Martinez Masters Hooks

FRISCO, TX - Nick Martinez was near perfect Tuesday night, slamming the door thru the final seven frames as Frisco dispatched Corpus Christi 5-1 at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

The Hooks started strong against rehabbing Texas Ranger Nick Tepesch. With one away in the first, Ronny Torreyes hit a single into centerfield. Preston Tucker was next and pushed a slow-roller to short, advancing Torreyes to third. Erik Castro then stroked a double over the head of left-fielder Teodoro Martinez for a 1-0 Corpus Christi lead.

Tepesch got into more trouble in the third. Leo Heras worked a lead-off walk and Torreyes placed an infield hit deep in the hole at short. Martinez entered the game and induced a fly ball to right off the bat of Tucker for the first out. Castro walked to load the bases, bringing Jonathan Meyer to the plate. On a 1-0 pitch, Meyer hit a ground ball to third-baseman Ryan Rua who started an around-the-horn double play.

Martinez followed up that twin killing by recording the next 18 outs in consecutive fashion. He fanned six and threw 54 of 86 pitches for strikes.

Castro nearly disrupted the string in the ninth, belting a deep fly ball to center field. Ryan Strausborger made a leading catch at the wall to take away a home run.

Martinez's first Double-A victory spoiled a solid start by David Rollins (0-2). The Texan southpaw scattered seven hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings. Rollins walked one and fanned five.

Rua's solo blast to left-center in the fifth ended a streak of 21 scoreless innings by Hooks hurlers. Rollins answered by striking out Zach Zaneski but issued a two-out walk to Strausborger. Luis Sardinas and Rougned Odor followed with singles, staking Frisco to a 2-1 lead. A passed ball by Luis Alvarez led to the Riders third run.  

Frisco tacked on a pair of insurance tallies in the eighth against T.J. Geith.

The Hooks send Mike Foltynewicz (5-3, 2.90) to the mound Wednesday night. The Riders counter with Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 6.75). First pitch is 7:05