RoughRiders Win Wild One
CORPUS CHRISTI - Corpus Christi rallied from a 6-0 deficit to pull ahead of Frisco 8-6 Friday night at Whataburger Field.
But the RoughRiders had the last laugh, scoring four in their final turn for a 10-8 victory before 6,119.
When Drew Robinson smashed a bases-loaded triple into the right-center field gap and then scored Frisco's 10th run on a throwing error, the stage was set for the first RoughRiders win over Corpus Christi in 11 tries. Enter former Hook and 2012 Texas League Pitcher of the Year David Martinez, who captured his eighth save.
Frisco's charge began against Ruben Alaniz, who surrendered one-out singles to Alex Burg and Preston Beck. Travis Ballew (3-2) came on to face J.T. Wise and issued a free pass. Ballew fanned Trevor Adams for the second out and had Robinson down 1-2 in the count before the game-winner.
Jefri Hernandez, who pitched the eighth for Frisco, is 1-0.
The Hooks hung three runs on RoughRiders starter Jose Leclerc in the fifth and five on Victor Payano and Juan Grullon two frames later. Frisco's meltdown began as Payano walked Jio Mier and Brett Phillips, which prompted a change to Grullon. Grullon walked Colin Moran and coughed up a run-scoring single to Tyler White. Conrad Gregor's bases-loaded grounder was mishandled by first baseman Adams, allowing two runs to score.
Jon Kemmer then produced a sacrifice fly, and Danry Vasquez's RBI single capped the surge.
The RoughRiders tagged Kyle Westwood for five hits over the first two frames, but an error enabled the night's first run to cross. Robinson and Jake Skole posted two-out singles in the second, and Robinson scored when Corpus Christi second baseman Chan-Jong Moon picked up Ryan Cordell's infield single and threw wide of first.
Frisco added another tally in the fourth, Cordell's sacrifice fly to center plating Adams. Adams, Robinson, and Skole singled consecutively with one away.
Frisco used another airborne out to score its third run. Burg drilled a double into right-center field and advanced to third on an errant pick-off attempt by catcher Roberto Pena. Beck picked up the RBI.
The RoughRiders were just getting started on a four-run fifth. Westwood was lifted after walking Wise and yielding another Adams single. Alaniz came on, and Texas League home run co-leader Robinson (15), homered to the left-field berm for a 6-0 lead.
Corpus Christi then staged a three-run, two-out rally of its own against Leclerc. Moon doubled, Mier walked, and Phillips drove a two-run triple to right. Phillips moved home as the result of Wise's passed ball.
Kemmer has a six-game hitting streak.
Frisco lefty Frank Lopez (2-1) meets Adrian Houser (0-0) Saturday at 7:05 in the penultimate game of the series. The first 2,500 fans receive a Hooks Flexfit Cap from Hilliard Munoz Gonzales.