(5-4-08)

Macias, Missions Manage Hooks

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Drew Macias homered and scored twice to lead San Antonio past Corpus Christi 5-3 Sunday afternoon before 7,373.

The Missions are 14-15, the Hooks 16-14.

Macias led off the game by driving Sean Walker's 1-1 pitch over the right field fence and into the swimming pool.

San Antonio doubled its lead in the third when Macias ripped a one-out double down the right-field line and Chad Huffman looped a single up the middle.

The Hooks powered their way to a 3-2 advantage an inning later. With Eli Iorg aboard after a one-out single, Chris Johnson homered to the bullpen in left-center. The next batter, Lou Santangelo, deposited Mike Ekstrom's offering in the right-field bullpen.

San Antonio regained the lead at 4-3 in the sixth. Kyle Blanks reached on a fielding error by Johnson at third base and moved into scoring position when Seth Johnston walked. A Mike Baxter single to right plated Blanks and Johnston scored the go-ahead run when Ray Chang bounced into a fielder's choice.

Walker fell to 1-3. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and was responsible for six hits, three earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts.

San Antonio added insurance in the seventh off reliever German Melendez. Brett Dowdy reached on an infield single and free passes to Huffman, Johnston and Baxter pushed across the Missions' fifth run. Ryan Thompson came on to retire the next two batters. He worked the final 2 2/3 innings and fanned five.

Neil Jamison loaded the bases in the home eighth on Rob Cosby's one-out double, a single by Iorg and walk to Johnson. Missions manager Bill Masse summoned closer Edwin Moreno, who immediately induced a double-play grounder from Lou Santangelo to end the threat. Moreno worked the ninth for his eighth save.

Ekstrom, who permitted three runs on seven hits in five innings, improved to 2-2. Greg Burke kept Corpus Christi off the board in the sixth and seventh. He struck out three.

Dowdy paced San Antonio with three hits. His second base counterpart, Drew Sutton, had three as well.

Aces square off Monday as Corpus Christi's Brad James (3-2) faces Will Inman (3-1) at 7:05.

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