MIDLAND - The RockHounds sent nine men to the plate in the seventh inning Thursday night, turning a 2-2 tie into a 6-2 victory over Corpus Christi before 4,780 fans in the series opener at Security Bank Ballpark.The evening began as a pitchers' duel between Kyle Friedrichs and Hooks lefty
MIDLAND - The RockHounds sent nine men to the plate in the seventh inning Thursday night, turning a 2-2 tie into a 6-2 victory over Corpus Christi before 4,780 fans in the series opener at Security Bank Ballpark.
The evening began as a pitchers' duel between Kyle Friedrichs and Hooks lefty Brett Adcock.
Adcock had retired nine in a row heading into the home fifth inning. Base hits by Dairon Blanco and Kevin Merrell began the frame. Following a wild pitch, Edwin Diaz put the Hounds on the board with a sac fly to center field. Mikey White made it 2-0 thanks to a two-out RBI double to right field.
Midland (20-19) managed just three hits off Adcock, who owns a 2.95 ERA in his last four assignments.
Friedrichs also scattered three hits over five innings of work. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.
Angel Duno (2-0), who was perfect in the sixth, ran into trouble in the seventh. Stephen Wrenn coaxed a lead-off walk and then Abraham Toro launched a line-drive home run into the right-field bullpen, leveling the score at 2.
Toro has seven home runs and leads the Texas League with 32 RBIs.
Cristian Javier (0-1), making his Double-A debut, permitted back-to-back triples to open the home seventh. White followed with his first home run of the year, a two-run shot to left for a 5-2 Hounds lead. Blanco later added a two-out RBI single, completing the four-run frame.
Corpus Christi (19-20) southpaw Kit Scheetz struck out the side in the eighth but Kyle Finnegan posted zeros in the eighth and ninth to nail down the Midland triumph.
The Hooks plan to send Tyler Ivey (3-0, 0.86) to the mound Friday night. Ivey will be opposed by Daulton Jefferies (0-0, 5.00). First pitch 7:00.
