Twelve Run Inning Caps Corpus Christi Hooks Rout

Yes. That headline is correct. The Corpus Christi Hooks offense fired all cylinders to thoroughly rout their I-37 rivals. The San Antonio Missions pitching yielded ample gifts as well as defensive miscues. Regardless, the Hooks were well alive as 7 of their 9 batters recorded multi-hit games.

Monday’s pitching matchup between two right-handers featured Chris Devenski (4-3, 3.93) and Leonel Campos (2-5, 4.61). Devenski was a mid-season callup from the Lancaster Jethawks while Campos is trending downwards after a poor showing for the AAA affiliate of the Padres.

The first two innings featured a see-saw affair between the two teams. Delino DeShields Jr. led off the game with a solo home run to left field. He would eventually hit an identical shot later for his 2nd of the game as well as 11th of the season.

In the bottom of the first, the Missions retaliated with a solo shot by Casey McElroy to right field to tie the game at 1 apiece.

The second inning was a glimpse of what the Hooks would continue through the sixth inning while sort of being the Missions last chance for their at-bat. Campos displayed early indications of his inability to locate with a pitch that bounced prior to the dirt that hit Leo Heras. The Hooks would go on to load the bases twice with Campos allowing a pair of runs to score via base on balls. Hooks 3, Missions 1.

Austin Hedges had a fantastic jump after getting a 1 out walk in the Missions half of the second inning. Devenski had some control issues of his own this inning as week. But the real problem occurred when Jonathan Meyer made an error. The bases would be full of Missions to allow Alex Dickerson to get a 2-run single to make the game 5-3 Missions.

Fortunately for the Hooks that was the last time that they trailed in the game. They would go on to score 6 runs in the 3rd inning, 1 in the 4th, 12 in the 5th, and 1 in the 6th prior to being shut down for the final three innings. The Hooks had plenty of extra base hits in this game. Six doubles, 1 triple, and 3 home runs led to 20 runs batted in. The Missions, again, helped matters by allowing 12 men to reach via a base on balls.

Delino DeShields fell a single short of the cycle. DDJ recorded 4 hits: 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs with 1 walk and 2 strike outs. Teoscar Hernandez had another huge night as well with a 2-run opposite field home run while going 4 for 7 and scoring 3 runs.

The first three pitchers for the Missions would allow at least 7 runs each. Starter Leonel Campos allowed 7 earned runs; reliever John Hussey allowed 7 earned runs; reliever Michael Dimock, who was the beneficiary of some really poor Missions defense, allowed 8 runs but only 1 was earned.

Oh, Leo Heras and Tony Kemp were each hit by a pitch.

For the Hooks pitching staff four guys got the ball. Devenski started and only went 4 innings with 6 strikeouts and allowing 5 runs (2 earned). Travis Ballew received 3 innings of work to qualify for the win. Ballew allowed 2 earned runs and 4 hits. Tyson Perez and Mitchell Lambson each threw two scoreless innings of their own out of the bullpen.

Kemp made a sterling play on defense, receiving a hot shot then throwing to first base to get a double play.

The Hooks will wrap up their 2014 campaign with a 7-game home stand to host the Frisco RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions. The 23-7 victory props the Hooks to a 63-70 record this season.