Tucker Saves the Day
TULSA, OK - On his 23rd birthday, Preston Tucker hit his first Double-A home run and cracked a two-out, two-run triple in the ninth inning as the Hooks swiped a 4-2 victory from the Drillers on Saturday night at ONEOK Field.
Corpus Christi, trailing 2-1, was down to its final out in the ninth when Domingo Santana sent a flare toward the left side of the diamond that fell safely on the grass for an infield hit. Cole White, who had converted his last nine save chances, then walked Jonathan Meyer, bringing Tucker to the plate. The former Florida Gator jumped on the first pitch, searing a line drive to the gap in left-center. Jaron Shepherd and Delta Cleary, Jr., both attempted a diving catch but the pair collided on the warning track and the ball was not secured. Tucker, who later scored on a wild pitch, accounted for all four Hooks runs.
Patrick Urckfitz earned the victory after notching a scoreless eighth and Jorge De Leon fashioned a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
David Martinez turned in a stellar start for Corpus Christi. He worked around eight hits and one walk while stranding seven thru 5.2 innings. The lone run charged to Martinez came on a two-out RBI double by Shepherd.
Matt Heidenreich yielded a lead-off home run to Kiel Roling in the seventh as Tulsa took a 2-1 lead.
Tucker, who leads the minor leagues with 79 RBIs, belted a two-out home run off Tyler Matzek in the second. The laser shot which cleared the short fence in right marked his first hit as a Hook against a left-handed pitcher.
The series continues Sunday night when Sean Gallagher (4-2, 1.76) takes on Corpus Christi's Nick Tropeano (2-6, 4.40). First pitch is 7:05.