TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Mayora Walks Off with Series

Published on April 18, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Pinch-hitter Daniel Mayora belted a two-out, two-run homer off Paul Estrada in the ninth inning Saturday night as Tulsa knocked off Corpus Christi 6-5 in come-from-behind fashion at Drillers Stadium.

Sporting a 5-3 Hooks lead, Estrada surrendered a lead-off double to Darin Holcomb. Daniel Carte followed with a line-drive single to center, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Cole Garner then lifted a sacrifice fly to right for Tulsa's (5-4) fourth run of the game.

Estrada (0-1) struck out Rex Rundgren and got two-strikes on Mayora before the pinch hitter's walk-off blast.

After watching the Drillers jump in front 3-2 though six innings, Corpus Christi (4-5) loaded the bases to open the seventh. With pinch-hitter Jhon Florentino at the plate, Jonathan Fixler was picked off at first base, allowing Tulsa to pitch around Florentino.

Centerfielder Anthony Jackson then robbed Collin DeLome's bid with the bases loaded, making a brilliant sliding catch in shallow center field for the second out of the frame.

Drew Meyer delivered in the next at-bat, lining a 2-0 offering from Adam Bright into center field, giving the Hooks a 4-3 lead.

Hooks starter Douglas Arguello held Tulsa to three hits and struck out seven over 5.2 innings. He tossed 99 pitches, 66 for strikes.

T.J. Burton pitched two shutout innings out of the bullpen. He struck out two and permitted one base runner.

Mitch Einterson made it 5-3 Corpus Christi in the eighth by breaking a 1-for-15 spell at the plate with a line-drive homer that just cleared the wall in left field.

The Hooks pushed two runs across in the third thanks again to timely two-out hitting. Wladimir Sutil opened the frame with a line-drive single to right. Sutil then stole second base and, one out later, advanced to third on Arguello's base hit up the middle. Drillers starter Esmil Rogers struck out DeLome before Meyer and Drew Locke delivered RBI singles, staking Corpus Christi to a two-run advantage.

Rogers and reliever Andy Graham responded by retiring 10 of the next 11 Corpus Christi batters before Einertson was hit by a pitch to begin the Hooks' rally in the seventh.

Holcomb went 2-for-3 for the Drillers, driving in a pair on two doubles and sacrifice fly. Jon George (1-0) earned the victory after stringing together two innings of one-run ball.

Locke has now hit safely in seven consecutive contests. Sutil finished the night with two hits, two walks, two runs scored and three stolen bases.

Corpus Christi's road trip continues Sunday at Northwest Arkansas. Brad James (0-0) takes on the Naturals' Matt Kniginyzky in a 2:30 start at Arvest Ballpark.




Texas League Stories from April 18, 2009


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