Brown Stays Hot in Win Over Hooks

In a game that saw 13 runs and 25 hits, it was a defensive miscue that started the game-winning rally and a pair of brilliant catches that slammed the door in the RockHounds' 7-6 victory Friday night at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi took a 6-5 lead into the eighth when leadoff batter Bret Siddall's pop-up in front of home plate was dropped by Hooks catcher Jamie Ritchie. Richie Martin's third hit (and second double) of the game put runners at second and third and singles from Brett Vertigan and Eli White forged and broke a tie, respectively, giving the 'Hounds a 7-6 advantage.
The Hooks had a man on with one out in the ninth when Vertigan made a diving catch on Josh Rojas' sinking line drive to center field. Corpus Christi had runners at the corners and two out when Carmen Benedetti sent a shot to right-center with Vertigan, again, making the catch, this one a tremendous sliding grab to end the game.
The Hooks took a 4-1 lead early before Seth Brown's two-run home run brought the 'Hounds to within a run in the fourth. Martin's two-out single rekindled the rally and the RockHounds tied the game on Eli White's scratch single (scoring Martin.) Brown's two-out double in the fifth was followed by Tyler Marincov's RBI single to left, giving the 'Hounds a 5-4 lead. Corpus Christi's two-run sixth inning put the Hooks back on top, 6-5, in a game that saw four ties and three lead changes before Vertigan's two web gems ended the final threat.
The RockHounds' win evens the four-game series at a game apiece and pushes the 'Hounds (19-15) one game ahead of the Hooks (18-16) in the Texas League South. First place San Antonio (24-10), with a comeback win over Frisco, leads the RockHounds by five, the Hooks by six and the RoughRiders by 17 games.  
   
Notables                                                                                                                                          
Seth Brown's two-run home run in the fourth inning extended his hit streak to 11 games. The 'Hounds first baseman, who was hitting .194 on April 28, is now hitting .279 for the season. He is 18-for-43 (.419) in the 11-gamer, with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI (corrected) and two stolen bases (his first two of the season, both in the Frisco series).
Eli White (2-for-4, RBI, walk, steal) has reached in 16 straight games (18-60, .300) and is hitting .320 (24-for-76) in his last 19 games.
Richie Martin (3-for-5, two doubles, two runs) has reached base in seven straight games (hits in six of the seven). In the seven games, Richie is 8-25 (.320), with three doubles, a triple, two RBI and four walks.
Brett Vertigan (2-for-5, game-tying RBI) has now reached in 19-of-20 games (19-70. .271) with 17 walks, 12 strikeouts and one hit by pitch, for a .420 OBP).
The 'Hounds seven-run, 13-hit attack came despite the club's top two hitters, Sean Murphy and Tyler Ramirez, going a combined 0-for-10. Tyler saw a 13-game on-base streak come to an end and "Murph" lost a 10-game on-base streak in the game (both went 0-for-5).
 
Completely Useless But Kinda Cool Stat(s)                                                
In the first two games of the series, the RockHounds have struck out 31 times …. and have split the two games.
Next Game                                
Saturday, May 12       vs. Corpus Christi Hooks
Whataburger Field      Corpus Christi, Texas
First pitch 7:05 p.m.               
Radio: NewsTalk 550 with Bob Hards ... airtime 7:00 p.m.
- Third of a four-game series and seventh of an eight-game (nine-day) road trip
Probable Starters            
CC:                       Brock Dykxhoorn           (RH, 2-0, 1.71)
RH:                       Corey Walter       (RH, 2-3, 5.80)
Next at Security Bank Ballpark            
May 14-21 vs. Frisco RoughRiders & San Antonio Missions