Late Rally Falls Short, Hooks Lose 9-6
May 1, 2007 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
MIDLAND, Texas - Catcher Landon Powell went 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and left fielder Richie Robnett knocked in four runs as Midland survived a late rally by the Hooks to defeat Corpus Christi 9-6 Tuesday night at Citibank Ballpark. The RockHounds snapped their three-game losing streak, while the Hooks dropped to 8-17 in the first half.
Trailing 9-3 with two outs in the top of ninth and Drew Sutton at second base, the Hooks strung together four consecutive hits to make things interesting. Todd Self's looping single into right-center brought Sutton home to make it 9-4, and Noochie Varner followed with a single to put runners at first and second. Ray Sadler and Francisco Caraballo followed with run-scoring singles, bringing the Hooks to within three at 9-6.
That brought Lou Santangelo to the plate as the potential game-tying run. Lefty reliever Brad Kilby, who entered to start the ninth, was removed in favor of Steve Sharpe, who got Santangelo to bounce out to shortstop Gregorio Petit to end the game.
Hooks starter Ronnie Martinez (1-2) suffered the loss. Despite recording a season-best six strikeouts, Martinez was touched for three runs on nine hits, all singles, and a walk over five innings. He threw 97 pitches and left the game trailing 3-1.
The RockHounds pulled away from the Hooks with big hits in both the sixth and seventh innings. With two on and one out in the sixth, Robnett's drive into left fell just out of the reach of Beau Torbert for a two-run double to give the home team a 5-1 lead. In the seventh, Powell's RBI double and Robnett's two-out, two-run single gave Midland a seemingly insurmountable 8-2 bulge.
Sharpe's third save preserved the win for starter Ben Fritz (2-1), who allowed one run on three hits over six innings.
Varner's three hits in five trips raised his league-leading batting average to .394. Sadler snapped out of an 0-for-19 slide with a 2-for-4 night and two RBI's.
Corpus Christi's active roster stands at a full 24 players following the addition of relief pitcher Brian Gordon Tuesday. Gordon, an outfielder for 10 seasons in the minors with the Diamondbacks, Angels and Astros, arrived at Citibank Ballpark during the eighth inning of Tuesday's game. He'll be in uniform for Wednesday's game at Midland.
RHP Chance Douglass (0-1, 6.55) starts Game 2 of the series for the Hooks, while RHP Kaz Tadano (2-1, 3.09) toes the slab for the RockHounds in Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. game.
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