Mendez Handcuffs Hooks

CORPUS CHRISTI - Lefty Yohander Méndez fired six innings of one-run ball Friday night as Frisco forced a split of the four-game series with a 3-1 triumph over the Hooks at Whataburger Field.

Mendez limited Corpus Christi (30-30) to three singles over the first five frames. The Hooks' lone marker came on a two-out RBI single by Jamie Ritchie in the sixth.
The reigning Texas League co-Pitcher of the Week issued two walks and struck out a season-high nine batters.
Mendez (4-3) outdueled Framber Valdez, making his Double-A debut. Valdez surrendered a lead-off double to Michael De Leon in the third. De Leon advanced to third via a sac bunt and groundout. He scored when Valdez uncorked a wild pitch.
The De Leon double stood as Frisco's (27-33) lone hit until Andy Ibáñez's one-out single in the sixth. Ibanez went to second on a wild pitch and came home when Juremi Profar punched a single into center.
Valdez (0-1) worked around four walks and three hits in six innings. The 23-year-old lefty fanned three, throwing 47 of 87 pitches for strikes.
In the Riders seventh, Michael O'Neil launched an 0-1 pitch from Sean Stutzman into the left-field bullpen. O'Neil's third blast in as many nights made it 3-1 Frisco.
Riders reliever Cody Palmquist retired six of the seven men he faced. Reed Garrett handled the ninth for his fifth save.
Corpus Christi travels to San Antonio for a critical four-game series. Kyle Smith (2-1, 2.63) engages Missions right-hander Brett Kennedy (5-3, 4.00) in Saturday's opener. First pitch 7:05 at Wolff Stadium.