Deetz Dominant in Debut
CORPUS CHRISTI - Dean Deetz struck out a career-high nine over six shutout innings in his Double-A debut as Corpus Christi blanked San Antonio 6-0 Sunday at Whataburger Field before 4,516.
At 80-52, the Hooks are a season-best 28 games over .500 and have reached the 80-win mark in four of the last five campaigns. Corpus Christi stands 33-29 in Texas League second-half play. The Missions are 55-77 and 33-29.
Deetz (1-0), who allowed six hits and struck out all nine men swinging, did not walk a batter. Sixty-four of his 89 pitches were strikes.
Houston's 11th-round selection in the 2014 draft out of Northeast Oklahoma A&M worked his way out of a significant second-inning challenge. After River Stevens reached on an infield single and Taylor Lindsey laid down a bunt hit against the shift, Deetz consecutively whiffed Luis Tejada, Josh VanMeter, and Nelson Ward by mixing his fastball and slider.
J.D. Davis then extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his 21st home run, a 409-foot shot off Daniel McCutchen. It was Davis' fifth yard shot and 12th RBI during the run.
Not to be outdone, Chase McDonald cranked his 17th home run on the first pitch of the home fifth. It traveled 404 feet to left.
Deetz left two men in scoring position during the sixth after a one-out single from Rocky Gale and Nick Schulz's ground-rule double. Deetz logged his eighth and ninth strikeouts by fanning Gabriel Quintana and Stevens.
Corpus Christi posted three sixth-inning runs, two of which crossed on a throwing error charged to third baseman VanMeter. He fielded Drew Ferguson's grounder and threw homeward over catcher Gale's head. Davis (double) and McDonald (RBI single) contributed hits.
McCutchen (1-1) lasted six frames and was charged with three earned runs and six hits. He walked and struck out two.
Ryan Deemes and Kevin Comer provided scoreless relief out of the Hooks bullpen, the latter putting down a bases-loaded ninth-inning threat.
The Hooks, who've won 10 of 13 and five consecutive series, stand 20-4 vs. San Antonio this year, 12-1 at Whataburger Field. Corpus Christi's 17-8 record is the league's best in August.
Hooks left-hander Kent Emanuel (5-3) faces Seth Simmons (2-3) in Corpus Christi's regular-season home finale Monday at 7:05.
Mrs Baird's presents $1 Hot Dogs & Soda.