Hooks Play Long Ball Late, Fall Short Sunday at Amarillo

AMARILLO – Jancarlos Cintron clubbed a grand slam in the second inning Sunday evening, fueling a six-run frame that carried the Sod Poodles to a series split, as Amarillo held on for a 7-5 win over Corpus Christi before 6,145 fans at Hodgetown.

The Hooks, who have won five of their last eight, are off Monday before opening a 13-game home stand Tuesday night vs. Frisco.

Corpus Christi starter Brett Daniels retired four in a row to start his outing, before five consecutive Sod Poodles reached base in the second. Dominic Miroglio hit a one-out double and Dominic Fletcher followed with a single. Daniels walked the next two hitters, making it 1-0 Amarillo.

Cintron, the nine-hole hitter, then cashed in by sending the eighth pitch from Daniels over the wall in left for his first home run of the season.

The sixth run was unearned and was charged to Layne Henderson who dispatched the last seven men he faced over 2.2 innings of quality relief.

Luis Frias held the Hooks in check for much of the night, spreading two runs and four hits over 5.2 innings. Frias, who struck out nine and did not issue a walk, was perfect thru three and did not allow a base hit until Chandler Taylor’s lead-off single in the fifth.

Frias failed to finish his night unscathed as David Hensley belted a two-run home run to right field in the sixth.

The Hensley homer was the first of a season-best four long balls for Corpus Christi. Taylor hit a two-out solo shot in the sixth off Mitchell Osnowitz. Corey Julks and Scott Manea collaborated on back-to-back dingers with two away in the ninth.

Jonathan Sprinkle, making his Double-A debut, allowed a run on two hits over 1.2 innings of relief for CC. Felipe Tejada retired seven of the eight men he faced, with the exception reaching on an error.

The Hooks list lefty Parker Mushinski as their starting pitcher Tuesday night at Whataburger Field. Right-hander Cole Winn is slated to take the ball for Frisco. First pitch 6:35.