Hooks and Express Dazzle in Futures Weekend Sweep

Minor League spring training features plenty of inter-squad exhibitions on the backfields in West Palm Beach, Florida but only in front of a smattering of fans. Ever think of how Kyle Tucker would at the plate do against J.B. Bukauskas? Or could Stephen Wrenn steal second on Garrett Stubbs? Thanks to Astros Futures Weekend, fans in Corpus Christi and Round Rock could find out for themselves ahead of the season.

The Hooks faced off with the Express first at Whataburger Field on March 30th, then they met again at Dell Diamond on March 31st as a final tune-up for the 2019 season. Despite a poorly timed cold front, the inaugural event was a success.

GAME 1 - WHATABURGER FIELD

In the midst of the sideways rain and winds sustained at 25 MPH, Hooks starter Tyler Ivey stood tall and struck out four of his first seven batters in the contest - including top prospects Myles Straw and Nick Tanielu.

Brady Rodgers watched from the Round Rock dugout and one-upped the 22-year-old Ivey. Of the eight outs Rodgers recorded, six were via consecutive strikeouts to close his start.

The unusual winds from the north played a huge factor on fly balls at the park. Turning several popups into dizzying adventures and blasts that would be homers into doubles or even outs.

Taylor Jones plated the games first run in the seventh on a base hit for the Express, but the Hooks' defense tightened to ensure that was the only one to cross. In all, the E-train left 10 runners on base in the contest.

Corpus Christi's offense stalled for a large portion of the contest with only one hit entering the ninth inning, still down 1-0. The top of the order loaded the bases with one out, then Granden Goetzman lined a single to tie the game.

Two batters later, with two strikes and two outs, backstop Chuckie Robinson lined a single down the left field line to win it for the Hooks 2-1. The walk-off also marked the first time the Hooks had ever defeated the Express at Whataburger Field.

GAME 2 - DELL DIAMOND

Sunday was a quick turnaround as Round Rock hosted the Hooks at Dell Diamond for a matinee. Despite a persistent wind as the last breath of winter in Texas, both offenses started hot.

The Hooks took initiative much sooner by scoring in the second inning thanks to a Stephen Wrenn single off Akeem Bostick. The lead would only last two pitches into the second, as Yordan Alvarez blasted a solo homer to right field.

Round Rock added another RBI from Taylor Jones to take a 2-1 lead which would hold until the fourth. Abraham Toro led off the frame with a walk (he would not be retired in five plate appearances on Sunday) and scored on an error to tie the contest. Robinson served as the DH in the finale and scored later in the frame as returning catcher Lorenzo Quintana brought him home with a single.

The fourth kicked off three consecutive frames with a run scored for the Hooks, building a 5-3 lead through six. Right-hander Brandon Bailey entered in the fifth for the Hooks, and performed to preserve the lead with three strikeouts over three innings.

The final blow came in the ninth with Goetzman at the plate. He lined a frozen rope onto the left field berm for a two-run homer and put the game on ice, 7-3. It was the only homer the Hooks hit on the weekend, but they sprinkled in three stolen bases, two triples, and drew four walks to supply the offense.