Arkansas Travelers, Ben Johnson Slip Past the Corpus Christi Hooks 4-3
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 04:21PM MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – CORPUS CHRISTI – Brok Butcher pitched eight strong innings and Ben Johnson stroked a bases-loaded triple in the eighth to lead Arkansas past Corpus Christi 4-3 Thursday night before 6,808.
Houston Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez, in town on a rehab assignment (groin), worked six innings for the Hooks. He threw 78 pitches, 53 for strikes, before finishing with 12 pitches in the bullpen. Rodriguez allowed four hits, one run and a walk.
As good as Rodriguez looked, Butcher (3-1) emerged the winner. He was responsible for three runs, seven hits and four strikeouts.
Kevin Jepsen notched his seventh save by pitching around a hit and walk in the ninth.
Rob Cosby put Corpus Christi on the board in the second with his fifth home run of 2008, a solo shot to left field.
Corey Smith knotted the score 1-1 on a fifth-inning lead-off blast into the Hooks bullpen in left-center.
The Hooks pulled to within 4-3 in their half of the eighth on Tommy Manzella’s two-out, two-run single.
Hooks left fielder Billy Hart extended his hitting streak to 12 games and third baseman Chris Johnson had three hits.
Arkansas is 23-23 and has won 11 of its last 13. Corpus Christi is 24-22.
Brad James (5-2) faces Fernando Rodriguez (3-4) Friday at 7:05 in the series finale.
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend