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'Hounds rally late to take opener at Corpus Christi

Two eighth-inning runs lead RockHounds to 3-1 win over Hooks
(Richard A. Acosta)
May 12, 2017

After a one-day reprieve in the form of the Texas League's lone off-day in a 39-day stretch, the Corpus Christi Hooks were looking to end an eight-game losing streak and were taking aim at the team responsible for the first four of those defeats - the RockHounds. The Hooks broke a

After a one-day reprieve in the form of the Texas League's lone off-day in a 39-day stretch, the Corpus Christi Hooks were looking to end an eight-game losing streak and were taking aim at the team responsible for the first four of those defeats - the RockHounds. 
The Hooks broke a scoreless tie in the fourth and carried the 1-0 lead into the eighth, when the 'Hounds manufactured a pair of runs for a 2-1 lead, going on to a 3-1 win on Thursday night at Whataburger FIeld, their eighth in the last nine games.

Garrett Stubbs drew a one-out walk from RockHounds starter Heath Fillmyer in the fourth. Stubbs stole second and scored the game's first run on a double to the right-center field gap off the bat of Alejandro Garcia.
The RockHounds got on the board in the eighth inning with Richie Martin sending a one-out double to the base of the left field wall off reliever Eric Peterson. With the Hooks defense strongly shading to the right side, Brett Vertigan pushed a perfect bunt up the third base line for a single, moving Martin to third. From there, J.P. Sportman sent a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Martin and tying the game.

Left-hander Michael Freeman relieved Peterson and was greeted by a single up the middle from B.J. Boyd, putting runners at the corners. Tyler Marincov fell behind Freeman on back-to-back swing-and-misses, then lined the 0-2 pitch up the right field line for the go-ahead single. The 'Hounds added an insurance run on a walk, a single by Vertigan and two wild pitches in the ninth, building the lead to 3-1.
The 'Hounds bullpen delivered five scoreless innings, two each from Brandon Mann and Lou Trivino and a 1-2-3 ninth from Kyle Finnegan. Trivino (4-0, 0.61) was the winner with Finnegan earning his fifth save in as many chances.
Quick Notes:
The RockHounds won for the eighth time in their last nine games and are 11-3 in their last fourteen. The 'Hounds are now 7-2 against Corpus Christi for the season and have won six straight in the season series.
San Antonio stayed red hot with a 5-4 home win over Frisco, staying in a first-place tie with the RockHounds and winning for the ninth time in their last 10 games.
Brett Vertigan (2-for-5, run) extended his on-base streak to 20 games and his eighth-inning bunt single was a critical hit in the win.
Max Schrock (1-for-4, double) extended his hit streak to 12 games (19-for-51, .373).
Viosergy Rosa (1-for-3, double, walk) extended a pair of streaks in the win. Rosa has now hit in nine straight games (15-for-32, .469) and has reached base in 12 straight (18-for-43, .419). In that nine-game stretch, the RockHounds' first baseman reached base in 22-of-39 plate appearances (.564 OBP).
B.J. Boyd went 1-for-4 with a key single in the game-winning rally (and narrowly missed a double or perhaps a home run with a drive to the left field wall in the fourth). The league's leading hitter has now reached base in 26-of-28 games (with at least one at-bat) and has hits in 23-of-27 games (with at least one at-bat).
Brandon Mann extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1, over his last five outings.  
The 'Hounds and Hooks meet Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m., followed by a 2:05 p.m. Sunday matinee.
The road swing continues with a four-game series at Frisco (next Monday through Thursday).
Friday's pitching match-up looks as good, at least on paper, as any in Minor League Baseball. The Hooks send right-hander Dean Deetz (3-0, 0.79) against the RockHounds' Corey Walter (2-0, 1.29).
Thursday marked the start of a stretch in which the RockHounds play 14 of their next 18 games on the road.