Stassi Strikes Again
CORPUS CHRISTI - Max Stassi's double over the head of center fielder James Ramsey plated Zach Johnson for the decisive run as Corpus Christi beat Springfield 7-6 Friday in 10 innings before 5,932 at Whataburger Field.
The Hooks won the rubber match of a three-game series while improving to 5-4 in the second half of Texas League play. Springfield has an identical record.
Erik Castro opened the home 10th by lacing a single into right field off Deryk Hooker (1-3). One out later, Preston Tucker worked a full-count walk and Corpus Christi manager Keith Bodie replaced Castro with Johnson at second base. Then came Stassi and his 12th double of the year on an 0-2 offering.
Andrew Robinson (3-2), the fifth Hooks pitcher of the night, pitched a perfect 10th for the victory.
Springfield jumped on Matt Heidenreich for three runs on four hits in the second. After two fly ball outs, Jake Lemmerman and Luis Mateo stroked back-to-back singles before Audry Perez unloaded a two-run double to left. Mike O'Neill plated Perez with a two-bagger of his own.
The Hooks' five-run, four-hit third saw a smorgasbord of ways to advance around the bases. Rene Garcia (single), Castro (fielder's choice), Jonathan Meyer (sacrifice fly) and Tucker (double) produced RBIs. Corpus Christi was the beneficiary of two throwing errors and a wild pitch. Jiovanni Mier contributed a one-out double and later scored.
Heidenreich completed four innings, permitted six hits and fanned five.
Stassi's fourth home of 2013 - his third of the series - found the Hooks bullpen and extended the lead to 6-3 through six. That was all for Cardinals starter Seth Blair (two earned runs, five hits, one walk, six strikeouts).
Springfield posted three in the eighth off Jorge De Leon. Chris Swauger tripled to right-center and crossed when Xavier Scruggs lofted a sacrifice fly to right. Consecutive singles from Cody Stanley, Lemmerman and Mateo pulled the visitors within one and O'Neill's two-out safety knotted the affair.
The Cardinals outhit Corpus Christi 14-8. Hooks second baseman Enrique Hernandez has a seven-game hitting streak.
Corpus Christi changes opponents Saturday as the Tulsa Drillers come to town. Mike Foltynewicz (3-0) takes the ball at 6:05 vs. Christian Bergman (3-6). The first 2,000 fans receive a Hooks Jersey Tote from Sanders Morris Harris.