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Hooks tally a dozen in big sixth inning

Singleton homers twice as team sets club record with 20 runs
August 13, 2012
Corpus Christi had already posted a season-high 11-run inning this month. The Hooks decided to one-up themselves Sunday.

Houston's Double-A affiliate scored 12 times against Springfield on eight hits and five walks in the sixth frame to coast to a 20-9 win at Whataburger Field. The 12 runs set a franchise record for runs in an inning and the 20 tallies were the most the Hooks had ever put together in an entire game.

"It was crazy," said Hooks shortstop Ben Orloff, who finished 5-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored and missed the cycle by a homer. "We were almost laughing in the dugout, because I don't think any one of us has ever been involved in an inning quite like that. It's just one of those moments when everything seemed to be going our way."

Corpus Christi entered the frame down, 6-4, and the Hooks spotted the visitors an out on Jair Fernandez's leadoff groundout.

Orloff responded with a double, which was followed two consecutive singles and three straight walks -- the last coming with the bases loaded. Sandwiched in between that run were two wild pitches that allowed two runs to score, giving the Hooks four tallies before they recorded their next out.

Pinch-hitter Bobby Borchering struck out as a pinch-hitter to break up the run, but Fernandez's bases-loaded free pass kept the carousel turning for the fifth tally. Then it was Orloff's turn again.

"You just try to keep the same approach," he said. "Even though you're batting for the second time, all I'm trying to do is get guys home."

The 25-year-old did just that. He tripled to clear the bags, followed by three consecutive doubles by Enrique Hernandez, Austin Wates and Robbie Grossman. Andrew Simunic's RBI single closed out the scoring before Jonathan Singleton flied out to end the inning after 16 total batters came to the plate.

Although the 12 runs marked a season-high tally for the Hooks, Orloff -- whose five hits on the night tied a franchise record -- said the team has shown confidence at the plate.

"We scored 11 times in an inning last week [on Aug. 4], so we kind of knew we had it in us," said the shortstop. "But it's still always fun when something like this happens."

The night's scoring still wasn't complete. The Cardinals posted three runs in the top of the eighth, and the Hooks responded once more with four in the bottom half of the inning. Three came via a homer by Singleton -- the Astros' top prospect also went deep in the first.

The first baseman finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs, three runs scored and one walk. He is 6-for-15 with three homers and nine RBIs in his last three games.

"Yeah, he's good," Orloff said of Singleton. "He's a great middle-of-the-lineup bat for us and his power, it's impressive. That second homer was just a crazy line drive all the way to the bullpen in left-center. It's fun to watch him hit in batting practice and in games like tonight."

Cardinals shortstop Greg Garcia tripled, doubled and four RBIs. First baseman Xavier Scruggs added three RBIs and scored twice.

Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MLB.com.