Hooks Slay Skid, Back-to-Back Bombs Spark Win

SPRINGFIELD – Corpus Christi ended a five-game drought with a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals before 3,531 fans Thursday night at Hammons Field.

With the score level at 1 in the sixth, Justin Dirden and Shay Whitcomb clubbed back-to-back home runs off lefty Garrett Williams for a 3-1 Hooks lead. Grae Kessinger kept the rally going with a two-out walk. Kessinger promptly stole second and came around to score on a pair of wild pitches by Johan Quezada.

Corpus Christi made it 5-1 in the seventh as Dirden’s 19th double of the year cashed in on singles by Luke Berryhill and Yainer Diaz.

Berryhill, a triple shy of the cycle on Wednesday, turned in another three-hit day, including a mammoth 440-foot home run to center field in the first. Berryhill, up to eight home runs on the year, has reached safely in 51 of 52 games with a plate appearance.

Jonathan Sprinkle earned the victory by blanking Springfield in the fifth and sixth. Derek West permitted two unearned runs over 1 1/3 innings while Devin Conn retired all four batters he faced for his fourth save.

Hooks starter Misael Tamarez scattered two hits and three walks while striking out five in four frames. The run he allowed came home via a wild pitch in the third.

Corpus Christi meets Springfield in Game 4 of the series Friday night. Hooks plan to send Cody Deason to the hill while the Cards counter with Edgar Escobar.