SPRINGFIELD - Despite the Hooks' furious ninth inning rally, the Springfield Cardinals beat Corpus Christi 4-3 on a walkoff two-run home run from Johan Mieses in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Hooks saw their five-game win streak snapped at Hammons Field.
SPRINGFIELD - Despite the Hooks' furious ninth inning rally, the Springfield Cardinals beat Corpus Christi 4-3 on a walkoff two-run home run from Johan Mieses in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Hooks saw their five-game win streak snapped at Hammons Field.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the ninth, Corpus Christi tied the game on Ryne Birk's RBI single again Roel Ramirez. Stephen Wrenn drew a bases loaded walk later in the frame against Derian Gonzalez to give the Hooks a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom half, Ryan Hartman returned to the mound after already firing three scoreless innings out of the Hooks' bullpen. Hartman recorded the first out but then allowed an infield single to Andrew Knizner. Mieses followed with a two-run homer to right field to vault the Cardinals to a win.
Hooks righty Corbin Martin made the start and dealt a pair of scoreless frames to begin his outing. In the third, he recorded the first two outs before Andy Young and Evan Mendoza belted back-to-back solo home runs to give the Cardinals a 2-0 advantage.
Martin was replaced by Alex Winkelman in the fifth and recorded the final two outs of the frame.
Springfield starter Anthony Shew kept the Hooks off the scoreboard through six innings. With Corpus Christi still trailing 2-0 in the seventh, Eduardo de Oleo crushed a solo shot to deep left field to cut Springfield's lead to 2-1.
Eric Carter entered in the eighth and tossed a scoreless inning before the Hooks score two in the ninth to take a lead.
The Hooks and Cardinals wrap up their three-game set on Sunday afternoon at Hammons Field. Corpus Christi sends righty Forrest Whitley to the mound while the Cardinals counter with right-hander Matt Pearce. First pitch is at 12:15 p.m.
