RockHounds Beat Hooks in Extras to Take Series

RockHounds 9, Corpus Christi Hooks 6 (10 innings)
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Whataburger Field      Corpus Christi, TX
A "botched bunt and a blast" carried the RockHounds to a 9-6 extra-innings win over the Corpus Christi Hooks Wednesday night at Whataburger Field. The victory also gave the 'Hounds the series, 2-games-to-1.
The 'Hounds broke a 4-4 tie, scoring five runs in the 10^th and did it with a rally ignited by a "successful failure." Luis Barrera's popped up his sacrifice bunt attempt with third baseman Abraham Toro playing in. Toro initially came toward home plate and the bunt sailed over his head and just out of reach … turning the failed sac into a bunt single. Lefty Jonathan Bermudez then struck out Mikey White and Tyler Ramirez before being lifted for Tommy De Juneas. Dairon Blanco jumped on the right-hander's 2-1 pitch and crushed a three-run home run to left center, a drive well in excess of 400 feet.
Chase Calabuig's single to left re-ignited the inning and, after Collin Theroux drew a walk, Brallan Perez doubled to right-center, scoring the fourth and fifth runs of the inning.
After retiring six consecutive batters, Jesus Zambrano (in just his third Double-A appearance) gave up two runs and had two men on base with two out in the home half of the 10^th. Closer Kyle Finnegan came in and ended the game when Chas McCormick's drive to deep right field found Barrera's glove.
The 'Hounds scored an unearned run in the first and added three more (earned) in the fourth inning. Blanco led the inning off with a triple, his league-leading seventh, just to left of the batter's eye. Calabuig followed with an RBI line drive single to right-center and Theroux ripped a double into the left field corner, scoring Calabuig.
 
McCormick opened the last of the fourth with his second single (and second stolen base) of the game and, after a walk to Abraham Toro, Seth Beer's RBI single got the Hooks on the board. Granden Goetzman was then robbed of a double on a sliding catch by Calabuig in left-center (Chase had robbed Goetzman on an even more sensational catch at the same spot in the second) but the drive brought home the Hook's second run (sac fly). Carlos Canelon (who entered Tuesday's game 1-for-12 and promptly went 3-for-3) sent Brian Howard's 3-1 pitch just over the left field wall an onto the grass berm for a game-tying, two-run home run.   The 4-4 tie would stand until the 10^th.
When Howard retired Luis Santana to end the fourth, it would be the first of 16 consecutive Hooks batters set down by 'Hounds pitching - - Howard retired his last four hitters … Angel Duno went two perfect innings … and Zambrano opened his appearance with 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth (he retired Toro, Beer and Goetzman in the ninth to send the game to extras).
Blanco and Perez led the RockHounds' 11-hit attack. Dairon went 2-for-5 with the club's two biggest swings of the game - - the triple and three-run HR. Brallan finished 3-for-4 with the two-run double in the 10^th (and added a walk), while Calabuig (two runs, RBI) and Barrera (two runs) added two-hit games and Theroux had an RBI double (plus a walk) and scored two runs.
The Pennant Race
Frisco took a major step toward the first half title in the South Division by completing a three-game sweep of the Sod Poodles at Amarillo with a 6-1 win Wednesday afternoon. The clubs entered the series in a first-place tie, so the sweep drops Amarillo three games back. The RoughRiders, who now come to Security Bank Ballpark for a four-game series, continue to be better on the road than at home. The Riders are 18-11 while playing out of the suitcase and 14-16 at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
Frisco (32-27) now leads Corpus Christi (29-29) by two-and-a-half games and Amarillo (28-29) by three (the 'Hounds remain four-and-a-half back at 27-31).  
There are 11 games remaining in the first half pennant race and the next four are the last head-to-head within the division in the half (cross-division play begins Tuesday, stretching over the end of the first half and start of the second). While the RockHounds host Frisco (see below), the Sod Poodles travel to Corpus Christi take on the Hooks.

Next Game
Thursday, June 6 vs. Frisco RoughRiders
Security Bank Ballpark           7:00 p.m. (Gates open 6:00)
- First of a four-game series and homestand
- Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 6:47 p.m.
Probable Starters                   
FRI: Jonathan Hernández     (RH,    2-3, 5.47)
RH: Kyle Friedrichs (RH,      0-2, 4.82)
The RockHounds host the Frisco RoughRiders in a "four-day weekend" at Rocky Town, June 6-9:
- Thirsty Thursday (June 6)  
- Kids Jersey Night (Friday, June 7)
- Fireworks (Saturday, June 8)
- Family Day (Sunday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m.)