June 25, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI – Polin Trinidad tossed a gem Thursday night, blanking San Antonio over eight innings in Corpus Christi’s second consecutive 1-0 victory against the Missions before 7,455 fans at Whataburger Field.

The Hooks (33-39), having earned a split of the four-game series, improve to 2-0 in the second half.

Corpus Christi’s run came in the eighth with two away. Collin DeLome stroked a one-out single to centerfield. In the next at-bat, DeLome stole his 10th base of the season and scampered to third on catcher Mitch Canham’s throw that sailed over second base and into center.

San Antonio (0-2, 39-33) reliever Brandon Gomes then induced a pop fly from Mitch Einertson for the second out. With pinch hitter Jimmy Van Ostrand at the plate, Gomes (4-1) uncorked a wild pitch, allowing DeLome to score the winning run.

Trinidad (7-5) yielded six hits and fanned three thru 92 pitches. The lefty is 3-1 in his last four starts, allowing one earned run over 31.1 innings.

T.J. Burton took care of the ninth for his 10th save of the season and second in as many nights.

The performance by Trinidad and DeLome spoiled a fine outing by Missions starter Mat Latos who retired 15 of the 16 men he faced. Latos left the game after tossing five innings of one-hit ball. He threw just 48 pitches, 36 for strikes.

The Hooks now head to Frisco for a four-game series against the RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Corpus Christi’s Sergio Perez (5-6) takes on Blake Beavan (0-0) in the opener Friday night.

--CC Hooks