SAN ANTONIO - Alberth Martinez belted a three-run home run in the sixth inning Thursday night, lifting the Missions to a 5-3 victory over Corpus Christi at Wolff Stadium.San Antonio (23-16) has won six of the first seven meetings with the Hooks.
SAN ANTONIO - Alberth Martinez belted a three-run home run in the sixth inning Thursday night, lifting the Missions to a 5-3 victory over Corpus Christi at Wolff Stadium.
San Antonio (23-16) has won six of the first seven meetings with the Hooks.
Luis Urías staked the home club to an early 2-0 lead against Kent Emanuel. Urias opened the first with a double down the right-field line, and later scored on a base hit by Nick Schulz.
Urias began the third with a walk, and then advanced to third on the Schulz double. He promptly scored when an Emanuel pitch sailed through the legs of Jamie Ritchie.
J.D. Davis answered with a lead-off home run in the fourth. It was Davis' second blast in as many nights and his ninth of the year. Davis is now tied with Tulsa's Kyle Garlick for the Texas League home run lead.
Emanuel faced three in the fourth and worked a perfect fifth before fanning Franmil Reyes to begin the sixth. Nick Torres bucked the trend with a single into center. Ty France followed and was hit by a pitch, brining Martinez to the plate. The first offering from Emanuel (1-3) landed on the grass hillside in left.
It was Martinez's second three-run blast against the Hooks this year. He took Andrew Thome deep in the ninth inning May 8 at Whataburger Field, handing the Missions a 5-3 win.
San Antonio starter Brett Kennedy went 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on seven hits. Kennedy (3-2) struck out five and did not issue a walk.
Corpus Christi (18-21) got to T.J. Weir for two tallies in the eighth. Antonio Nunez's RBI single and Kristian Trompiz's ground out plated Jon Singleton and Alejandro Garcia, who began the frame with a walk and single, respectively. The Hooks stranded the tying run at second base.
Ryan Thompson and lefty Sean Stutzman combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for Corpus Christi.
The visitors went 2-for-12 with men in scoring position, striking out seven times.
The Hooks, who have won three of their last five, look to force a split of the series Thursday night. Dean Deetz (3-1, 1.30) takes the hill for Corpus Christi. The Missions turn to Kyle Lloyd (4-3, 3.20), who spun a no-hitter in his last start. First pitch 7:05.
