Hooks' Hernandez continues scorching May

Like the rest of his team, Teoscar Hernandez has found May to be a much kinder month than April.

Houston's No. 26 prospect smacked four hits, drove in four runs and scored three times as Double-A Corpus Christi defeated Midland, 11-7, in 10 innings Monday.

Hernandez wasted little time starting his day, doubling into left field on the second pitch of the game and later scoring on a single by Astros' No. 9 prospect Derek Fisher. After flying out in the second inning, the 23-year-old outfielder singled to right in the fifth and walked in the seventh.

With the Hooks trailing in the eighth, 7-4, Hernandez smacked a bases-clearing double to center to tie the game. He put the club ahead two innings later with his third two-bagger of the game, driving in Chan Jong Moon. Hernandez came around to score his third run of the game on J.D. Davis' RBI single.

Hernandez, who had not had four hits in a game since Aug. 25, 2014 with Corpus Christi, has been red-hot in May. He has compiled a .338 batting average and a .921 OPS while collecting 14 runs and 11 RBIs batting primarily out of the leadoff spot for the Hooks.

After putting together a .219/.275/.362 slash line in 121 Texas League games a season ago, the native of the Dominican Republic sports a .287 average and an .803 OPS. Hernandez ranks third in the league with 30 runs scored and is tied for fifth with 22 walks, after drawing 33 free passes a year ago.

As a team, the Hooks remain one of the hottest in the Minor Leagues, with a 17-5 record in May. The offense in particular has enjoyed a jump-start, with an .800 OPS since the calendar changed.

Alex Bregman, Houston's top prospect, bashed a two-run homer, his fourth long ball in his last eight games. That tied him with Midland's Matt Chapman for the league lead of 11.

Davis, the Astros' No. 12 prospect, had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and Moon scored twice for Corpus Christi.

Franklin Barreto, the Athletics' top prospect, went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI for the RockHounds.