Frisco Rides to Series Win

CORPUS CHRISTI - Rehabbing Ranger Nick Tepesch limited Corpus Christi to four hits thru four frames Friday night and Frisco held on late, edging the Hooks 3-1 at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

Nick Tropeano pitched well for Corpus Christi, spreading three runs and seven hits over five innings. Tropeano walked two and fanned six, giving him a Texas League best 130 strikeouts on the season.

In the home third, Ryan Strausborger opened with a single to left field. A base hit sandwiched between two strikeouts put a pair on base for Brett Nicholas. The league's RBI leader delivered a knock thru the right side, putting Frisco up 1-0. Tropeano fanned the following batter, Joe Benson, but the third strike got past Luis Alvarez. As a result, Benson reached and Rougned Odor raced home from third for a 2-0 advantage. Tropeano escaped the jam by registering his fourth strikeout of the frame.

A Preston Tucker double was the lone hit charged to Tepesch. In his second rehab start of the series, Tepesch walked one and struck out three.

With a 3-0 lead, Luke Jackson entered in the fifth. Jackson retired the first six men he faced before Tucker coaxed a lead-off walk in the seventh.

Mike Foltynewicz, Luis Cruz and Cameron Lamb each worked a scoreless inning out of Corpus Christi's bullpen.

The Hooks remained dormant until the ninth. Erik Castro opened with a single to right and Domingo Santana worked a free pass, forcing Jackson's exit. Lisalverto Bonilla was summoned from the pen and induced a softly-hit ground ball from Tucker. Castro and Santana advanced on the play. Bonilla's control faltered, issuing walks to Jonathan Meyer and Matt Duffy. The latter base on balls forced in Corpus Christi's lone run. Pinch-hitter Drew Muren struck out and Ronny Torreyes bounced into a force play to end the game.  

Corpus Christi returns to Whataburger Field for a Labor Day Weekend series against San Antonio. The two clubs have clinched a postseason berth and are tied for first in the South second-half race. The winner of the three-game set enjoys home-field advantage in the Division Series, which starts Wednesday.

The Missions send veteran Josh Geer to the mound for Saturday's opener. The Hooks have yet to announce their starter. First pitch is 6:05.

For a full rundown of the weekend's festivities, click here.