Canelon Makes Memorable Debut

CORPUS CHRISTI - The newest Corpus Christi Hook was Thursday night's Whataburger Field hero.

In his Double-A debut, catcher Carlos Canelon splashed a Karch Kowalczyk eighth-inning change-up 365 feet into the right-field swimming pool for a 1-0 victory over Tulsa before 4,423.
Canelon's blow came with one out and an 0-1 count. Batting from the ninth spot, he struck out swinging and walked in his first two plate appearances. Canelon, a 22-year-old from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, signed with Houston as a free agent in April of 2014. He joined the Hooks (22-24; 56-60) August 7 from Class A Tri-City of the New York-Penn League.
Kowalczyk (5-6) set down the first seven men he faced before Canelon stepped in.
Exceptional defense gave the Hooks an early lift.
Errol Robinson drove a lead-off double to left on the game's second pitch, but ran Tulsa out of the inning as center fielder Ramón Laureano gunned him out at third after catching Matt Beaty's deep fly.
It was Laureano's 15th outfield assist this season.
From there, fans were treated to a pitching matchup featuring top prospects from the Dodgers and Astros organizations and each logged five shutout innings. Hooks starter Franklin Perez's night ended after 61 pitches, 35 for strikes. He allowed three baserunners and struck out six. Perez retired nine of the last 10 Drillers he faced.
Like Perez, Mitchell White permitted two hits. The Santa Clara product issued two free passes and fanned eight. His pitch count was 72 (44).
Tulsa (29-18; 62-55) threatened in the eighth against Kevin Hill after he walked Erick Mejia and yielded a single to Johan Mieses. Kyle Tucker made a sliding grab of Garrett Kennedy's looper inside the right-field line for the second out. Hill then walked Robinson and was replaced Riley Ferrell (1-2), who closed the frame with one pitch by getting Drew Jackson to fly to Laureano in center. Ferrell struck out Kyle Garlick and Blake Gailen in a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Hooks change opponents as Springfield comes to town for a three-game series. Akeem Bostick (4-4) takes his turn in Corpus Christi's rotation Friday at 7:05 vs. Ryan Helsley (1-0).
Radiology Associates presents '90s Night with a commemorative poster giveaway. Bud Light Friday Fireworks and the Texas Lottery Lucky Scratch Ticket Dance-Off highlight the postgame festivities.