The Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A, Houston Astros) wrapped up a three-game series against the Arkansas Travelers (Double-A, Los Angeles Angels) over the weekend. Lead by the late inning heroics of Telvin Nash, the Hooks came away with a three-game sweep of the Travelers.
Game 1: Arkansas 1 - Corpus Christi 2
W- Jordan Jankowski (4-6)
L- Kurt Spomer (2-3)
The Corpus Christi Hooks sent Astros' top pitching prospect Mark Appel to the mound on Friday. It was Appel's fourth appearance with the Hooks since being promoted from High-A Lancaster on July 28.
Appel had a nice start for the Hooks. He cruised along the first four innings, before surrendering a solo homer to Arkansas' third baseman Kaleb Cowart to lead off the top of the fifth inning. Appel exited after the sixth inning and was relieved by right-handed pitcher Jordan Jankowski. Appel allowed five hits, an earned run, a walk and struck out two batters in his six innings pitched. Despite a great outing by Appel, he was still on the hook for the loss -- as the Hooks' offense failed to generate any runs through the first eight innings of the game. Jankowski pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Appel and struck out eight batters.
Arkansas southpaw pitcher Tyler DeLoach had an outstanding game against the Hooks on Friday. He hurled seven scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit, two walks and striking out nine batters.
In the ninth inning, the Hooks offense managed to push across a couple of runs on a walk-off double courtesy of Telvin Nash. With runners at the corners and two outs in the inning, Nash hit a line drive to left field -- scoring Tony Kemp from third base to tie the game and Colin Moran from first base to secure the walk-off win. The Hooks topped the Travelers by a score of 2-1 to take the series opener.
Game 2: Arkansas 5 - Corpus Christi 8
W- Brady Rodgers (5-11)
L- Kramer Sneed (7-10)
S- Mitch Lambson (1)
After failing to generate anything on offense for most of Friday's game, the Hooks' bats came alive in Game Two of the series.
Following his walk-off double on Friday night, first baseman Telvin Nash launched a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the second inning in Saturday's game. It was his 20th homer of the season and it gave the Hooks an early 2-0 lead. He joined Triple-A farmhand Preston Tucker as the only two Astros' minor league players to hit at least 20 home runs this season.
The following inning, right fielder Teoscar Hernandez shot a ground ball into center field -- driving in two runs. The next batter was third baseman Colin Moran -- who was acquired by the Astros at the Trade Deadline -- and he hit a ground ball into right field to score Hooks' center fielder Delino DeShields from third base and give Corpus Christi a 5-0 lead. Moran also extended his hitting streak to seven games on Saturday.
Nash and Moran both drove in runs again in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and runners at second and third base, Moran hit a sacrifice fly to left field -- scoring Hooks' shortstop Carlos Perdomo and moving Delino DeShields to third base. Arkansas made a pitching change after Moran's sacrifice fly, as Arkansas' starter Kramer Sneed exited after lasting just 3 2/3 innings. The southpaw surrendered seven earned runs on six hits and four walks. The Travelers brought in right-handed pitcher Michael Brady to relieve Sneed. Telvin Nash greeted Brady with a RBI single to center field to score DeShields from third base and give the Hooks a 7-0 lead after four innings.
Hooks' starter Brady Rodgers went through the first five innings with ease, but ran into trouble in the top of the sixth inning. He surrendered a pair of two-run homers and the Hooks' lead was quickly cut to 7-4. Southpaw Colton Cain relieved Rodgers with two outs in the sixth inning, and pitched two scoreless innings. He struck out a couple of batters and did not allow a hit, but he did walk three batters before he was relieved by left-handed pitcher Mitchell Lambson with two outs in the top of the eighth inning. Lambson was able to get a force out to end the eighth inning and preserve the Hooks' lead heading into the ninth inning.
The Travelers were able to push across a run in the top of the ninth inning on three hits, but it wasn't enough and the Hooks went on to win 8-5.
Game 3: Arkansas 4 - Corpus Christi 5
W - Tyson Perez (4-0)
L - Jairo Diaz (2-1)
The Hooks once again got some offensive heroics from Telvin Nash. For the second time in the series, Nash hit a walk-off to give the Hooks the victory. In the final game of the three-game set against the Travelers, Nash hit the longest single that a player could possibly hit at Whataburger Field and it was enough to give the Hooks a 5-4 win over the Travelers.
The Hooks got a solid start from right-handed pitcher Kyle Smith. He went five innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits. He also struck out five batters without surrendering a walk.
Much like the second game of the series, the Hooks' offense got it going early in the game and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning -- courtesy of a two-run homer off the bat of Conrad Gregor. He launched a 92 mph fastball 397 feet to left center field for his first home run since being promoted to Double-A on July 21. Teoscar Hernandez joined the Hooks' long ball parade with a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning, and Delino DeShields hit a solo shot as well in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Hooks' second baseman Tony Kemp began the inning by hitting a double to left field that barely stayed fair. That was followed by a bunt single from Delino DeShields that advanced Kemp to third base. Teoscar Hernandez followed that by striking out and the Travelers intentionally walked Colin Moran to load the bases. Telvin Nash followed that by hitting a 98 mph offering to right field to give the Hooks the series sweep and their second walk-off win of the series.
Looking Ahead: The Hooks have an off day on Monday, as they will be heading to Midland to kick off a seven-game road trip. The Hooks are expected to send southpaw Josh Hader (0-0, 6.23 ERA) to the mound in their series opener against the Midland RockHounds (Double-A, Oakland Athletics) on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central Time.