Ramirez, Rodriguez Key 'Riders

CORPUS CHRISTI - Neil Ramirez limited Corpus Christi to an earned run and four hits while striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings as Frisco turned back the Hooks 6-4 Thursday night before 4,883.

The RoughRiders (18-15) gained a game on the first-place Hooks (19-14) in the Texas League South Division first-half race.

Ramirez (3-0), who walked one, threw 93 pitches - 65 for strikes.

Hooks starter Jake Buchanan was brilliant throughout his five-inning stint. Buchanan permitted two hits and whiffed four. Of his 55 pitches, 43 found the strike zone. Over three outings and 12 2/3 innings against Frisco, the reigning Texas League Pitcher of the Week has allowed one earned run and seven hits.

Buchanan faced the minimum, getting double-play balls in the third and fifth.

His replacement, Carlos Quevedo, gave up the game's first run on his second pitch - a 1-0 offering to Chih-Hsien Chiang which landed in the right-field bullpen. The shot was Chiang's first homer of 2013.

A few minutes later, it was 2-0 RoughRiders, Guilder Rodriguez scooting home after a single and stolen base on a perfectly-executed two-out hit-and-run with Hanser Alberto.

Corpus Christi first baseman Erik Castro began the home sixth by homering into the Frisco bullpen as well. The Hooks attempted to tie the game with an attempted steal of home, but Jiovanni Mier was retired on a low pitch and subsequent tag for the third out.

Castro's counterpart, Brett Nicholas, responded with a lead-off bomb of his own off Quevedo (1-3) in the seventh. Two of the next three hitters reached base, prompting a call to the Hooks bullpen for Alex Sogard. Rodriguez greeted him by depositing a two-run double inside the right-field line for a 5-1 Frisco advantage.

Quevedo's line: 1 1/3 innings, five hits, five runs, a walk and two strikeouts.

Then a Frisco error enabled Corpus Christi to climb back into the contest. Chiang, the RoughRiders left fielder, misplayed a two-out, bases-loaded fly ball off the bat of Castro and the Hooks pulled to within 5-4. 

Chaing's RBI ground out in the ninth added an insurance run and Wilmer Font earned his fifth save, fanning three in two innings.

RoughRider catcher Tomas Telis has a seven-game hitting streak.

Nick Tropeano (0-2) draws the pitching assignment Friday at 7:05 against Kevin Pucetas (4-2). Fans enjoy Bud Light Friday Fireworks postgame.