(5-3-08)

Ninth Not Nice to Hooks

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Two throwing errors and sacrifice flies by Sean Kazmar and Mike Baxter in the ninth inning gave San Antonio a 4-3 victory over Corpus Christi Saturday afternoon before 6,339.

In a game in which five of the seven runs scored on sacrifice flies, the Missions spoiled Chance Douglass' bid to become the winningest pitcher in Hooks history. Over eight innings, the 24-year-old right-hander permitted eight hits, two runs and fanned three. Douglass exited the game with a 3-2 lead, but after giving way to Jose Oyervidez for the ninth, throwing errors by third baseman Chris Johnson and catcher Jose Lopez set the stage for Kazmar and Baxter.

Johnson sailed his throw for a two-base error, allowing Seth Johnston to advance to second base. After Ray Chang walked, Johnston was hung up between second and third, but Lopez launched the ball into center field, enabling both runners to advance. Called on to pinch-hit, Kazmar's fly to center plated Johnston, and Baxter followed with another deep fly to Eli Iorg, scoring Chang with the winner.

Neil Jamison (1-1) picked up the win for San Antonio. Edwin Moreno pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save.

San Antonio pulled to within a run in the eighth on Kyle Blanks' two-out RBI.

The Missions took a 1-0 lead in the second. Chang looped a two-out double over second base and the ball was momentarily gloved by leaping second baseman Drew Sutton. Sutton lost control while trying to avert a collision with shortstop Tommy Manzella, who dove underneath him at the last instant. Matt Stocco then singled to left field.

Corpus Christi parlayed three straight singles at the start of the second into a 2-1 advantage. Ole Sheldon, Mitch Einertson and Johnson advanced station-to-station before consecutive sacrifice flies by Iorg and Lopez.

The Hooks added another run off San Antonio starter Steve Garrison two frames later as Sheldon moved home on Iorg's second sac fly to center.

Corpus Christi loaded the bases with none out in the fifth on singles by Douglass, Sutton and Manzella. The Hooks, however, came away empty when Billy Hart flied to right and Garrison induced a 6-4-3 double-play ball off the bat of Sheldon.

Garrison allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out one in 5 2/3 innings.

San Antonio's Mike Ekstrom (1-2) faces Sean Walker (1-2) Sunday at 2:05.

Copyright 2007 CC Hooks Baseball