Blanco's Bomb Sinks Hooks in Extras

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Midland RockHounds scored five runs in the 10th inning to dash the Hooks' hopes of a walk-off win Wednesday at Whataburger Field in a 9-6 final.
With two on and two outs in a 4-4 game in the 10th, Jonathan Bermudez was lifted for Tommy DeJuneas to make his Double-A debut. He was rudely greeted by Dairon Blanco, who hit a 430-foot bomb to break the draw. The Hounds would add two more in the inning against DeJuneas (L, 0-1).
The Hooks made it interesting in the bottom of the 10th, plating two runs and bringing the tying run to the plate. But Midland went to surefire closer Kyle Finnegan (S, 8) who got Chas McCormick to line out for the final out of the game.

Corpus opened the game with a sloppy first inning, committing two errors behind starter Carson LaRue as the Hounds picked up an unearned run. LaRue was solid over the first three frames, but Midland got to him for three runs in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.
The Hooks looked hapless against righty Brian Howard for the first three stanzas, but changed pace in the fourth. Seth Beer deposited an RBI single and Granden Goetzman plated a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. Carlos Canelon hit his first career Double-A homer to level the game at 4-4 in the fourth.
But Midland pitching retired the next 17 Hooks hitters until a Chuckie Robinson single in the 10th.
McCormick went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases to lead the Hooks.
Brallan Perez went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk for Midland.
The Hooks begin a critical series with Texas League South foe Amarillo starting Thursday at 6:15 p.m. Righty J.B. Bukauskas (0-3, 6.92) is slated for Corpus against righty Lake Bachar (1-2, 5.31) for the Sod Poodles.