(5-17-08)

RockHounds Blank Hooks
Mazzaro gets fifth win with six shutout innings

MIDLAND, Texas – Friday, the Hooks rode a six-run fifth inning to an 8-2 win in the series opener. Saturday, it was Midland’s turn to hang a six-spot on the scoreboard.

Aaron Cunningham homered and Nick Blasi drove in two runs with a single as Midland racked up six runs in the third on the way to an 8-0 whitewash of the Hooks at Citibank Ballpark. The RockHounds pull to within a game of the Hooks for second place in the Texas League South.

Corpus Christi starter Brian Bogusevic (0-4) opened the third by getting Justin Sellers on a come-back bouncer to the hill. Cunningham was next, and he lofted a 2-2 pitch just over the fence in right in front of the RockHounds’ bullpen for his second home run of the season and a 1-0 Midland lead.

Later, an RBI single by Joe Gaetti and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tommy Everidge pushed the score to 3-0. Blasi’s single brought in two more runs and Anthony Recker followed with an RBI single to left to make it 6-0.

Bogusevic settled down and retired seven in a row after the six-run barrage, but Blasi greeted him with a homer to the berm in left leading off the sixth to give the home team a 7-0 bulge. Later in the inning, Cunningham provided an RBI single for the game’s final run, ending Bogusevic’s night in the process.

Bogusevic allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings. He was relieved by Sean Walker, who tossed 2.2 innings of shutout ball.

Midland starter Vince Mazzaro (5-2) became the league’s third five-game winner with six shutout frames. He allowed three hits and four walks while striking out three.

Corpus Christi’s best scoring chance was erased by Midland shortstop Cliff Pennington, whose leaping catch of a line drive off the bat of Eli Iorg in the eighth came with two on and two out.

The result marked the third time this road trip and the sixth time this season that the Hooks have been shut out.

Hooks’ left fielder Billy Hart doubled off the left field wall with two out in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

Also Saturday, starting pitcher Chance Douglass learned of his promotion to Triple-A Round Rock. Douglass is expected to join the Express Sunday. Pitcher Tip Fairchild has been activated from the disabled list and is on his way to join the Hooks. Fairchild, recovering from “Tommy John” surgery, made two starts at the beginning of the 2007 season for the Hooks.

Sergio Perez (1-1) pitches for Corpus Christi in Sunday’s 2:00 p.m. start. Midland counters with Andrew Bailey (1-2).

Copyright 2007 CC Hooks Baseball