CORPUS CHRISTI – Kyle Middleton pitched a four-hit shutout and Jemile Weeks popped a three-run homer as Midland beat Corpus Christi 10-0 Thursday at Whataburger Field before 6,368.
 
The RockHounds, who lead the Texas League South Division in second-half play, are 35-24. The Hooks dropped to 26-33 and have lost seven of nine. Midland's magic number to eliminated Corpus Christi from playoff consideration is three.
 
Middleton (4-1), who holds the Corpus Christi season and career marks for saves, was named the top closer in Hooks history by fans in on-line balloting this summer.
 
Thursday he threw 97 pitches, 63 for strikes, walking just one and striking out seven.
 
The RockHounds hung four unearned runs on Tyler Lumsden (1-3) in the fourth. Josh Donaldson singled to right and sprinted to third when a throw from first baseman Mark Ori caromed off his shoulder into left on Shane Peterson's fielder's choice. After a walk to Archie Gilbert, Donaldson scored when Lumsden uncorked a wild pitch. Weeks then smacked a three-run shot to the Zarsky Zone.
 
Matt Spencer's sacrifice fly an inning later made it 5-0, Gilbert's two-out jack in the sixth, 6-0.
 
Two of the four RockHounds' eight-inning runs came across on a throwing error by reliever Charlie Weatherby, who attempted to get Spencer at the plate on a comebacker.
 
In all, seven of the visitors' runs were unearned.
 
Southpaw Fernando Abad (0-0), promoted Thursday from High-A Lancaster of the California League, pitches for the Hooks Friday at 7:05 vs. Tyson Ross (3-3).

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