Brian Bass (4-2, 5.40) in a 7:00 pm start.

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics



Texas League Stories from May 25, 2005


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.

Other Recent Corpus Christi Hooks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central