June 23, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI – Mitch Canham led off the 11th inning by drilling an 0-2 pitch into the visitors’ bullpen in right field as San Antonio edged Corpus Christi 3-2 Tuesday night at Whataburger Field before 5,903.

The Missions improved to 39-31. The Hooks are 31-39.

With Frisco’s 3-1 win over Midland at Dr Pepper Ballpark Tuesday, San Antonio captured the Texas League South Division first-half title. The RoughRiders-RockHounds final was announced during the ninth inning here.

T.J. Burton (0-2) suffered the loss. Rolando Valdez (1-0) claimed the victory with two frames of scoreless relief. The Missions bullpen corps of Scott Rice, Brandon Gomes, Carlos Guevara and Valdez teamed for 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

Corpus Christi starter Wilton Lopez turned in six solid innings. He permitted three hits, walked one and struck out seven. Fifty of Lopez’ 66 pitches were strikes and he retired 10 consecutive to complete his longest stint of 2009.

His counterpart, Ernesto Frieri, lasted 5 2/3. Frieri was touched for two runs, seven hits and two walks. He fanned six.

San Antonio took a 1-0 first-inning lead before Lopez settled in. A single by Eric Sogard and Lance Zawadzki’s two-out double generated the run.

The Hooks drew even in the fourth when Jhon Florentino and Wladimir Sutil tripled and doubled on consecutive pitches. They doubled the Missions an inning later as Collin DeLome stroked a lead-off triple and Drew Meyer followed with a sacrifice fly.

Cedric Hunter scored the tying run in the eighth off Ryan McKeller. He rapped a one-out single to right and advanced to third on Sogard’s single. Hunter sprinted home on catcher Jason Castro’s errant throw to second in an attempt to nab the stealing Sogard.

Castro extended his hitting streak with a fifth-inning single to 17 games overall, 12 in a Hooks uniform.

Corpus Christi’s Brad James (2-5) takes the mound Wednesday at 7:05 against Stephen Faris (3-8).

--CC Hooks