Hooks Down Midland 3-2 On 11th Inning Grounder

(Houston Astro Geoff Blum was in Corpus Christi, playing for the Hooks, on a 3-day rehab assignment. Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved)

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (July 31, 2010) The game came down to the bottom of the 11th inning, and Hooks right fielder Freddy Parejo decided it was time to go home, or rather send two runners home, as Corpus Christi downed the Midland Rockhounds 3-2 on Saturday evening at Whataburger Field.

Swinging on the first pitch from Midland relief pitcher Neil Wagner, Parejo tagged a grounder down the right side of the 1st base line to score Jimmy VanOstrand and David Cook from second and third, respectively.

The win takes Corpus Christi to 2-0 in the series, with their third game slated for a 6:05pm start Sunday.

The Rockhounds drew first blood on a 2nd inning on a home run by right fielder Val Majewski.

On a 1-2 count, Majewski’s hit cleared the right field fence, landing in the swimming pool for the round tripper.

Geoff Blum, on a 3-day rehab assignment from the Houston Astros, started at shortstop for the Hooks.

He is the first position player and third player overall to rehab with the Hooks this season. Pitchers Chris Sampson and Felipe Paulino each made one rehab start for the Hooks.

Blum played five innings and looked strong in the field, going 0-1 at the plate with a walk and popping out.

Jordan Lyles also looked strong on the mound for the Hooks, pitching 5.2 innings, striking out 8 and giving up one run on six hits.

In ran into trouble in the 6th inning and was replaced by right hander Erick Abreu. Abreu finished out the 6th inning by striking out Alex Valdez with the bases loaded.

Lyles has had problems against Midland this season, going 0-3 in five starts with a 4.97 ERA prior to tonight’s game.

The Hooks finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 8th inning. Second baseman Albert Cartwright hit a double off the wall to deep right-center field. Right fielder Freddy Parejo scored from first to even the score.

The Rockhounds came back in the 11th on an unearned run by DH Matt Sulentic to give Midland the lead.

Then Parejo came to the plate and claimed the 2 RBI that won the game. That raises his RBI total to nine for the season.

Left handed pitcher Edwin Walker got the win, raising him to 3-1 for the season.

Right hander Neil Wagner was credited with the loss, dropping him to 4-2.

Game time was 3 hours 35 minutes with 6,701 fans in attendance.