SAN ANTONIO - Missions starter Michael Kelly held the Hooks to just three hits over 7 1/3 innings on Sunday afternoon, as San Antonio beat Corpus Christi 4-2 in front of 3,277 fans at Wolff Stadium.
SAN ANTONIO - Missions starter Michael Kelly held the Hooks to just three hits over 7 1/3 innings on Sunday afternoon, as San Antonio beat Corpus Christi 4-2 in front of 3,277 fans at Wolff Stadium.
The Hooks (30-32) have now lost three straight games and trail first-place San Antonio (34-27) by five games in the Texas League South first-half race.
Kelly (6-1) tossed six scoreless frames before being charged with an unearned run in the seventh. The righty has now allowed just three earned runs to the Hooks in 21 1/3 innings this season. He struck out six on 100 pitches.
Hooks left-hander Alex Winkelman (0-1) made the start. After a scoreless first inning, Winkelman walked Franmil Reyes to begin the second. Reyes would ultimately come around to score on an RBI single from Nick Torres, giving San Antonio a 1-0 lead.
Winkelman (0-1) ran into trouble again in the fifth. Torres began the frame with a single while Winkelman walked Webster Rivas to put two runners on with nobody out. After getting the first out of the inning, an error on a ground ball to Hooks shortstop Antonio Nunez loaded the bases.
Noah Perio stepped in and laced an RBI single to give the Missions a 2-0 edge. José Rondón followed with a two-run double to left-center as San Antonio put together a three-run inning to make it 4-0. Winkelman came out of the game and was replaced by Kent Emanuel. The lefty got out of the jam with no further damage.
Emanuel then threw three perfect frames and retired all 11 batters he faced. He has a 2.29 ERA in his last seven appearances.
Meanwhile, the Hooks scored their first run on an RBI single from Arturo Michelena in the eighth against San Antonio reliever Eric Yardley, who replaced Kelly with one out in the inning.
Corpus Christi trailed 4-1 entering the ninth as JD Davis laced a single to begin the frame. Brad Wieck replaced Yardley and then walked Jon Singleton. Jack Mayfield hit a single to load the bases with nobody out.
Garrett Stubbs grounded into a double play while Davis scored, cutting the Hooks deficit to 4-2. Wieck struck out Jamie Ritchie on a check swing to end the ballgame and left the tying run at the plate. Wieck recorded his third save of the season.
The Hooks and Missions continue their series on Monday night at Wolff Stadium. RHP Rogelio Armenteros (2-2, 1.60) takes the mound for Corpus Christi while San Antonio sends RHP Kyle Lloyd (4-4, 3.20 ERA) to the hill. First pitch is at 7:05 PM.
The game can be heard on 1360 AM KKTX, online, or via the MiLB First Pitch app with Michael Coffin and Sam Levitt beginning at 6:45 PM.
