RoughRiders rout Hooks to finish series with victory
SUNDAY, JULY 3
ROUGHRIDERS 12, HOOKS 0
Top performers
Hooks: Justin Dirden 1-3; Shay Whitcomb 1-4; Alex McKenna 1-2; Grae Kessinger 1-3
RoughRiders: Jonathan Ornelas 2-4, R, 3 RBI; J.P. Martinez 2-5, 2 RBI; Justin Foscue 3-5, RBI; Blaine Crim 1-6, RBI; Kellen Straham 2-4, 2 R; Sandro Fabian 3-5, 2 R; Jax Biggers 1-3, 3 R, RBI; Josh Stowers 1-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Matt Whatley 2 R; Joe Corbett W, 2 IP, 3 BB, 3 K; GrnAnderson 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K.
Highlights: The RoughRiders broke open a tight game with three runs in the sixth inning and then scored four each in the seventh and eighth innings to complete a series-ending rout. Frisco smacked 15 hits off Hooks pitching and Corpus Christi surrendered seven walks. RoughRiders pitchers struck out the Hooks 10 times in the game, of the 15 Frisco hits three went for extra bases.
SATURDAY, JULY 2
HOOKS 3, ROUGHRIDERS 2
Top performers
Hooks: Wilyer Abreu 2-4, RBI; Grae Kessinger 2-4, 2B, RBI, R; Bryan Arias 1-4; Edwin Diaz 1-4, RBI; Justin Dirden 1-3; Jordan Brewer 1-3, R; Shay Whitcomb 2-4, R; Jaime Melendez 6 IP, ER, BB, 10 K; Derek West 3 IP, ER, BB, 2 K.
RoughRiders: Blaine Crim 1-4; Kellen Strahm 1-3, R; Trey Hair 1-3, 2B, RBI; Sandro Fabian 1-3, HR, RBI, R.
Highlights: The Hooks collected 10 hits and received a strong pitching performance from starter Jaime Melendez and reliever Derek West to snap a two-game losing streak against the RoughRiders. Melendez pitched six innings, allowing one run with 10 strikeouts. Wilyer Abreu provided the Hooks' first run with an RBI single in the third inning and Corpus Christi broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth on an RBI double by Grae Kessinger and an RBI single by Edwin Diaz. Frisco came within one in the eighth, but West struck out David Garcia to end the game. Abreu, Kessinger and Shay Whitcomb combined for six hits to lead the Hooks.
FRIDAY, JULY 1
ROUGHRIDERS 5, HOOKS 0
Top performers
Hooks: Alex McKenna 1-3; Cesar Salazar 1-3, 2B.
RoughRiders: J.P. Martinez 1-4, HR, RBI, R; Jax Biggers 1-4, 2B, RBI, R; Jonathan Ornelas 3-5, R; Justin Foscue 1-4; Matt Whatley 1-4, RBI; Owen White 5.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K.
Highlights: Owen White pitched 5.1 no-hit innings with seven strikeouts in the RoughRiders' shutout win against the Hooks at Riders Field. Corpus Christi finished with two hits behind Alex McKenna and Cesar Salazar. J.P. Martinez homered and Jonathan Ornelas collected three hits to lead Frisco's offense.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30
ROUGHRIDERS 8, HOOKS 3
Top performers
Hooks: Wilyer Abreu 1-4; Justin Dirden 2-3, HR, RBI, 2 R; Will Wagner 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R.
RoughRiders: Dustin Harris 2-4, 2B, R; J.P. Martinez 2-3, 3B, RBI, R; Jax Biggers 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Jonathan Ornelas 2-5, R; Justin Foscue 1-3, 2B, 2 R; Matt Whatley 1-3, 3 RBI.
Highlights: The Hooks took an early 2-0 lead on solo home runs by Justin Dirden and Will Wagner, but the RoughRiders used a four-run fifth inning to pull away for good in their first win of the series. Frisco finished with four extra base hits and outhit Corpus Christi 15-3 against pitchers Cody Deason and Jimmy Endersby. Jax Biggers and Matt Whatley combined for four hits and five RBI to lead the RoughRiders' offense. Wagner led the Hooks with two hits, including his second home run of the season and an RBI single in the fourth inning.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29
HOOKS 5, ROUGHRIDERS 0
Jake Odorizzi had another solid outing in his return to the Astros rotation.
The Houston right-hander pitched five scoreless innings and allowed three hits in his rehab start with the Hooks on Wednesday against the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field.
Odorizzi faced 17 batters and finished with 78 pitches, striking out six in Corpus Christi's 5-0 win.
It was the second rehab start for Odorizzi, who allowed two runs in three innings with four strikeouts for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on June 27.
Odorizzi was carted off the field after injuring his leg during the Astros game against the Red Sox on May 16 at Fenway Park in Boston.
Top performers
Hooks: Jake Odorizzi 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 6 K; Grae Kessinger 2-4, RBI; Shay Whitcomb 1-4, R; Will Wagner 2-5, R; Alex McKenna 1-3, RBI, R; Cesar Salazar 1-3, RBI, R; Edwin Diaz 1-4; Jordan Brewer 1-4, 2B, R; Jose Bravo 3.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K.
RoughRiders: J.P. Martinez 2-4, 2B; Josh Stowers 1-3; Jax Biggers 1-3.
Highlights: Astros pitcher Jake Odorizzi pitched five scoreless innings and struck out six in the Hooks' second straight win against the RoughRiders. Corpus Christi used a four-run second inning behind Grae Kessinger, Cesar Salazar and Alex McKenna, who each delivered run-producing hits. Luke Berryhill hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the Hooks' final run of the game. Jose Bravo tossed 3.2 scoreless innings and struck out four in relief for Corpus Christi.
TUESDAY, JUNE 28
HOOKS 4, ROUGHRIDERS 2
Top performers
Hooks: Cesar Salazar 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R; Grae Kessinger 2-3, R; Jordan Brewer 1-3, R; Misael Tamarez 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 6 K.
RoughRiders: Dustin Harris 1-3, HR, RBI, R.
Highlights: Cesar Salazar's three-run home run in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the Hooks' series-opening win against the RoughRiders. Grae Kessinger collected two of Corpus Christi's four hits to back starting pitcher Misael Tamarez, who delivered 5.2 quality innings, allowing two hits, two runs with six strikeouts. The Hooks also scored a run on a fielding error by Frisco in the third inning. The RoughRiders' two runs came on a solo home run by Dustin Harris and an RBI bunt single by Matt Whatley.
Rey Castillo is a sports reporter for the Caller-Times and a graduate of Texas A&M-Kingsville. He may be reached at rey.castillo@caller.com or on Twitter @reycastillo361
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Scores and highlights from the Hooks vs. Frisco RoughRiders
