CORPUS CHRISTI - For the second time in as many nights, Carmen Benedetti provided the game-winning, walk-off swing. Benedetti's sac fly to center field in the ninth inning Thursday night clinched a 2-1 Hooks win and a series sweep of the Tulsa Drillers before 4,651 fans at Whataburger Field.Benedetti was
CORPUS CHRISTI - For the second time in as many nights, Carmen Benedetti provided the game-winning, walk-off swing. Benedetti's sac fly to center field in the ninth inning Thursday night clinched a 2-1 Hooks win and a series sweep of the Tulsa Drillers before 4,651 fans at Whataburger Field.
Benedetti was the hero Wednesday night with a ninth-inning lead-off home run to left field. Corpus Christi (28-19, 71-45) now has four walk-off wins in the last eight home games.
Hooks right-hander Brandon Bielak turned in a career performance, scattering two hits over eight frames, matching the longest outing by a Hooks pitcher this season.
The lone Tulsa run was unearned. Bielak fanned six and walked three, throwing 65 of 100 pitches for strikes.
Justin Ferrell (5-1) earned the win by striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Drillers (26-20, 60-56) right-hander Ben Holmes permitted just one baserunner over the first four frames. Josh Rojas opened the fifth with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Abraham Toro cashed in looping a double into right field. Corpus Christi started the ninth with singles by Ronnie Dawson and Chas McCormick. With runners at second and third, Benedetti lined a 1-0 pitch into deep left-center to end the game.
Thursday's result runs the Hooks home winning streak to eight games.
Friday pits a pair of left-handers on the mound as the Springfield Cardinals come to town. Evan Kruczynski (1-1, 0.64) will make the start for Springfield. Brett Adcock (1-0, 2.25) is slated to work for Corpus Christi. First pitch 7:05.
