MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-CORPUS CHRISTI -- Jonathan Fixler homered twice and Josh Flores had three hits as Corpus Christi beat Springfield 8-2 Sunday at Whataburger Field before 6,995.

With their first victory in seven games, the Hooks improved to 20-27. Springfield is 28-20.

Drew Locke's Texas League-leading 56th RBI gave the Hooks a 1-0 first-inning advantage. Flores led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out before Locke lifted his fifth sacrifice fly to right.

Fixler's fifth home run of 2009 upped the lead to 2-0 in the second. His solo blast in the eighth put Corpus Christi up 7-2. Each of Fixler's 10 hits have gone for extra bases (four doubles).

An opposite-field blast to left by Tyler Henley with Curt Smith aboard three innings later tied the contest. Smith lashed a single to left after Hooks starter Casey Hudspeth retired the first two men in the fifth.

Corpus Christi immediately responded with a crooked number of twice the value for a 6-2 lead through five. The Hooks tagged Cardinals starter Ryan Kulik for four runs on five hits and two errors. Flores, Locke and Mitch Einertson had run-scoring singles and Springfield left fielder Daryl Jones committed two fielding errors.

The Hooks' other run came via Mark Ori's pinch-hit RBI single.

Kulik (1-3) was pulled after six runs, nine hits, two walks and a strikeout over five frames. Hudspeth (4-4) lasted an inning longer and was responsible for two runs, five hits, four walks and two strikeouts. He stranded eight.

Chris Salamida and T.J. Burton teamed for three innings of scoreless relief.

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