CORPUS CHRISTI - Backed by 11 hits, Nathan Dettmer pitched 5 1/3 innings of one run ball for Midland Wednesday night, helping the RockHounds to a third consecutive win with a 6-2 decision at Whataburger Field.
Confined to six singles and two walks, the Hooks have dropped the first two games of the set and sit two games back of first place in the Texas League South second half.
Corpus Christi starter Cole Hertzler notched a new Double-A high eight strikeouts over four innings of work. Limited to a pitch count of 53, Hertzler delivered 39 for strikes, scattering three hits and one walk. A two-run home run by Devin Taylor accounted for the damage.
While posting a 3.46 ERA in 20 appearances between High-A Asheville and the Hooks, Hertzler has struck out 96 batters in 78 innings for an 11.1 K-per-9-IP rate. The 23-year-old from Boyertown, PA ranks fifth in the Astros system in strikeouts.
Midland sent eight men to bat in the fifth. A double off the bag at third by Ali Camarillo paved the way to RBI singles from Cameron Leary, Casey Yamauchi, and Euribiel Angeles.
Yamauchi recorded five singles, two runs and three stolen bases out of the RockHounds lead-off spot.
Joey Mancini, who induced a 3-6-3 double play to relieve Jose Guedez ending the fifth, tossed 3 2/3 shutout innings for CC. Mancini breezed two while allowing only two hits and one walk.
Nic Swanson struck out two and stranded two in a scoreless ninth.
The lone Hooks RBI came via a Max Holy sac fly in the second. Will Bush, who stroked a lead-off single, scored on the play but Alejandro Nuñez was doubled up trying to advance to second.