Hooks Fight for Victory in Finale

SPRINGFIELD, MO - Corpus Christi doubled its offensive output from the previous five contests and withstood a five-run Springfield rally in the ninth Friday night as the Hooks edged the Cardinals 10-8 at Hammons Field. 

Lefty Anthony Ferrara failed to make it out of the top of the first. Ronny Torreyes lined a double into the left-field corner to open the game. Following back-to-back strikeouts, Ferrara plunked Domingo Santana and yielded an RBI single to Jonathan Meyer. Preston Tucker walked and then Enrique Hernandez coaxed a bases-loaded free pass, ending Ferrara's (5-4) night.

Raoul Torrez greeted Corey Baker with a double inside the bag at third which cleared the bases. 

Meyer added on to the Hooks advantage in the third with a two-run home run to left field.

Corpus Christi scored three times in the fifth for a 10-0 lead. Zach Johnson capped the frame with a two-out, two-run double off the wall in right field. 

Mike Foltynewicz (4-1) battled control problems to notch the victory. The hard-throwing right-hander walked five and struck out seven thru five frames, holding the Cardinals to three runs on two hits. The latter was a solo home run by James Ramsey in the fifth. 

Carlos Quevedo allowed one run in relief via a two-out RBI single off the bat of Vance Albitz in the sixth.

Kyle Hallock entered with two on and one away in the seventh and escaped unscathed, stranding the bases loaded. Two of Hallock's four walks on the night were issued in the ninth. Adam Melker's two-out, two-run single with the bases full pulled Springfield within five at 10-5. Albitz, batting in the ninth spot, was next and drilled a three-run home run over the Hooks bullpen in left field.  

Andrew Robinson recorded the final out and his first save of the season on a sharp comebacker to the mound from Mike O'Neil. 

The Hooks head to Tulsa for a three-game series at ONEOK Field. David Martinez (10-2, 2.02) faces lefty Tyler Matzek (4-6, 3.79) in the opener Saturday night. First pitch is 7:05.