Hooks Fight for Fifth Straight Win

Box Score

CORPUS CHRISTI - Hooks pitchers were at their best Friday night, as a pair of two-out runs in the seventh sent Corpus Christi to a 2-1 win over the Drillers before 5,031 fans at Whataburger Field

In clinching the series vs. Tulsa, the Hooks have claimed a season-best five in a row, with six wins coming in the club's last seven games.

Corpus Christi lefty Luis Angel Rodriguez kept the Drillers at bay over the first five innings, striking out six against one walk and three hits.

A lead-off free pass in the sixth ended Rodriguez's day at 79 pitches. Layne Henderson entered the game and retired back-to-back hitters before Cristian Santana sent a two-out RBI single into left for a 1-0 Tulsa lead.

Henderson, who arrived at the ballpark from High-A Asheville shortly before Friday's first pitch, went on to strand a pair in the sixth while recording the first two outs of the seventh. Following a two-out double, Brody Rodning entered the game and ended the frame immediately via a three-pitch strikeout.

Luis Baez opened the Corpus Christi seventh with a long double to right-center, and following two strikeouts, the inning was extended by Miguel Palma who reached via a seven-pitch free pass. Jeremy Arocho then stepped to the plate and, on a 1-2 pitch, lifted a fly ball that landed in right center with Jose Ramos and Brendon Davis both abruptly halting to avoid a collision. Baez and Palma scored on the play. Arocho, credited with a two-run triple, was thrown out at the plate while trying for a little league home run.

There's a lot happening here but just know we've taken the lead pic.twitter.com/NGEojv29ce

— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) August 31, 2024

Rodning employed a double play to keep the Drillers off the scoreboard in the eighth. Alejandro Torres was perfect in the ninth for his fourth save. Torres has not allowed a run over his last 11 assignments, spanning 13.2 innings.