Drillers Blasted By Hooks

The Corpus Christi Hooks scored early and often in the first game of a three-game series with the Tulsa Drillers Saturday night. The Hooks jumped to an early lead with runs in each of the first two innings and sent the Drillers to a 10-3 defeat at ONEOK Field.

The Hooks tallied multiple runs in each of the first two innings against Tulsa starter Ryan Kulik. In the top of the first, Delino DeShields singled and stole both second and third bases. After Kulik walked two batters to load the bases, Jiovanni Mier delivered a two-run single to give the Hooks the lead.

In the second, Corpus Christi added three more to make it 5-0. DeShields drove home two with a double, and Leo Heras added a run-scoring single.

Kulik kept the Hooks off the board in the third and fourth innings before they struck again with two runs in both the fifth and sixth. Heras doubled home a run in the fifth before scoring himself on a base hit by Telvin Harris.

Corpus Christi opened the sixth with three straight hits from Tony Kemp, DeShields and Andrew Aplin to load the bases. Ryan Arrowood relieved Kulik and got three straight outs, but a sacrifice fly and an infield grounder brought home two more runs to make it 9-0.

The Hooks reached double figures when Kemp tripled home a run in the seventh.

Tulsa's only offensive bright spots came late in the contest. Ryan Casteel led off the seventh with his 11th home run of the season to put the Drillers on the board. The hit also extended Casteel's hitting streak to 13 straight games.

In the eighth, Taylor Featherston singled in front of Trevor Story's first Double-A hit. The shortstop tripled to the fence in right field to drive home Featherston. Cristhian Adames followed with a run-scoring single to make the score 10-3.

It was a tough night for Kulik, who made his second start for the Drillers. The lefthander surrendered 9 runs on 11 hits in 5 official innings.

Corpus Christi starter Thomas Shirley continued his strong season, blanking the Drillers on only two hits in five innings. The win improved his record to 6-3, while his ERA dropped to 1.79.

The Hooks had 15 hits in the game to go along with 5 stolen bases, 3 of which came from DeShields. The speedy outfielder now has 8 steals in 7 games against the Drillers this season.

The two teams will play the second game of their series Sunday afternoon in downtown Tulsa. Jon Gray (7-3, 3.77 ERA) will make his first start for the Drillers since his scoreless appearance in the Texas League All-Star Game. The Hooks will counter with Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.18 ERA). It will be the final Sunday afternoon game of the season at ONEOK Field with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.