MIDLAND - Kevin Hill and Alex Winkelman combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, and centerfielder Myles Straw turned in two outfield assists Friday night as the Hooks beat Midland, 6-3, in the series finale at Security Bank Ballpark.Corpus Christi (17-11) struck first, scoring three first inning runs against
MIDLAND - Kevin Hill and Alex Winkelman combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, and centerfielder Myles Straw turned in two outfield assists Friday night as the Hooks beat Midland, 6-3, in the series finale at Security Bank Ballpark.
Corpus Christi (17-11) struck first, scoring three first inning runs against Joel Seddon. Ryne Birk notched the first of his two RBIs with a run-scoring single into center field.
Hooks lefty Cionel Pérez used 63 pitches in 2 2/3 frames. The Hounds (15-13) got to him for one run on four hits and two walks.
Hill (1-1) recorded the final out in the third, leaving two on base to preserve a 3-1 lead. The right-hander from Tecumseh, OK worked around a two-out single in the fourth and stranded the bases loaded in the fifth.
Carmen Benedetti opened the fifth with a triple into the right-field gap. Benedetti promptly scored on Yordan Alvarez's sac fly to center field.
Midland countered with a pair in the sixth, cutting Corpus Christi's lead to 4-3. Mikey White greeted Brendan Feldmann with a home run into the left-field bullpen. Tyler Ramirez then cracked a two-out RBI double.
The Hooks matched the Hounds in the seventh with Taylor Jones and Birk driving in runs. Jones went 1-for-2 with two walks and hit by pitch, raising his season batting average to a Texas League best .388. Benedetti, who scored on Jones' seventh-inning single, went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. He was inserted as a pinch hitter in the second as Stephen Wrenn left the game due to injury.
Seth Brown began the home seventh with a double into right field. One out later, Straw caught a deep drive to the wall in left-center by Marincov, and then doubled up Brown at second base to end the threat.
White and Richie Martin worked walks to start the Midland eighth. Brett Vertigan lifted a fly ball into the right-center ally. Both runners tagged on the play but Straw cut down Martin a second base for another double play.
Winkelman retired the next four hitters, striking out three, for his first career save.
The Hooks continue their road trip with a four-game set in San Antonio. Hard-throwing right-hander Josh James (0-0, 1.80) gets to the ball for Corpus Christi in Saturday's series opener. First pitch 7:05.
