Game Notes, July 20 - Midland at Corpus Christi
July 20, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Midland (11-13, 38-56) @ Corpus Christi (11-13, 36-58)
Jimmy VanOstrand's bases-loaded single brought in two runs in the bottom of the sixth and that was the difference in last night's 4-2 win over Midland. Kody Hinze's single, Jacob Goebbert's double and a walk by Chris Wallace set the stage for VanOstrand, who now has 15 RBIs in 18 games against the RockHounds this season.
Erick Abreu (5-2) picked up the win by holding the RockHounds to two runs over six innings. Henry Villar and Danny Meszaros blanked the visitors the rest of the way, with Meszaros notching his fifth save.
The Hooks lead the season series with Midland 10 games to eight.
Tonight's Matchup:
RHP A.J. Griffin (2-1, 4.15) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-6, 3.16)
Griffin, a 13th-round selection of the A's in 2010 out of the University of San Diego, makes his fourth start for Midland and his 19th start this year in the Oakland system. Last Thursday at home against San Antonio, Griffin clamped down on the Missions, holding the best offensive team in the league to a run on two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out seven in a 10-1 win. The outing was his best since joining the Midland rotation July 1. The poster child for the "have bag, will travel" minor league ball player stereotype, Griffin has pitched for the top four farm teams in the A's organization this year. He began the year with Burlington (4-0, 1.56, 8 starts) in the Midwest League, then moved to Stockton (2-2, 3.12, 6 starts) of the California League. He also made one start for AAA Sacramento in a June 12 loss to Tacoma (6.0-6-3-2-2-8).
· Overall this year is 8-4 with a 2.54 ERA in 18 starts
· Ranks second among Oakland farmhands in both ERA (2.54) and strikeouts (104)
· Has allowed just 87 hits and 18 walks in 110.0 IP (0.955 WHIP)
Keuchel, a seventh-round selection of the Astros in the 2009 draft out of the University of Arkansas, makes his 18th start and his fourth against Midland. Last Friday at Frisco, Keuchel allowed six runs over 5.1 innings, just the second time this year his runs allowed exceeded his innings pitched. He did not get a decision in a game the Hooks rallied to win 9-8. The lefty has given up 10 earned runs in 12.0 innings (7.50 ERA) in his last two starts, coming on the heels of a five-start stretch in which he went 4-1 with a 1.03 ERA. Keuchel enters tonight's game ranked second in the Texas League in ERA (3.16) and third in both WHIP (1.15) and innings pitched (108.1).
· Has twice been named Texas League Pitcher of the Week (April 7-17; June 6-12)
· Tossed two innings of shutout relief in the Texas League All-Star Game June 29 in San Antonio
· Named Corpus Christi's June pitcher of the month (3-2, 2.18 ERA, 5 starts)
Cedeno to AAA, Stoffel joins club today
Southpaw Xavier Cedeno has received the call to AAA Oklahoma City. Corpus Christi's Opening Day starter appeared in 19 games this season for the Hooks, going 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA. Entering play tonight, Cedeno ranks eighth in the league in ERA and tops the circuit with 109 strikeouts. He's also tied for the league lead in starts (19), second in innings pitched (108.2) and third in opponents' average (.240).
Cedeno was named Corpus Christi's pitcher of the month in May, when he went 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA in five starts. The lefty was also recognized as the Texas League's Pitcher of the Week June 27 - July 3.
One of the two pitchers acquired by the Astros in yesterday's trade that sent infielder Jeff Keppinger to the Giants is here and on the Hooks active roster tonight. RHP Jason Stoffel joins the club from AA Richmond of the Eastern League, where in 32 relief appearances he was 1-2 with 13 saves and a 3.98 ERA, with 34 hits, 16 walks and 31 strikeouts in 31.2 innings.
A fourth-round pick of the Giants in the 2009 draft out of the University of Arizona, Stoffel is in his third season of pro ball. He spent all last year with San Jose in the California League, where he went 2-4 with 25 saves and a 4.80 ERA in 52 relief outings.
James to DL, Hicks arrives
The Astros placed RHP Brad James on the disabled list, retroactive to July 15. James had appeared in four games in relief for the Hooks.
Taking James' place yesterday on the active roster is RHP Chris Hicks, called up from Lancaster of the California League. In 15 relief appearances for the JetHawks this season, Hicks is 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA, with 19 hits, 5 walks and 28 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work. A 14th-round pick of the Astros in 2008 out of Georgia Tech University, Hicks is in his third season of pro ball. He did not play at all last season after having shoulder surgery in June of 2010. His first outing this year came on May 25.
VanOstrand vs. Midland
With the game-winning hit last night, off good friend and former college teammate Gary Daley, Jimmy VanOstrand continues to haunt the RockHounds. In 18 games this year vs. Midland, VanOstrand is batting .403 (27x67) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HRs, 12 runs and 15 RBIs.
Lifetime against the Hounds in 75 games, VanOstrand is batting .327 (91x278) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 15 HRs, 38 runs and 64 RBIs.
Power surge continues
Though the Hooks failed to hit a home run in last night's win, the club did get three doubles. The Hooks have produced three or more doubles in six straight games and have doubled in the last nine games, with 25 doubles in that span. The Hooks have homered in 15 of the last 17 games, with 25 home runs in that stretch. Here in the second half, the Hooks have hit 33 HRs in 24 games. The Hooks hit 42 HRs during 70 games in the first half.
Pitching Rotation vs. Midland
Thursday: RHP Jason Bergmann (0-5, 6.85) vs. TBA
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Emerson Frostad
· Returned to club July 1 from AAA Oklahoma City
· Played in just one game for OKC (June 26 at RR), going 1-for-3 with 1 walk
· Signed by the Astros as a free agent June 1
· In 15 games with the Lancaster Barnstormers batted .280-2-11
· Was 1-4 in the Frisco series with 1 RBI
· In 7 July games is 4-for-20 with 1 double, 2 runs and 1 RBI
· Has thrown out 7 of 23 (30.4%) would-be base stealers
Jon Gaston
· Active since June 24 - was on the temporarily inactive list twice in June
· Went 1-8 in the Frisco series with 1 run
· Is 2-26 in his last 9 games with 1 run and 1 RBI
· Batting .239(48-201) vs. RHP; .203(14-69) vs. LHP; .191(17-89) w/RISP
Jacob Goebbert
· Is 3-7 this series with 2 doubles and 1 run
· Went 2-10 in the Frisco series with 1 run and 1 RBI
· Has 23 multi-hit games
· Batting .322(56-174) vs. RHP; .264(14-53) vs. LHP; .397(25-63) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
· Joined Hooks July 7 from Lancaster in the Cal League
· Ranks third in the minor leagues in walks (73) and fourth in OBP (.447)
· Has 6-game hit streak, 11-24 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 2 RBIs
· Hits in 7 of his last 8 games, 12-32 with 4 doubles, 2 HRs, 5 runs and 5 RBIs
· With the JetHawks in 80 games hit .323(92x285) w/20 doubles, 22 HRs and 70 RBIs
· Led the Cal League at the time of his promotion in OBP (.458) and HR/AB ratio (1/12.95) and was tied for the league lead in HRs
· Selected twice as the Cal League Batter of the Week (May 30-June 5 & June 13-19)
· Owns Lancaster's longest consecutive-games on-base streak this year (25 games)
· Had 3 2-HR games, 1 7-RBI game and 1 6-RBI game with the JetHawks
· Leads Astros minor leaguers in HRs (24) and RBIs (76)
J.D. Martinez
· Has 5-game hit streak, 8-17 with 4 doubles, 2 HRs, 5 runs and 7 RBIs
· Hits in 19 of his last 20, 29-69 w/7 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HRs, 18 runs & 22 RBIs
· Named the TL's Batter of the Week twice (June 27-July 3 and July 11-17)
· Has 23 multi-hit games
· Went 2-for-4 w/ a double to help the South beat the North 3-2 in the TL ASG
· Has hit streaks of 14 (June 25-July 11) 12 (June 11-22) and 11 games (April 7-18)
· Established a club-record nine-game RBI streak (April 11-21) with 14 RBIs
· Batting .332(66-199) vs. RHP; .363(29-80) vs. LHP; .391(34-87) w/RISP
· Houston's Minor League Player of the Year in 2010 (.341-18-89, 5 SBs)
Jimmy Paredes
· Hits in 6 of the last 8 games, 9-32 w/4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 10 runs and 5 RBIs
· Has 5 HRs in the last 23 games (4 HRs in his first 59)
· Tied for third in the TL in steals (27)
· Leads team with 28 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games
· Batting .276(68-246) vs. RHP; .277(26-94) vs. LHP; .292(26-89) w/RISP
· Has 117 PO, 177 A, 17 E (Fielding pct. of .945)
T.J. Steele
· Hits in 3 of his last 4 games, 6-14 with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 2 RBIs
· Has single-season career highs in games (88), at-bats (326), hits (70), doubles (12), HRs (7), RBIs (41) and steals (16)
· Batting .181(42-232) vs. RHP; .298(28-94) vs. LHP; .182(18-99) w/RISP
· In his first three pro seasons hit .281-10-79 in 157 games; his playing time hampered by a variety of injuries
Jose Vallejo
· Activated from the disabled list yesterday
· Is 0-16 in his last 10 games with 1 run and 1 RBI
· Last hit came June 14 at San Antonio
· In 37 games this year with AAA OKC hit .209 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs
· In 34 games last year with the Hooks hit .111-0-2 with 1 SB
· Acquired by the Astros along with RHP Matt Nevarez in the deal that sent C Ivan Rodriguez to Texas in August of 2009
Jimmy VanOstrand
· Is 8-24 in his last 8 games with 1 double, 1 HR, 4 walks, 2 runs and 3 RBIs
· Has 25 multi-hit games
· Named CC's May offensive player of the month (.310-1-12, .393 OBP, .833 OPS)
· Is Corpus Christi's all-time franchise leader with 160 RBIs
· Batting .302(65-215) vs. RHP; .275(22-80) vs. LHP; .262(22-84) w/RISP
Jonathan Villar
· Has 4-game hit streak at home, 5-14 w/3 HRs, 5 runs and 4 RBIs
· Was 2-18 in the Frisco series with 1 double and 1 run
· In 47 games with Lancaster hit .259-4-26 with 20 stolen bases
· Batting .212(24-113) vs. RHP; .184(7-38) vs. LHP; .217(5-23) w/RISP
· Has 54 PO, 90 A, 11 E (Fielding pct. of .929)
· Rated as Astros #3 prospect entering the 2011 season by Baseball America
Chris Wallace
· Joined club June 23 from Lexington in the South Atlantic League
· Hits in 6 of his last 7 games, 8-25 with 3 doubles, 2 HRs, 3 runs and 12 RBIs
· Has 19 RBIs in his last 12 games
· Has thrown out 1 of 14 (7.1%) would-be base stealers
· In 66 games w/the Legends hit .285-14-49
· Went 1-for-2 w/ a double to help the South defeat the North 6-3 in the SAL ASG
· Named the SAL's Batter of the Week April 7-17 (.444-5-17 in 10 games)
· In just his second year of pro ball...last year split his time between Greeneville (.310-8-32) and Tri-City (.250-2-8), hitting .293 overall
Brandon Wikoff
· Is 2-18 in his last 5 games with 1 RBI
· Named the TL's Batter of the Week April 25-May 1 (.600, 18x30)
· Named CC's May defensive player of the month (15 PO, 48 A, 1 E, .984 FP)
· Hit first career HR April 27 at Midland in his 657th pro at-bat
· Has 17 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games
· Batting .325(49-151) vs. RHP; .308(16-52) vs. LHP; .372(16-43) w/RISP
· Has 56 PO, 134 A, 5 E (Fielding pct. of .974)
BULLPEN REPORT
Starters: 25-33, 4.91 ERA, 514.2 IP, 67 HR, 171 BB, 405 K, .271 AVG
Relievers: 11-25, 5.19 ERA, 320.2 IP, 33 HR, 179 BB, 288 K, .278 AVG
Kyle Greenwalt
· Last appearance: (2.2 IP, 0 BB, 2 K) Allowed two HRs in the 8th inning Sunday night at Frisco
· Worked a perfect eighth inning to record the victory Friday night
· (1 IP, BB) Suffered the loss July 9, winning run scored for Tulsa on a pair of singles & a WP
· Yielded Mike Bianucci's game-winning 3-run homer in the 13th inning June 18 prior to 2 scoreless IP
· 10 of his last 14 appearances have been of the scoreless variety (21.2 IP, 15 K, 4 BB)
· Went 2-5 with a 9.31 ERA in 9 starts...yielded 8 HR, walked 12 and fanned 28 in 38.2 IP
· Tagged for 31 ER over 6 outings in May, issuing 10 walks and 17 strikeouts in 19.1 innings
· Led the JetHawks in wins and ranked second in starts (27) and innings pitched (136.2) last season
· Went 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 5 starts for the Peoria Javelinas this past fall
· Greeneville's MVP in 2008 (6-4, 3.14 ERA), posting the second-best overall ERA (3.01) in the system
Brad James
· Last appearance: Walked 4 (2 IBB) and hit a batter in 1.1 IP suffering the loss July 14
· Retired the first 7 men July 10 vs. NWA but endured the loss on Nick Francis' 2-run HR in the 7th
· Tossed 2 shutout July 7 v. Tulsa, walking 2 while fanning 1
· Allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks without recording an out July 2 at ONEOK in 2011 CC debut
· Was 1-0 for Tri-City with a 3.18 ERA in 5 appearances...3 BBs and 8 Ks over 5.2 IP
· Had shoulder surgery in 2009 and missed all of last season
· Played portions of 3 seasons for the Hooks (2007-09): 9-21, 5.92 ERA in 50 games and 48 starts
· Is 2nd in franchise history with 48 starts and third all-time in innings pitched (247.2 IP)
· A TL All-Star in 2008, missed most of the 2nd half due to back problems
· Tied for 2nd among Astros farmhands with 10 wins and ranked 2nd in ERA (3.03) in 2007
Blake King
· Last appearance: Allowed 1 run on 1 hit over 2 frames Monday night: 2BB, 5 K
· Sidestepped 2 hits over 2 scoreless IP Saturday night at Frisco: 3 Ks vs. 1 BB
· (1 R, 2 K, IP) Lead-off walk led to a run in the 7th inning July 12 vs. NWA
· Charged with 5 runs over last 13 appearances (18.1 IP, 23 Ks, 12 BBs)
· Yielded 4 runs in first four appearances (3.2 IP), walking 7 against 5 Ks
· Claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on May 26
· Was 2-0 with a 11.08 ERA in 15 games at Memphis / Yielded 2 runs on in 1.1 IP with Springfield
· Rated by BA as having the best slider in the St. Louis system in 2010
· Went 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA at Springfield last season, tossed 84 Ks over 68.0 IP - 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings - one of the highest ratios in the minors
· Held the opposition to a .171 batting average, tops among Texas League relievers
Arcenio Leon
· Last appearance: Tagged for 4 ER on 5 H over 1.1 IP Monday night
· (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K) Yielded a 3-run HR to Jonathan Greene Friday at Frisco...broke a string 9 appearances without allowing an ER: 18 Ks, 6 BBs in 13.0 IP
· Notched a three-inning save July 11 vs. NWA, fanning 2
· 17 free passes, 4 WP in 9 game stretch from May 2 to June 8 (12 IP, 6.75 ERA), throwing 124 of 245 pitches for strikes
· Did not allow an ER thru first 7 outings (11 IP)
· 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 w/ Hooks July 19 and limited opponents to 2 ER in first 6 app. (2.16 ERA)
Danny Meszaros
· Last appearance: Struck out 2 in the ninth last night to notch his fifth save
· Did not allow a hit over 1.1 scoreless frames Monday night: 1 BB, 1 K
· Worked around a lead-off single to record his fourth save Friday night at FRI
· Was 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA for OKC, notching 27 Ks and 14 BBs in 25.2 IP
· Hasn't yielded an earned run in last 11 outings (11.0 IP)with CC: 5 saves in as many opportunities
· 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA over 12 games in first stint with the club this season
· Last season, went a combined 5-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 10 saves in 33 contests between Corpus Christi and Round Rock before being suspended 50 games / Struck out 47 & walked 22 in 40.1 innings
· Began 2009 campaign at Lexington...did not allow a run in first 13 app., going 9-for-9 in save chances
· Promoted to CC in mid May and went on to lead the team in appearances...limited the league to a .207 average at Whataburger Field, posting a 1.75 ERA / 10 total saves led the Houston system
Patrick Urckfitz
· Last appearance: Permitted 3 R on 3 H (2B, 3B) without recording an out Monday night
· Had tossed 3 consecutive scoreless appearances (3.0 IP), working around 4 hits
· Yielded a 2-run homer to Tim Wheeler in the 8th July 7 vs. Tulsa, recorded just one out
· Walked 3 & hit a batter June 30 at Tulsa, yielding 3 runs while recording 2 outs in loss
· Broke a string of 5 consecutive scoreless appearances (6.2 IP)
· Had yielded 11 ER and 16 H 5.2 IP at OKC before being reassigned to CC June 26
· Yielded just 1 earned run in first 7 appearances (10.2 IP)
· 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)
· In 2009, ranked second in the Astros organization with 14 saves
Henry Villar
· Last appearance: Fanned 2 over 2 scoreless frames last night
· Crafted a perfect ninth Saturday at Frisco to notch his second save
· Earned the victory July 12 vs. NW Arkansas despite yielding 1 run in the 8th
· Has yielded 10 ER on 17 H over 10 appearances (11.1 IP)
· Saddled with the loss July 5 after 6 Frisco singles led to 4 runs in the 9th inning
· Broke a string of 7 (8.0 IP) consecutive scoreless outings to open 2011 tenure with CC
· Went 2-1 with a 6.81 ERA in 10 appearances (7 starts) at Oklahoma City
· Made his big-league debut last season as a September call-up, yielding 3 ER in 6 IP
· Was 4-7 with a 4.15 ERA for the 2010 Hooks, appearing in 25 of 36 games out of the bullpen
· Won Corpus Christi's pitcher of the month honors for April, allowing 1 ER in 12.2 IP
· For his career, has struck out 343 batters while walking 93 over 372.1 innings entering the 2011 season
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