Drillers Fall To Hooks On Independence Day

Jair Fernandez provided the fireworks Wednesday night when he hit a go-ahead, three-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Corpus Christi Hooks to a 4-3 win over the Tulsa Drillers.

Angelys Nina got Tulsa on the board in the first inning with a solo shot, his fourth of the season. Nina did more damage in the third when he doubled home Josh Rutledge to make it 2-0 Drillers.

Corpus Christi added a run of its own in the fifth, but Tulsa responded in the sixth when Kent Matthes plated Ben Paulsen with a double to left, increasing the Tulsa lead to 3-1.

Tulsa starter Joe Gardner pitched well, but left two runners on in the sixth when he was lifted for reliever Zach Simons. Simons promptly allowed a three-run homer to Fernandez and that was all Corpus Christi would need.

Jose Cisnero (6-6) pitched six innings to earn the win, while Jason Stoffel nailed it down in the ninth for his 13th save of the season. Tulsa has lost seven out of its past eight games.

The Drillers return home Thursday night to face the visiting San Antonio Missions at 7:05 pm.