Gallo Comes Up Big Late

CORPUS CHRISTI - Joey Gallo's ninth-inning solo homer forced extra innings and his RBI ground out in the 11th pushed Frisco past Corpus Christi 5-4 Wednesday at Whataburger Field before 4,532.

Patrick Cantwell's lead-off single set the winning sequence in motion. Cantwell, sacrificed to the keystone by Odubel Herrera, advanced to third when first baseman Telvin Nash booted Nomar Mazara's grounder. Gallo found Nash with a grounder and was retired at first, the return throw to catcher Tyler Heineman too late to nab a sliding Cantwell.

Ryan Rodebaugh (3-0), the sixth RoughRiders pitcher, worked the final two innings and faced one over the minimum. Mitchell Lambson (2-1) suffered a blown save and took the tough-luck loss while covering 2 2/3.

The night's first run came in the fourth on a throwing error by Gallo. Teoscar Hernandez beat out an infield single and stole second base before Jonathan Meyer was struck by an Alex Gonzalez pitch. Gallo fielded Heineman's sharp grounder at first base and flipped to second, hitting Meyer in the side. The ball caromed into shallow left field, sending Hernandez home.

The Hooks posted three in the fifth, Brandon Meredith's sixth home run following consecutive one-out singles from Colin Moran and Nash. Meredith's shot traveled 393 feet into the Goodwill Zone.

Gonzalez exited after five frames, three earned runs, seven hits, two walks and four strikeouts. His pitch count reached 84 (55 strikes).

Jordan Jankowski was brilliant in his six-inning start for Corpus Christi. The right-hander from Catawba College struck out nine against a hit and a walk. Fifty-seven of his 78 pitches were strikes. Jankowski, who has not permitted a run in his last 17 frames, retired 16 of 17 from the first to sixth.

Matt Heidenreich faced three RoughRiders in relief of Jankowski and all three reached base. Gallo drew a walk from Juan Minaya to put Frisco on the board. Minaya then struck out Jorge Alfaro and Nick Williams, but Hanser Alberto smoked a two-run single down the right-field line to pull the visitors within a run.

Gallo spoiled Lambson's save attempt, drilling his 20th Texas League home run on a 2-0 pitch with one away in the ninth. Gallo's 405-foot shot found the right-field berm. It was his 41st of the season.

The Hooks threatened to win in regulation, Will Lamb loading the bases on three walks, including an intentional pass of Nash. Strikeouts of Moran and Hernandez extended the game.

Moran owns a seven-game hitting streak.

CPL Retail Energy presents 2015 schedule magnets for all fans Thursday, when the Hooks and RoughRiders reconvene at 7:10. The first 2,000 through the gates take home Hooks Duffle Bags from Christus Spohn Health System.