Hounds Shutout Hooks, Split Series

MIDLAND, TX - The RockHounds sent 10 men to the plate and scored four times in the eighth inning Thursday night as Midland blanked Corpus Christi 6-0 in the series finale at Citibank Ballpark.

The Hooks had plenty of chances offensively, creating traffic on the bases in every frame except for the eighth. Corpus Christi hit into three double plays, stranded nine and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

RockHounds got on the board in the third when Darwin Perez cracked a double to left field. Ruben Alaniz then struck out Chad Oberacker, bringing D'Arby Myers to the plate. Myers hit a rocket to third and Jonathan Meyer made a brilliant diving stop to his left. Meyer hopped to his feet quickly but sailed the throw to first base into the seats, allowing Perez to score.

Alaniz permitted three hits and an unearned run in 3.2 innings. He walked three and struck out two. 

Jorge De Leon worked 1.1 scoreless innings, bridging the gap to Matt Heidenreich. Corpus Christi's second starter got two outs to open the sixth before facing Jeremy Barfield, who belted a 1-2 pitch over the high left-field fence for his second home run of the series and a 2-0 Midland lead. 

Singles by Anthony Aliotti and Dusty Coleman and a double off the bat of former Hook Jake Goebbert began the eighth-inning onslaught. Matters deteriorated quickly after a wild pitch, a Meyer throwing error and a hit batsman by Andrew Robinson extended the inning.

Of the five runs charged to Heidenreich, three were earned.     

Carlos Perez and Rene Garcia each had two hits for the Hooks. 

Corpus Christi opens a four-game series at Frisco on Friday night. RoughRiders lefty Ryan Feierabend (1-1, 3.43) faces Carlos Quevedo (0-1, 3.00) and Jake Buchanan (1-0, 1.57). First pitch is 7:00 at Dr Pepper Ballpark.