Hooks & Bregman Bullish at The Wolff

SAN ANTONIO - Alex Bregman plated four runs and Brian Holmes pitched five solid frames Monday night as the Hooks blanked the Missions 8-0 in the series opener at Wolff Stadium.

Corpus Christi (21-15) has won 12 of its last 15 games and a season-high seven in a row.

Holmes, Michael Freeman and Chris Cotton spun the Hooks' Texas League leading sixth shutout victory. Corpus Christi pitchers have permitted just three runs in the last 29 innings. All of those runs came in the Frisco ninth Saturday, giving the Hooks 28 shutout frames during this stretch.

Monday's victory was costly as left-fielder Danry Vasquez and shortstop Mott Hyde sustained severe injuries while colliding in the first inning. Nelson Ward led off the frame with a flare into shallow left. Hyde made a sensational over-the-shoulder diving catch, but his head struck the left knee of a sliding Vasquez. Following a 45-minute delay, the two were carted off the field. Hyde, fully conscious, was able to stand under his own power before leaving the park via an ambulance.  

The Hooks jumped on Bryce Morrow (0-5) for a pair of runs in the first. Bregman blistered a double to center and Derek Fisher followed with a triple to left-center. Fisher came home on the play thanks to a throwing error by Missions shortstop Jose Rondon.

Fisher's double in the third keyed another CC tally. James Ramsay, who worked a lead-off walk, came home on an RBI groundout by J.D. Davis.

In the fifth, Chan-Jong Moon and Ramsay reached on a single and walk, respectively. The pair scampered home when Bregman ripped another two-bagger, this one to right-center.

The 5-0 edge was more than enough for Holmes (3-1), who yielded three singles and three walks. He struck out six and stranded six.

In the seventh, Bregman walked and advanced to third on Davis' double down the left-field line off Ramon Benjamin. Teoscar Hernandez made it 6-0 with a sac fly.

Bergman's two-run bomb in the ninth off Kyle Lloyd capped his 3-for-4 night, and extended the Hooks' home-run streak to nine games. Corpus Christi is second in Minor League Baseball with 44 homers.

Freeman and Cotton each worked two innings of relief. The southpaws teamed to leave three on base.

Catcher Roberto Pena, appearing for the fifth time in his career at second base, made the turn on a 6-4-3 double play to help clean up the ninth.

Francis Martes (2-2, 7.06) gets the ball for Corpus Christi Tuesday night. The Missions (12-24) send Luis Diaz (2-3, 5.58) to the hill. First pitch is 7:05.