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TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, April 16 - Tulsa at Corpus Christi

April 16, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Game Notes, April 16, 2011 Tulsa (4-4) @ Corpus Christi (2-6)

The Hooks had their best half-inning production of the season last night, scoring five times in the bottom of the fourth. That's the good news. The bad news' Tulsa also had a five-run inning - on seven hits in the seventh - a rally that erased a two-run deficit and vaulted the Drillers to a 9-6 win. 2B James Cesario went 4-for-5 to pace Tulsa's 20-hit attack. Darin Holcomb and Bronson Sardinha provided three hits each, with Holcomb knocking in three and Sardinha driving home two. Sardinha fell a triple shy of the cycle.

RBI doubles by Brandon Barnes and David Flores and a three-run home run off the bat of starting pitcher Ross Seaton accounted for Corpus Christi's five-run fourth. Seaton's home run - a mammoth shot that curled inside the right field foul pole - was the first homer for a Hooks pitcher in franchise history.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Rob Scahill (0-0, 5.06) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 1.50)

Scahill, an eighth-round selection of the Rockies in 2009 out of Bradley University, makes his second start of the season tonight. Sunday against San Antonio, Scahill allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings and did not get a decision in Tulsa's 7-5 win. He spent all last season with Modesto in the California League, where he went 10-7 with a 4.73 ERA in 27 starts. Scahill ranked fourth in the circuit in both innings pitched (156.0) and strikeouts (140).

· Named the Cal League's Pitcher of the Week (July 12-18) for his July 15 complete-game win at Lancaster

· Was 1-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts in his rookie season (2009) with Tri-City (Northwest League)

· Earned Bradley's Mike Dunne Award in 2009, going 3-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 10 starts his junior year

Keuchel, a seventh-round selection of the Astros in the 2009 draft out of the University of Arkansas, makes his second start as well and his 11th career start for the Hooks. Sunday at Arvest Ballpark, Keuchel held the Naturals to a run on five hits over six innings and was long gone when the Hooks dropped a 3-2 decision in 14 innings. In nine games last year with Corpus Christi, Keuchel went 2-6 with a 4.70 ERA. He did not face Tulsa. The southpaw tied for the California League lead last season with three complete games while ranking third in ERA (3.36). His combined 133 strikeouts and 3.77 ERA slotted second and seventh, respectively, among Houston farmhands in 2010.

· In 19 games and 18 starts for Lancaster last year was 5-8 with a 3.36 ERA

· Was Lancaster's May pitcher of the month, posting a 3.29 ERA in six starts

· Was 9-3 his junior year at Arkansas, including both Razorback wins in the College World Series

The 300/300 Club

SS Wladimir Sutil became the first member of said club last night, when he collected his 300th career hit as a member of the Corpus Christi Hooks in his 300th game with the franchise. The hit was a fourth-inning single that he attempted to stretch into a double but instead was thrown out.

Sutil is the first player in club history to have played in as many as 300 games. He becomes the second player to achieve 300 career hits with the franchise. Josh Anderson, Corpus Christi's center fielder in 2005 and 2006, is the team's all-time hits leader with 321.

Seaton goes yard

The youngest member of the ballclub provided some history for those gathered here last night. His three-run blast in the fourth was just the 10th extra-base hit for a Hooks pitcher in seven seasons of play and the first home run. Hooks pitchers had amassed 462 at-bats without a home run before Seaton stepped to the plate in the fourth inning.

Tossing out minimum plate appearance requirements, Seaton leads the Hooks with his .667 batting average.

Gaston busy

We should have had this note yesterday, but there were too many cooks in the kitchen, too many carrots in the pot, not enough power in the building - something happened and we forgot.

Hooks RF Jon Gaston notched 10 put-outs in Thursday's home opener. That sounds like a record. But it isn't. According to the Texas League's official media guide, the record for most put-outs by an outfielder in one game is 12, a feat that has been accomplished twice. Once by San Antonio's Leo Najo - in 1928, and again by Shreveport's Cy Cashion - in 1929. League records do not differentiate between the three outfield positions, so it's possible that Gaston's 10 is a record for right fielders, but we'll never really know.

Question - how come anyone named "Cy" in professional baseball played only in the era prior to the Hoover Administration'

Flores at first

David Flores got the call to start at first base for the Hooks last night. Last year with Lancaster, Flores appeared in 20 games at first base. Prior to last night, the last time Flores started at first base was July 8 last season against Rancho Cucamonga.

Season-opening streaks

Speaking of Flores, he and two others maintained their season-opening hitting streaks last night. Flores has exactly one hit in all seven games he's played. Sutil and J.D. Martinez have hits in all eight games played by the Hooks.

Sutil's .432 batting average now ranks fifth in the league. Martinez, who has also driven in runs in each of the last four games, ranks second in the loop with 12 RBIs.

Feeling blue

The Hooks wore their navy blue tops last night - for the third time this season. The first two occurrences - last Saturday in Tulsa and in Thursday's home opener - resulted in wins. The Hooks are 0-5 in their road grays, and have yet to wear white at home.

Pitching Rotation vs. Northwest Arkansas

Sunday: LHP Edgar Osuna (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Kyle Greenwalt (0-1, 6.23)

Monday: LHP Chris Dwyer (0-1, 8.59) vs. LHP Xavier Cedeno (0-2, 9.95)

Tuesday: LHP John Lamb (0-0, 4.05) vs. RHP Jonnathan Aristil (0-1, 3.86)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Brandon Barnes

· Has 3-game hit streak, 5-12 with 1 double, 1 run and 3 RBIs

· Led all Astros farmhands with 28 HRs last year

· In 126 games with Lancaster in 2010 hit .269-27-80 with 14 SBs

· A sixth-round pick of the Astros in 2005 out of Cypress (CA) College

Brian Esposito

· Hitless in 3 starts this season

· Appeared in 2 games with the Astros last year and 1 game with St. Louis in 2007

· In 45 games last year with AAA Round Rock hit .225-2-18 with 5 doubles

· In his 12th season as a pro, needs 17 more hits to reach 500 in his career

David Flores

· Has hits in all 7 games played

· Has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games, dating back to 2010 with Lancaster

· In 115 games last year with Lancaster batted .269-14-57 with 24 doubles

· An 18th-round selection of the Astros in 2008 out of Sacramento State

Jon Gaston

· Has hits in 5 of 7 games

· Had 10 put-outs Thursday vs. Tulsa

· Was CC's defensive player of the month last May and offensive player of the month last July

· Last season in 132 games with the Hooks batted .245-13-51 with 13 SBs

· A seventh-round pick of the Astros in 2008 out of the University of Arizona

Federico Hernandez

· Is 0-17 in his last 5 games after hitting a solo home run on Opening Night

· Has thrown out 1 of 4 would-be base stealers

· Was a combined .273-9-51 in 103 games last year with Lancaster and Corpus Christi

· A non-drafted free-agent signee of the Astros in 2006

J.D. Martinez

· Has hits in all 8 games; RBIs in 6 of 8, including the last 4

· Batting .421(8-19) vs. RHP; .286(4-14) vs. LHP; .385(5-13) w/RISP

· Houston's Minor League Player of the Year in 2010 (.341-18-89, 5 SBs)

· A 20th-round selection of the Astros in the 2009 draft out of Nova Southeastern Univ.

Jimmy Paredes

· Is 4-8 this series with 1 double and 4 runs

· Batting .333(6-18) vs. RHP; .235(4-17) vs. LHP; .417(5-12) w/RISP

· Hit .287-8-65 last year with Charleston and Lexington, ranking third in the South Atlantic League with 50 stolen bases

· Acquired by the Astros along with RHP Mark Melancon in the Lance Berkman deal with the Yankees last July

Andy Simunic

· Has scored runs in 4 straight

· His hits have all come vs. LHP (3-6)

· Hit .293-3-43 with 17 SBs last year between Lexington and Lancaster

· A 17th-round pick of the Astros in 2008 out of the University of Tennessee

T.J. Steele

· Is 2-5 this series with 1 double and 1 RBI

· Is 1-12 with RISP

· In his first three pro seasons hit .281-10-79 in 157 games; his playing time hampered by a variety of injuries

· A fourth-round selection of the Astros in 2008 out of the University of Arizona

Wladimir Sutil

· Has hits in all 8 games, with 5 multi-hit games and three 3-hit games

· Has 12 PO, 31 A and 1 error

· Is 3-4 with RISP

· Was a combined .262-1-29 with 23 SBs last year with Corpus Christi and Round Rock

· A non-drafted free-agent signee of the Astros in 2003

Jimmy VanOstrand

· Went 0-13 in NW Ark. series; is 0-17 in his last 4 games

· Batting .250(3-12) vs. LHP compared to .059(1-17) vs. RHP

· Has 121 RBIs with the Hooks, just 1 shy of franchise leader Drew Sutton

· An eighth-round pick of the Astros in 2006 out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Brandon Wikoff

· Was 0-2 Tuesday night at NW Ark.

· Has yet to start a game

· Last year with Lancaster hit .257-0-27 with 40 runs in 113 games

· A fifth-round selection of the Astros in 2009 out of the University of Illinois

BULLPEN REPORT

Erick Abreu

· Last appearance: Picked up the victory Thursday with 1.1 innings of scoreless work

· Held the Naturals to 2 hits over 4 frames in Sunday's series opener...struck out 3 and issued an intentional walk...32 of his 45 pitches were strikes

· Fanned 2 of 3 batters faced last Friday at Tulsa

· Last season, moved permanently to the Hooks rotation August 11 and started his final six appearances...won four straight starts (August 16-September 1) for his four victories of the year, posting a 1.07 ERA in those four games...earned TL Pitcher of the Week Honors (August 16-22) and CC Player of the Month honors for August

· Needs 7 more strikeouts to reach 500 for his career

David Berner

· Last appearance: Worked 2.1 innings Wed. against the Naturals, yielding 8 hits and 3 runs

· Surrendered Wil Myers' walk-off, bases-loaded single in the 14th inning last Sunday...a one-out triple by Nick Van Stratten forced IBBs of the next 2 batters to load the bases

· Ranked second in the Astros system with 12 saves in 17 chances last season... led all qualifying full-season Houston farmhands (minimum 56.0 IP) in relief ERA...his 41 games finished and 2.15 walks per nine innings slotted fifth best in the California League

· Selected in the 14th round of the 2009 draft out of San Jose State...led the WAC with a 3.20 ERA, 84 strikeouts and an opponent's batting average of .240 during his senior season

David Carpenter

· Last appearance: Held the Drillers scoreless in the 9th inning Thursday, fanning 2

· Only bright spot for the bullpen Wednesday at NW Arkansas...dealt 1.2 innings of perfect relief, throwing 13 of 18 pitches for strikes

· Earned the save April 9 at Tulsa...brought on with an out in the 9th and retired both batters faced, fanning 1, to nail down Corpus Christi's first victory

· Has walked (1 intentional) both lefties he's faced thus far

· A member of Houston's 40-man roster, the converted catcher led all Cardinals farmhands last year with 20 saves (in 23 chances)

· Has faced 639 batters as a professional, yielding just six home runs. This translates into one round-tripper allowed for every 106 batters faced, or, roughly one home run allowed for every 24 innings pitched.

· Traded from St. Louis for Pedro Feliz in August last season...originally selected by the Cardinals in the 12th round of the 2006 draft

Cesar Carrillo

· Last appearance: Allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 2.2 innings Wed. at NW Arkansas

· Tossed 4 innings of shutout relief and delivered a pivotal run-scoring single in Corpus Christi's 9-8 victory at Tulsa on April 9...retired the first 5 men he faced, allowing just 1 hit the rest of the way

· Tied for third in the Pacific Coast League last season with 27 starts

· Made his major league debut for the Padres on August 13, 2009, at Milwaukee...earned his lone big league victory in his next start (August 18), tossing six innings of 3-run ball to defeat Ryan Dempster and the Cubs, 6-3.

· Entered the 2006 season ranked as San Diego's top prospect as determined by Baseball America.

· Claimed off waivers from San Diego in September, 2010...originally selected by the Padres in the first round (18th overall pick) of the 2005 draft.

Arcenio Leon

· Last appearance: Blanked Tulsa over the final 2.1 innings Friday

· Entered in the 5th last Monday and tossed 2.2 shutout innings against the Naturals...allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 2

· All 17 of his outs have been record on the ground or via strikeout

· Added to Houston's 40-man roster in November, 2010

· Would have ranked fifth among relievers in the South Atlantic League last season with a .201 opponents' batting average, but fell two frames shy of the league qualifier

· Made his AA debut with the Hooks July 19 and limited opponents to a pair of earned runs in his first six appearances (2.16 ERA)

Patrick Urckfitz

· Last appearance: Blanked the Drillers over 2 innings last night, yielding just 2 hits

· Worked a scoreless inning Sunday at NW Arkansas before Salvador Perez turned his first pitch of the 12th inning into a game-tying home run...Overall, walked 4 - 2 intentional - and struck out 2 over 3 frames

· Crafted 2 innings of 1-hit relief on Opening Day in Tulsa.

· Shifted to Lancaster's rotation full-time in early July last season to gain more innings

· Led the JetHawks in strikeouts (103) and tied for fourth in victories (5)

· For the season, averaged 8.78 strikeouts per nine innings and 3.24 Ks for every walk.

· In 2009, ranked second in the Astros organization with 14 saves

Shane Wolf

· Last appearance: Tagged with the loss Friday after yielding 5 runs on 7 hits in 1.2 IP...entered the game with a 6-4 lead

· Monday at Northwest Arkansas...touched for a hit and notched a K in 1 inning

· Drillers managed just 2 hits against him over 2.2 frames in series at Tulsa

· Finished 2010 second on the JetHawks in victories (7) and fourth in innings pitched (108.2)

· Shifted to the bullpen in early July and went 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA over 15 appearances to close out his tenure at Lancaster...struck out 27 and walked 5 in 32 relief innings

· Made his AA debut August 27 at Midland and held the RockHounds to 1 hit, 1 walk and an unearned run while striking out 3 over 2.2 innings

· 53 of his 70 pitches with the Hooks were strikes (76%)

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