Santana, Hooks clinch second-half title

Corpus Christi has been without George Springer, the Texas League Player of the Year, since late June, when Springer was promoted to Double-A. That hasn't kept the Hooks from becoming the best team in the league.

Monday afternoon, Corpus Christi concluded its historic campaign, beating San Antonio, 7-6, on the strength of a pair of home runs and four RBIs from Houston's No. 9 prospect Domingo Santana. With the win, the Hooks clinched the Texas League South Division's second-half title while finishing with 83 wins -- the most victories in the league and in franchise history.

"It's pretty special," Corpus Christi manager Keith Brodie said. "I think it's a pretty good accomplishment, considering it's a long season.

"In the Minor Leagues, you never have the same team through the same season. To continue this through 140 games is pretty special in the Minor Leagues and here at this level."

After riding Springer's standout season to a first-half title, the Hooks edged out the Missions for the second-half title by a game. Both teams are headed to postseason play.

Corpus Christi was unable to capitalize on a chance to close out San Antonio on Sunday. The Hooks conceded the a 13-3 advantage to the Missions through the first five innings, before falling by a final score of 13-9.

The Hooks let the Missions take a 3-0 lead Monday, but were brought back by the 21-year-old Santana, who concluded a promising season as one of the league's youngest players. The outfielder belted a pair of home runs and became the first Hook to hit 25 long balls in a season since Koby Clemens mashed 26 homers in 2010.

Santana's first home run was a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth that tied the game, 3-3. The second -- his 25th this season -- came an inning later as Corpus Christi jumped to a 7-3 lead. Preston Tucker plated one run with an RBI single, and then Santana, with Tucker and Enrique Hernandez on base, mashed a no-doubter over the fence in left-center field for the four-run edge.

The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-native finished the regular season hitting .252 with an .842 OPS. He set a season low for strikeouts in August, striking out 19 times in 19 games to finish with 139 strikeouts in 112 games.

"He's still a young man," Brodie said. "He's still learning plate discipline. He has the bat speed, so when he hits the ball, it stays hit. He has power to all fields. He has to improve to be a viable Major League player. I'm certain and convinced he will be that with experience."

For San Antonio, Jake Blackwood homered, tripled, drove in two and scored twice.