Missions’ first baseman Kyle Blanks, a Paul Bunyan-esque figure standing 6’6” and weighing 270 pounds, had not hit a home run in his last 12 games. He remedied that drought Tuesday night at the expense of the Hooks.
Blanks swatted his 11th homer of the year with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Missions to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Hooks in the opener of this three-game series at Wolff Municipal Stadium.
Trailing 2-1, the Missions got a leadoff single in the eighth from pinch hitter Drew Macias. Jon Schemmel pinch ran for Macias and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gabe Lopez. Mike Baxter’s ground-ball out moved Schemmel to third.
Chad Huffman was up next and drew a walk on eight pitches from reliever Ryan McKeller, who had kept the Missions off the board in the sixth and seventh. A borderline check-swing and a close call on McKeller’s 3-2 pitch enabled Huffman to reach first.
That brought Blanks to the plate, and he erased his 0-for-3 night with a blast onto the berm in left to give the Missions a 4-2 lead. Blanks last homered as a pinch hitter in a July 6 game at Tulsa.
The Hooks grabbed the lead in the fifth on a two-run single to center by Drew Sutton. Mitch Einertson’s single, a walk by Jose Lopez and a sacrifice bunt by starting pitcher Tip Fairchild set the table for Sutton.
The Missions tallied in their half of the fifth on a single by Jose Lobaton, a double by Seth Johnston and an RBI ground-ball out off the bat of Sean Kazmar.
The result spoiled a terrific effort by Fairchild, who retired the first 10 men he faced and carried a no-hitter into the fifth. He allowed a run on two hits and a pair of walks over five innings while notching three strikeouts.
McKeller (3-5) suffered the loss despite pitching well. He was charged with three runs on three hits and a walk during his three frames of work. He also fanned three.
The game was the first for Einertson since he injured his left knee in a game at Frisco June 21. Einertson finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a walk, one steal and an RBI.
Bud Norris (3-3) ascends the hill for Corpus Christi in Wednesday night’s 7:05 start. He’ll be opposed by San Antonio southpaw Steve Garrison (6-5).
Leave the rain and wind behind. Your Corpus Christi Hooks return to Whataburger Field for seven games beginning Friday. The Midland RockHounds provide opposition Friday through Monday with I-37 rival San Antonio following Tuesday through Thursday.
Here’s a look at it all, night-by-night:
Friday, July 25, Hooks vs. Midland RockHounds, 7:05 – Youth 18-and-under receive a complimentary Bionicle Comic Book, presented by LEGO.
Rodeo Night at the ballpark means Western fun for everyone. Don’t be bashful, blaze new trails with those seldom-used frontier threads. If you Go Texan all the time, just come as you are.
Stop by Hook, Line & Sinker and purchase a Disheveled Hooks Cap at half price. Yes, brand-spanking new, but disheveled nonetheless.
Friday Fireworks, presented by Bud Light & K-99
Saturday, July 26, Hooks vs. RockHounds, 7:05 –The first 2,500 fans pick up a Hooks Umbrella, sponsored by Wells Fargo.
The specials continue at Hook, Line & Sinker. Swing by for 50 percent off 2008 Hooks Pennants.
Saturdays at the Ballpark, presented by KIII-TV
Sunday, July 27, Hooks vs. RockHounds, 6:05 – The first 1,500 kids
12-and-under receive a Vote Hooks Rusty/Sammy Double Bobblehead, courtesy of Landlord Resources.
Rusty’s Kids Club Party, open only to RKC members, runs from 4:30-7:30. Unlimited Kids Zone fun via a special wristband and exciting inflatables and carnival games in the Right Field plaza anchor the action.
And, while you’re nearby, drop in Hook, Line & Sinker for half-off Hooks Youth Line Drive Caps.
All youngsters run the bases postgame. Mariachis provide pregame entertainment on the main concourse from 12:30-1:45.
H-E-B Kids’ Day, presented by KSAB-FM & KUNO-AM
Monday, July 28, Hooks vs. RockHounds, 7:05 – It’s Hooks Heroes Night, featuring
former player and coach Todd Self. Just $5 nets a Self t-shirt, hot dog and soda, subject to availability. Ask at the Whataburger Field Box Office for details.
After Self t-shirts sell out, it’s still $1 hot dogs and soda. Or, if you prefer to pass on the Self t-shirt, it’s still $1 hot dogs and soda. You get the idea.
One Dollar Hot Dogs and Soda, presented by Mrs. Baird’s
Tuesday, July 29, Hooks vs. San Antonio Missions, 7:05 – In an ongoing state-wide child safety initiative, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and members of his staff will be on hand to distribute flash drives to parents. These drives capture photographs and vital information utilized by law enforcement in missing child cases.
Pick up a Hooks Shattered-Window Ball at Hook, Line & Sinker for half-price.
Half-Price Group Night, presented by Champion Automotive
Wednesday, July 30, Hooks vs. Missions, 7:05 – Josh Anderson Figurines to the first 2,500, compliments of CITGO.
Enjoy Brooks’ Buffet in Kieschnick’s Korner. For just $14 per person, you get
all-you-can-eat hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and cold drinks… including fountain soda, bottled water and iced tea. Twenty-four ounce beer is just $5.50.
Call 561-HOOK or drop by the Whataburger Field Box Office.
Ladies, Hook, Line & Sinker has that Hooks Jersey Tote Bag you’ve been eyeing for 25 percent off.
Whataburger Fan Day, presented by Whataburger and Time Warner Cable.
Thursday, July 31, Hooks vs. Missions, 7:05 – Get to the stadium for AT&T’s Great TV giveaway, with one television set awarded to a fan every inning!
That’s right… nine Magnavox 15-inch Digital LCD HDTV sets.
Reckless Kelly performs during the seventh-inning stretch.
And, you don’t have to be an old timer to buy an Ol’ Timer Cap for 50 percent off at Hook, Line & Sinker.
Thirsty Thursday, presented by Stripes
Andy Van Hekken pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings and recorded 10 strikeouts as Corpus Christi blanked Frisco 2-0 Monday night before 6,526.
Van Hekken, who improved to 4-0 while lowering his earned run average to 1.65, did not walk a batter. He allowed seven hits and threw 102 pitches, 79 for strikes.
After permitting consecutive singles to Ben Harrison and Steve Murphy, Van Hekken was lifted for Evan Englebrook. Englebrook walked pinch-hitter Dustin Majewski to load the bases, but struck out Emerson Frostad and got pinch-hitter Adam Fox on a towering fly to Eli Iorg in center field. Englebrook’s save was his fourth.
The hitting star for Corpus Christi was designated hitter Richie Paz, who went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice. His bunt in the first moved Drew Sutton into scoring position for Chris Johnson’s RBI single. Paz doubled in the second, homered to dead left in the sixth and singled in the eighth. The solo shot was his fourth home run of 2008.
RoughRider starter Derek Lee (1-2) allowed seven hits and fanned six over seven frames. He issued no free passes.
Julio Borbon, Harrison and Murphy had two hits each.
Corpus Christi is 12-18 in the second half of Texas League play. Frisco stands 19-11.
The Hooks open a three-game series at San Antonio Tuesday. Corpus Christi’s Tip Fairchild (2-6) meets Matt Buschmann (7-5) at 7:05.
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