Gallo tips the scale

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (JUNE 20, 2014) - Joey Gallo knocked a three-run home run to the berm in right-center field and the Frisco RoughRiders fended off the Corpus Christi Hooks in a 3-0 win Saturday night at Whataburger Field.

Gallo's moon shot is his 27th of the season, the most in Minor League Baseball (and Major League Baseball). The 6-foot-5, 230-pound slugger has six jacks with the RoughRiders. Gallo has homered on consecutive nights and has four career long balls in seven games against the Hooks.

Corpus Christi's Mike Hauschild (1-3) surrendered the home run to Gallo and took the loss. Hauschild perplexed the RoughRiders through six innings and did not concede a hit. The righty allowed one baserunner in that span on a walk to Patrick Cantwell in the fourth.

It was Cantwell who broke Hauschild's no-hit bid in the seventh with a leadoff single. Trever Adams advanced Cantwell up a bag on another base knock, which set up Gallo's antics on the first pitch of the next at-bat.

The win is the eighth shutout of the season for Frisco (2-2; 42-31), now ahead 2-1 in the series and 4-6 on the 11-game road trip (shortened from 12 because of a postponed game in Midland).

Corpus Christi (1-4; 35-40) drops to 7-12 against the 'Riders this season and has fallen in four of its first five games to open the second half.

Frisco concentrated all of its hits and runs within one inning, but it was enough to get the win for Alec Asher (7-6), who snapped a personal two-game losing streak. Asher lasted six innings and allowed six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.  

The Hooks' best chance to score came in the fifth inning. A successful bunt single from Delino DeShields, Jr. placed runners at first and third with one out.

Corpus Christi hoped small ball tactics would translate to runs, but on this night, a poor bunt from Ruben Sosa resulted in a key out at the plate for the RoughRiders as Asher fielded the nubber and flipped to catcher Tomás Telis, who tagged his counterpart Tyler Heineman to keep the Hooks scoreless.

When Asher exited after the sixth, Frisco received scoreless single innings from pitchers Wilmer Font in the seventh and Francisco Mendoza in the eighth.

That set the scene for Phil Klein who secured his tenth save of the season and retired all three batters faced in succession.

Frisco's series with Corpus Christi concludes on Sunday at 6:10 p.m. CDT from Whataburger Field. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on www.ridersbaseball.com with the Frisco RoughRiders Pregame Show.

The 'Riders next play at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Wednesday, June 25 against the Arkansas Travelers at 7:05 p.m. For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.