Midland Mounts Late Surge
September 11, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Corpus Christi Hooks Pitcher Ruben Alaniz
(Corpus Christi Hooks)
CORPUS CHRISTI - Midland struck for seven runs off two Corpus Christi pitchers in the ninth to defeat the Hooks 9-3 and square the Texas League South Division Series at a game apiece.
With the clubs tied at 2, pinch-hitter Jaycob Brugman and Colin Walsh produced RBI singles off Hooks closer Jandel Gustave (0-1), who issued a one-out walk to Matt Olson and allowed Josh Whitaker's third hit of the night before the fireworks began. Anthony Aliotti greeted Albert Minnis by singling home Brugman, and Renato Nunez drove a 442-foot grand slam off the batter's eye.
Chad Oberacker was the other RockHound on base, the result of an intentional walk.
Jeff Urlaub (1-0), who quelled a Hooks threat by recording two eighth-inning outs, picked up the win.
Conrad Gregor's solo homer off Brendan McCurry closed the scoring.
Midland strung together three one-out hits off Ruben Alaniz in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Ryon Healy doubled to center and scored on Olson's single. Whitaker followed with a line single to left, placing runners at the corners. Alaniz cleaned up the mess by getting Beau Taylor to bounce into a double play.
Whitaker's second bomb in as many nights - a two-out no-doubter to left during the fourth - doubled the RockHounds' advantage.
Colin Moran answered, drilling the first pitch of his fourth-inning plate appearance into the right-field bullpen as Corpus Christi moved to within a run.
Alaniz worked the fifth for the Hooks and then retired after six hits and three strikeouts. Fifty-nine of his 85 pitches were strikes.
Sean Manaea turned in a sporty starting pitching performance for Midland, striking out eight - all swinging - over seven innings. He scattered three hits and walked no one. Manaea's pitch count reached 106 (70).
Manaea fanned Jon Kemmer for what should've been the second out of the home seventh, but a wild pitch enabled the Hooks right fielder to reach. Jio Mier then tripled to right, evening the contest. His sinking liner bounced in front of Olson, then away from him. Manaea escaped additional damage by striking out Gregor and getting Roberto Pena on a drive to deep center field.
Corpus Christi turned three double plays and Mier extended his hitting streak to seven games.
The South Division Series now shifts to Midland and Security Bank Ballpark, where the Hooks send Kyle Westwood (11-7) against Chris Jensen (9-10) Friday at 7.
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 Corpus Christi Hooks Pitcher Ruben Alaniz |
Texas League Stories from September 11, 2015
- Hooks' Reed Wins Bauman Award - Corpus Christi Hooks
- From the Brink ... to the Best-Of-3 - Midland RockHounds
- Midland Mounts Late Surge - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Five-Run 6th Bolsters Another Nats Comeback - Arkansas Travelers
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