Hooks Blitz Frisco for Seven in Seventh
CORPUS CHRISTI - Corpus Christi erupted for seven runs on seven hits in the seventh to dispatch Frisco 7-0 Wednesday at Whataburger Field before 5,278.
The Hooks took full advantage of Alec Asher's departure. The RoughRiders starter, who retired 16 straight Hooks between the first and seventh, permitted just two hits and recorded eight strikeouts. Sixty-five of his 93 pitches were strikes.
Asher (6-5) was removed after Nolan Fontana's lead-off single, the first component of Corpus Christi's blitz. Reliever Jimmy Reyes had a nightmarish experience, achieving just one out as the Hooks kept the line moving for a total of 11 batters. When the dust cleared, Reyes had been knocked around for six hits and five earned runs. Jonathan Meyer did the most damage with a three-run triple to left-center, his first three-bagger since 2012. Tyler Heineman posted a two-run double, Ruben Sosa an RBI triple and Carlos Perdomo a run-scoring single.
Hooks starter Luis Cruz and Asher traded blanks for four frames; 10 of the game's first 18 outs were strikeouts. Cruz fanned six, including five of Frisco's first six batters. The lefty was lifted when his pitch count reached 60 (36 strikes) 3 2/3 innings in for Tyson Perez (2-0). Though the Hooks committed three errors in Perez's 3 1/3 innings of work and he allowed five hits, they also made best friends with the pitcher's best friend.
The RoughRiders appeared poised to break through against him during the fifth. Ryan Rua and Odubel Herrera opened with singles and each advanced into scoring position as the result of throwing errors. Second baseman Fontana erased Rua at the plate on a tag by Heineman when Edwin Garcia bounced into a fielder's choice. Perez walked Jake Skole to load the bases, but then threw a 6-4-3 double-play ball to Teodoro Martinez.
Frisco threatened again the next inning, but Corpus Christi turned an identical twin killing and center fielder Andrew Aplin robbed Rua by making a diving catch with two aboard.
History repeated itself a second time in the seventh, Martinez again the victim. For the record, the rally-killers went shortstop Jio Mier to Fontana to Perdomo.
Jordan Jankowski (1-1) pitches Thursday night for Corpus Christi in a nationally-televised game on the CBS Sports Network. His opposition is Frisco left-hander Edwar Cabrera (2-3). First pitch 7:05.
The first 1,600 fans receive a Hooks 10th-Season Electric Orange T-Shirt from CPL Retail Energy. It's also Thirsty Thursday, with discounted beer and soda from Stripes.