Singleton and Cisneros Clobber Hounds
The Hooks are 10-8 and have won five straight. The RockHounds stand 9-9.
Cisnero used a lot of bullets during a paradoxical first inning. He struck out the side in Conner Crumbliss, Michael Choice and Shane Peterson, but issued consecutive walks to Dusty Coleman and Josh Horton. In the process, Cisnero threw 25 pitches. His count an inning later was 51.
Through three, Cisnero had walked four and struck out seven. He recorded two more Ks in a three-up, three-down fourth.
His reward was Singleton's second Double-A home run, a shot left of the center-field batter's eye that extended the Hooks lead to 3-0. Singleton's third home run, a blast over the visitors bullpen in right field, capped a three-run seventh against reliever Brett Hunter.
Midland closed to 3-2 as Cisnero reached his limit of 111 pitches (65 strikes). Doubles from Ryan Ortiz and Choice and a three-base error by right fielder Jacob Goebbert interrupted another three-strikeout frame. Cisnero (2-1) allowed three hits and four walks over five.
The Hooks took both runs right back on an RBI ground out by Goebbert and Singleton's triple, leaving the first baseman a double shy of the cycle.
In all, Corpus Christi pitching logged 17 strikeouts. Arcenio Leon had four from the sixth through eighth.
Corpus Christi broke out of the box with a crooked number, putting up two runs against Sonny Gray. Singleton's single to center brought home Austin Wates (lead-off walk). Goebbert, who also singled, crossed on Brandon Barnes' bouncer to short.
Gray (1-2) lasted six innings and was responsible for seven hits, five runs and two walks. He fanned four.
Singleton has a six-game hitting streak, Wates five. Andy Simunic's two-run homer to left in the seventh gives him hits in a team-best seven straight.
Southpaw Brett Oberholtzer (1-0) draws the pitching assignment for Corpus Christi Wednesday against Murphy Smith (2-0).