(3-30-08)

Express Play Long Ball with Hooks
RR wins exhibition finale 5-0

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Home runs by Reggie Abercrombie, J.R. House and Danny Klassen and solid pitching by the Express carried Round Rock to a 5-0 win over the Hooks and Astros starter Chris Sampson Sunday afternoon at Whataburger Field. The game was the final exhibition for both clubs in preparation for the regular season.

Abercrombie, one of five Express players in the line-up with major league experience, hit the first pitch of the game from Sampson onto the berm in left for a 1-0 Round Rock lead. Sampson gave up another run in the second when Edwin Maysonet bounced into a double play on the heel of back-to-back singles by Jonny Ash and Yordany Ramirez.

Sampson, slated to start for the Astros in this Friday’s series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, threw just 56 pitches in his six innings on the hill Sunday. He allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out one.

The Express tacked on late runs with the long ball. House, who entered the game in the sixth behind the plate, slugged a two-run shot in the eighth off Brian Bogusevic. Klassen, who played at third, mashed a solo homer in the ninth off German Melendez.

Jack Cassel tossed five innings of shutout ball to get the win. He scattered four singles and hit two batters while notching a pair of punch-outs.

Third baseman Chris Johnson paced the Hooks effort with a 3-for-4 day that included a stolen base. Second baseman Drew Sutton went 2-for-2.

Brad James is expected to be the starting pitcher when the Hooks open their fourth season of play this Thursday night at Whataburger Field against the Tulsa Drillers. Thursday’s game begins at 7:05 p.m.

Copyright 2007 CC Hooks Baseball