TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Seventh Separates Hooks from Tulsa

April 10, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI -- Corpus Christi struck for five seventh-inning runs on Mitch Einertson's two-run double and a three-run homer by Brian Esposito as the Hooks rolled Tulsa 9-3 Thursday night at Whataburger Field before 7,232.

The Drillers' third error of the night and three walks - one intentional - by reliever Andy Graham fueled the separation. Esposito's blast came off Jonathan George, Tulsa's third pitcher.

Collin DeLome added a solo shot to right off George in the eighth for a 9-1 Corpus Christi advantage. Ryan Harvey's two-out, two-run bomb to right off Chris Salamida accounted for the final margin.

A second-inning throwing error by shortstop Chris Nelson led to the game's first run. Einertson reached on the miscue and an out later Josh Flores stroked a

two-out double to left for a 1-0 Hooks lead.

Tulsa knotted things in the fourth. Corpus Christi starter Sergio Perez, who threw just 32 pitches and faced one over the minimum during the first three frames, walked Nelson and Mike McKenry before Darin Holcomb lashed a one-out RBI single up the middle.

The Hooks moved up 2-1 an inning later. Flores coaxed a lead-off walk, stole second base and raced home on Jimmy Van Ostrand's pinch-hit single. Flores kept the tying run off the board in the sixth by gunning Jeff Kindel at the plate after fielding Daniel Carte's two-out single in center field.

Corpus Christi added another unearned run in the sixth. Tulsa starter Jhoulys Chacin issued a two-out walk to Esposito and was pulled for Graham. Flores' single to right pushed Esposito into scoring position and the Hooks catcher scored when Graham launched a ball over the head of Kindel at first on Wladimir Sutil's comebacker.

Perez (1-0) worked five innings. He walked three and fanned one. Chacin (0-1) permitted three hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks. He struck out three.

Erick Abreu and Rob Semerano came out of the Hooks bullpen and combined for three scoreless innings.

Left-hander Polin Trinidad (10-7 in 2008) faces Tulsa's Samuel Deduno Friday at 7:05 in game two of the series. Fans will enjoy postgame fireworks, presented by Bud Light.

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Texas League Stories from April 10, 2009


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