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TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Tracy Clubs Walk-Off HR in 11th

September 3, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


FRISCO, Texas - It's impossible for the same player to hit two walk-off home runs in the same game, right? Not if one of them is foul.

That's what happened Wednesday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Frisco first baseman Chad Tracy had a foul ball initially ruled a two-run home run in the ninth - a call that was reversed moments later.

In his next at-bat, Tracy launched a home run to the berm in left-center with one out in the bottom of the 11th to give Frisco a 1-0 win over the Hooks, keeping the RoughRiders within reasonable striking distance of first-place Midland in the second-half standings.

Fans at Dr Pepper Ballpark witnessed a rare and bizarre bottom of the ninth. Hooks reliever Erick Abreu, beginning his third inning of work, struck out Marcus Lemon on three pitches. Dustin Majewski followed with a single to center - just the third hit of the night for Frisco.

Tracy was up next, and lifted a high drive down the left field line that easily cleared the outfield wall but landed well foul beyond the pole. Plate umpire Dan Oliver, moving far up the line near third base, signaled "fair ball," giving Tracy an apparent two-run, walk-off home run.

Amid the on-field celebration and cheering from the Frisco faithful, Hooks catcher Jonathan Fixler protested immediately and vehemently that the ball was foul, racing up the line to confront Oliver. Corpus Christi manager Luis Pujols intervened and got Fixler away from the umpire, then asked the three-man crew to discuss the call.

Oliver and colleagues Brian Hertzog and Stephen Barga convened for a little over a minute, and decided that, indeed, Tracy's blast was foul.

That brought Frisco skipper Mike Micucci out of the third base dugout. He argued his perspective with the crew, and soon thereafter was ejected by Barga. Moments after his ejection, Micucci pulled third base out of its mooring and placed it about 15 feet from its anchor on the infield dirt toward second base. He then walked off the field.

Meanwhile, Pujols was informed that Fixler had also been ejected for throwing his gear. That forced Pujols to insert Jose Lopez into the game, his first this season for the Hooks and just his seventh all year. Lopez played in portions of six games for the Gulf Coast League Astros last month, his only action since having brain surgery in March.

The inning continued, and on his second pitch after the upheaval, Abreu threw a ball in the dirt that got away from Lopez, allowing Majewski to take second. Tracy eventually struck out swinging. Andruw Jones, in his third game during his rehab assignment with Frisco, walked on a 3-2 pitch.

That brought Johnny Whittleman to the plate. Ahead in the count 0-2, Abreu threw Whittleman a back-door curve for a called third strike to end the inning and send the game into extra innings.

In the home 10th, a one-out single by Chris Gradoville and a two-out double by Engel Beltre put two runners in scoring position for the RoughRiders. Abreu, though, struck out Lemon swinging to end the threat. It was Abreu's seventh strikeout in four innings.

Ryan McKeller (2-4) came on to pitch for the Hooks in the 11th and retired Majewski on a fly ball to center. Tracy then clubbed McKeller's first pitch over the wall in left-center to start the celebration for real.

Pitching was clearly the name of the game. Hooks starter Fernando Abad, in just his second appearance at the Double-A level, carried a no-hitter into the sixth. Guilder Rodriguez singled to center to open the home sixth, the only hit off Abad in his six innings on the hill. He allowed just one walk and struck out five while throwing just 63 pitches.

Frisco starter Michael Kirkman was equal to the challenge. He surrendered just two hits and two walks while fanning six over seven frames.

The result marked the fifth 1-0 game played by the Hooks this season. Corpus Christi's only other 1-0 loss came on May 18 at Whataburger Field. Craig Cooper's home run leading off the 12th gave San Antonio the win.

Frisco's victory coupled with Midland's loss Wednesday to San Antonio pulls the RoughRiders to within two games of the RockHounds in the Texas League South with five games remaining in the second half.

Lefty Douglas Arguello (3-4, 3.38) toes the slab for the Hooks in Thursday's 7:05 p.m. start. He'll go up against Arlington native Blake Beavan (4-4, 4.07).

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Texas League Stories from September 3, 2009


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