June 15, 2009

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Corpus Christi starter Polin Trinidad tossed eight shutout innings and got his first hit of the season to lead the Hooks to a 6-0 win over the Missions Monday night at Wolff Municipal Stadium.

Trinidad (6-4), named the Texas League’s Pitcher of the Week Monday for his seven shutout innings against Midland last Wednesday, allowed four hits and a season-high three walks Monday. He also recorded a season-best seven strikeouts while throwing 114 pitches.

His counterpart, Mat Latos, entered the game with a 3-0 record and a miniscule 0.79 ERA in four starts for the Missions. The Hooks couldn’t touch him through the fourth. Latos retired the first 12 men he faced, striking out nine.

Mark Ori, who lined out to short to open the second, started the top of the fifth with a double to right-center. Jason Castro sliced the next pitch into left-center for a single to chase Ori home, giving the Hooks a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Felix Molina reached with a bunt single and on the play, Castro scored as Latos, who fielded the bunt and threw toward first, was charged with a two-base throwing error.

The Hooks added a run in the sixth on singles by Wladimir Sutil and Drew Meyer and a sacrifice fly to deep right by Collin DeLome. Three more runs raced home in the ninth, with pinch hitter Jimmy Van Ostrand and Meyer each providing RBI singles.

Trinidad will carry a string of 17 consecutive innings without giving up a run into his next start. The Dominican native also collected his first hit of the year, leading off the eighth with a line-drive single to center.

Latos (3-1) fanned a season-high 12 batters during his 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and did not issue a walk. Latos and three San Antonio relievers totaled 19 strikeouts for the evening.

Game three of the series takes place Tuesday night at 7:05. Sergio Perez (4-5, 4.71) battles San Antonio’s Cesar Carillo (2-3, 4.70).

--CC Hooks