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TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Late rally falls short, Hooks lose 5-4

August 9, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


(TULSA, Okla.) - Corpus Christi's bid for a second straight win at Tulsa fell short Tuesday night. A ninth-inning rally that produced a run ended when Jorge Cortes flied out to deep left field with the bases loaded, preserving the Drillers' 5-4 triumph over the Hooks. The result, though, did not cost the Hooks a share of first place in the South Division, since San Antonio again lost at home to Wichita.

Tuesday's game began on a very positive note for the Hooks, who jumped on Tulsa starter Enmanuel Ulloa (6-4) for three runs in the top of the first. Josh Anderson opened the evening with a double off the right field wall, and went to third on Jonny Ash's fly ball out to center. Hunter Pence followed with a line drive home run over the wall in right-center to give the Hooks a 2-0 lead. Three pitches later, Walter Young belted a mammoth homer over the wall in right to make it 3-0 Corpus Christi. The blast stretched Young's hitting streak to 16 games.

The early advantage didn't last long. The Drillers tallied a run in the first and two more in the third to knot the score at 3-3. Tulsa grabbed the lead for good in the fourth against Hooks' starter Josh Muecke (0-6). Pop up singles by Alvin Colina and Jud Thigpen opened the frame, and on Thigpen's bloop into shallow right, Colina took third. Pence's throw to third was a tad late, and on the play Thigpen advanced to second. Doug Bernier followed with a single to center to give Tulsa a 4-3 lead.

Ulloa batted next, and his bunt was handled by catcher Kevin Davidson, who threw to first for the out. Thigpen broke for home on the throw and scored ahead of Young's return throw to make it a 5-3 game.

It stayed that way until the ninth, when the Hooks mounted a rally against closer Jim Miller. Davidson walked to get the rally started and pinch hitter Tike Redman singled to right to put runners at first and second. Anderson's attempted sacrifice failed, with Davidson getting forced at third. Ash kept the rally going with a walk that loaded the bases.

Pence struck out for the second out of the inning, but Young followed with a ground ball up the middle that was booted by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Redman scored on the error, and the Hooks were to within a run at 5-4. That brought up Cortes, whose fly ball to deep left-center was caught by the left fielder Thigpen for the game's final out.

The three-game series concludes Wednesday night at 7:05. Chance Douglass (6-5, 3.30) gets the ball for the Hooks, while Tulsa will go with Marc Kaiser (7-9, 4.78).

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