Astros’ Double-A Hooks’ Season Ends in Heartbreak

Games 1 & 2

The Hooks started the series with a pair of games at Whataburger Field, managing a split with the Rockhounds after dropping the first game on Wednesday night.

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Francis Martes gave up a season-high ten hits in the first game of the series but managed to escape with just three runs being charged against him. All the runs coming in a five-hit, third inning. Martes wasn’t incredible, but he kept the Hooks within striking distance. The offense, which led the Texas League in total bases this year, was only able to scratch across two runs before Kevin Comer and Jacob Dorris allowed three more runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Twelve hits would only result in two runs, one of which came on a solo home run from Nick Tanielu, his twelfth of the year. Corpus Christi would finish the night just 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position. The one hit was a Garrett Stubbs single after Drew Ferguson‘s one out single in the 7th inning.

In the Hooks’ game two victory they would still leave 12 men on base but improved in clutch situations, hitting .236 (4 for 17) with runners in scoring position. The offense was bottled up for the most part until the game looked to be getting out of reach. After Trent Thornton (6.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) threw well, the Hooks bullpen wasn’t up to the task – leaving the Hooks down by four runs in the bottom of the eight. The Hooks would tie things up in that half inning, setting up a walk-off RBI single from Antonio Nunez in the final inning.

Next: Games 3 & 4