May 6, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI – Mitch Einertson’s two-out, ninth-inning single scored Wladimir Sutil from second base to give Corpus Christi a 6-5 victory over San Antonio Tuesday before 6,688.

The Hooks, 18-14, earned a split in the four-game series between I-37 rivals. San Antonio is 14-17.

Corpus Christi overcame an early deficit to win for the second straight night. The Missions scored five runs over the first three innings.

San Antonio closer Edwin Moreno (0-2), seeking his ninth save, was greeted in the ninth by a double to left-center off the bat of Lou Santangelo. Sutil, pinch-hitting for Evan Englebrook (1-1), attempted a sacrifice bunt. Sutil’s slow roller stayed just fair 40 feet up the line. After Drew Sutton fanned for the first out of the inning, Tommy Manzella’s sacrifice fly to center plated Santangelo from third. Sutil alertly advanced to second and dashed home with the winning run when Einertson’s sharp grounder glanced off the glove of third baseman Seth Johnston.

As was the case in the first three games, San Antonio took a first-inning lead with a home run. Brett Dowdy singled up the middle and Chad Huffman went deep to left for a 2-0 Missions lead.

Matters worsened for Hooks starter Brian Bogusevic in the second when Johnston ripped a solo blast to left, his fifth round-tripper of 2008.

San Antonio twice added on in the third. Singles by Dowdy, Huffman and Kyle Blanks produced the Missions’ fourth run. Huffman and Blanks each moved up a base on a passed ball by Santangelo before Johnston’s RBI grounder.

Bogusevic, lifted after four innings for Jose Oyervidez, was charged with seven hits, four earned runs and a walk. He struck out one.

Oyervidez (two) and Englebrook (three) combined for five shutout innings.

Corpus Christi cut the advantage to 5-2 during the fourth. Ole Sheldon and Billy Hart scored on ground outs after singling and doubling to left-center, respectively.

An inning later, Hart’s first homer of the year, a two-run blast to left, trimmed the margin to one.

Missions starter Stephen Faris worked five innings and was responsible for six hits and a walk. Greg Burke and Neil Jamison teamed for three scoreless frames.

Frisco visits the Hooks for a four-game series beginning Wednesday at 7:05. Corpus Christi’s Sergio Perez (0-0) and Michael Schlact (1-1) are the probable starters.

-Matt Hicks