TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, July 31 - Corpus Christi at Midland

Published on July 31, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Corpus Christi (16-19, 41-64) @ Midland (17-18, 44-61)

The RockHounds singled six times in the bottom of the seventh last night, off three different pitchers. Mix in an error and a wild pitch and whaddya got' A six-run frame, just enough for the home team in a 6-5 win over the Hooks. Ryan Ortiz provided the two-run single that turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 Midland lead. Former Hooks hurler Polin Trinidad worked a scoreless top of the seventh to swoop in for the win.

Dallas Keuchel turned in his 14th quality start of the year, but it wasn't good enough. Keuchel (9-7), who carried a one-hit shutout into the seventh, finished with three runs allowed on four hits over 6.1 innings. Jose Vallejo came off the disabled list to give the Hooks some punch at the bottom of the order, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Henry Sosa (2-0, 0.00) vs. RHP A.J. Griffin (2-2, 4.66)

Sosa, one of two pitchers obtained by the Astros in the deal that sent infielder Jeff Keppinger to the Giants, makes his third start for the Hooks and his second against Midland. The 26-year-old right-hander has been brilliant so far, with one unearned run allowed in his first 14 innings with the club. Tuesday at home against San Antonio, Sosa scattered three hits and a walk while striking out a season-high nine over seven innings. The unearned run he allowed came across in the sixth when the Hooks were up 6-0. The Hooks went on to win 11-1. He opened this season with AAA Fresno in the Pacific Coast League, where in 17 relief appearances he was 3-1 with a 10.41 ERA. Reassigned to Richmond (Va.) of the AA Eastern League, Sosa posted a 5-2 record and a 2.68 ERA in eight outings and six starts. In his eighth season of pro ball, Sosa was originally signed by the Giants as a non-drafted free agent in 2004.

· Has a combined record this year of 10-3 with a 4.52 ERA (39 ER in 77.2 IP) in 27 games and 8 starts

· Spent all of 2010 with Fresno, going 7-8 with a 4.07 ERA in 36 games and 14 starts

· In 13 games and 10 starts with Augusta in 2007 was 6-0 with 1 save and a 0.73 ERA (5 ER in 62.0 IP)

Griffin, a 13th-round selection of the A's in 2010 out of the University of San Diego, makes his sixth start for Midland and his second against the Hooks. Tuesday at Frisco, Griffin gave up three runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings and took a no-decision in a 7-3 loss to the Riders. Griffin's worst outing since joining the Midland rotation early this month came July 20 at Whataburger Field (5.0-10-5-4-3-0) when he lost to the Hooks 5-2. 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 8-5 with a 2.81 ERA in 20 starts

· Ranks second among Oakland farmhands in ERA (2.81) and third in strikeouts (108)

· Has allowed 104 hits and 22 walks in 121.2 IP (1.04 WHIP)

Zeid joins Hooks

RHP Josh Zeid, one of the three known players obtained by the Astros in the deal that sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies, joins the Hooks active roster today. Zeid (pronounced ZIDE, rhymes with tide), 24, has spent the entire season with Reading of the AA Eastern League, where in 21 appearances and 11 starts he was 2-3 with 2 saves and a 5.65 ERA.

Opening the year in the rotation, Zeid went 2-3 with a 6.80 ERA in 11 starts. Moved to the pen in late June, Zeid has been effective in relief, posting 2 saves and a 2.25 ERA in 10 outings. In those relief appearances, Zeid worked 16.0 innings, with just 10 hits and 2 walks allowed compared to 24 strikeouts.

Originally a 10th-round pick of the Phillies in 2009 out of Tulane, Zeid spent all last season with Lakewood in the South Atlantic League, where in 43 appearances and 12 starts he was 8-4 with 8 saves and a 2.93 ERA, with 111 strikeouts in 107.1 innings. Zeid's addition to the roster brings the Hooks to the maximum 24 active players.

Vallejo returns with a splash

Vallejo's return yesterday from the DL was a pleasant surprise. Saddled with an .074 average and relegated to minimal playing time, Vallejo started at second, moved to right and had three singles in four trips to the plate. His bases-loaded, two-run single in the top of the ninth pulled the Hooks to within two at 6-4.

The three-hit effort was just the second one this season for Vallejo. His first came May 29 with AAA Oklahoma City, when he went 3-for-4 with a run in a game at Nashville. Last night also marked Vallejo's first multi-RBI game since July 26, 2009, when as a member of the Rangers farm system, playing for Okie City, Vallejo went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs against Nashville.

VO and the long ball

Jimmy VanOstrand socked a pair of solo homers in Thursday's 7-5 win over San Antonio, giving him 11 HRs this year. In portions of four seasons and 319 career games with the Hooks, VanOstrand has hit 30 home runs, which ranks second on the all-time franchise list, behind only Mark Saccomanno (32). Thursday night, he passed both Drew Sutton and Ray Sadler, who hit 29 each in their time with Corpus Christi.

VanOstrand remains the club's all-time leader in RBIs with 164. He enters play tonight third on the Hooks' career list for at-bats (1,022), behind Wladimir Sutil (1,235) and Josh Anderson (1,085).

Going the ‚¬Ëœextra' mile

The Hooks managed two doubles last night, giving the club at least one extra-base hit in 43 consecutive games. The last time the Hooks failed to collect at least one extra-base hit in a game was June 13 at San Antonio when the Hooks managed six singles in a 4-0 loss to the Missions.

In the first half of the season, the Hooks averaged 2.49 extra-base hits per game. Here in the second half, with 53 doubles, 9 triples and 47 HRs in 35 games, the Hooks are averaging 3.11 extra-base hits per game.

Most notable is Corpus Christi's home run production. Here in the second half, the Hooks have hit 47 HRs in 35 games, exceeding their long-ball production of the first half (42 HRs in 70 games). The Hooks have hit 18 HRs over the last 13 games.

Pitching Rotation at Midland

Monday: RHP Jonnathan Aristil (4-8, 6.61) vs. RHP Jason Bergmann (1-6, 6.67)

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

· Hits in 3 of his last 5 games, 4-18 with 1 double, 3 runs and 3 RBIs

· Tossed one inning of shutout relief July 22 (3rd career app as a pitcher)

· Has thrown out 7 of 25 (28.0%) would-be base stealers

Jon Gaston

· Active since June 24 - was on the temporarily inactive list twice in June

· Is 9-26 in his last 8 games with 1 double, 2 HRs, 6 runs and 7 RBIs

· Has 17 RBIs in his last 29 games (none in the last 4)

· Batting .250(55-220) vs. RHP; .211(16-76) vs. LHP; .208(20-96) w/RISP

Jacob Goebbert

· Hits in 10 of his last 12 games, 16-43 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 4 runs and 6 RBIs

· Went 4-11 in San Antonio series with 1 triple and 5 RBIs

· Has 27 multi-hit games

· Hitting .281 on the road; is 0-6 with the bases loaded

· In 99 games overall this season batting .300(110x367)-10-52

· Batting .330(67-203) vs. RHP; .267(16-60) vs. LHP; .420(29-69) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

· Joined Hooks July 7 from Lancaster in the Cal League

· Leads all full-season minor leaguers in OBP (.451) and ranks second in OPS (1.074) and fourth in walks (79)

· Has 5-game hit streak, 7-18 with 1 double, 1 HR, 3 runs and 3 RBIs

· Hits in 15 of his last 16 games, 25-59 with 5 doubles, 4 HRs, 11 runs and 8 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 (27) and RBIs (82)

Jimmy Paredes

· Hits in 3 of the last 5 games, 8-19 with 1 double, 5 runs and 4 RBIs

· Is 0-20 in the last 5 road games with 2 runs and 1 RBI

· Has 6 HRs in the last 34 games (4 HRs in his first 59)

· Ranked fourth in the TL in steals (29)

· Leads team with 30 multi-hit games, including three 4-hit games

· Batting .262(73-279) vs. RHP; .292(31-106) vs. LHP; .275(28-102) w/RISP

· Has 130 PO, 198 A, 20 E (Fielding pct. of .943)

T.J. Steele

· Was 0-1 in SA series

· Is 3-20 in his last 7 games with 3 runs, 1 RBI and 8 Ks

· Has single-season career highs in games (94), at-bats (344), hits (73), doubles (12), HRs (7), RBIs (42) and steals (16)

· Batting .175(43-246) vs. RHP; .306(30-98) vs. LHP; .186(19-102) w/RISP

Jose Vallejo

· Activated from the disabled list (concussion) yesterday

· Went 3-for-4 last night with 2 RBIs to snap 0-for-18 slide

· Previous hit came June 14 at San Antonio

· His last (and only other) 3-hit game this season came May 29 at Nashville (3-4, run)

· His last multi-RBI game was July 26, 2009, for OKC vs. Nashville (3 RBIs)

· 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

· Hits in 7 of his last 10 games, 12-36with 1 double, 3 HRs, 4 runs and 7 RBIs

· Has 27 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 164 RBIs

· Batting .296(68-230) vs. RHP; .295(26-88) vs. LHP; .256(23-90) w/RISP

Jonathan Villar

· Hits in 12 of the last 13, 17-49 w/5 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HRs, 12 runs and 9 RBIs

· In 47 games with Lancaster hit .259-4-26 with 20 stolen bases

· In 95 games overall this year batting .246(90x366)-11-44

· Batting .241(33-137) vs. RHP; .218(12-55) vs. LHP; .273(9-33) w/RISP

· Has 69 PO, 121 A, 13 E (Fielding pct. of .936)

· 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 12 of his last 16 games, 16-57 with 4 doubles, 3 HRs, 8 runs and 15 RBIs

· Has 22 RBIs in his last 21 games

· Has thrown out 1 of 19 (5.3%) would-be base stealers

· In 66 games w/the Legends hit .285-14-49

· Overall this year in 95 games batting .282(97x344)-19-77

· 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)

Brandon Wikoff

· Hits in 4 of the last 5 games, 4-15 with 2 runs

· 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 18 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games

· Batting .324(56-173) vs. RHP; .270(17-63) vs. LHP; .327(16-49) w/RISP

· Has 77 PO, 164 A, 6 E (Fielding pct. of .976)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 29-38, 4.89 ERA, 576.0 IP, 73 HR, 187 BB, 448 K, .271 AVG

Relievers: 12-26, 5.30 ERA, 353.1 IP, 40 HR, 193 BB, 319 K, .278 AVG

Xavier Cedeno

· Last appearances: Crafted a perfect eighth inning Friday night

· Walked 2 & hit a batter, allowing 3 R while recording 1 out (sac bunt) Wednesday vs. SA

· Made initial relief appearance of the year on Monday at Frisco: 1 BB, 1 K, 1.1 IP

· Rejoined club last Sunday after making 1 start for OKC: 2 ER over 4 IP in loss to Isotopes

· 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 19 starts...109 Ks and 42 BBs in 108.2 IP

· Fanned first 9 and was perfect thru 5.2 on June 27 vs. Frisco...ended with club-record 14 Ks in 6.2 IP

· Won Pitcher of the Week honors for performance, 1 of 9 quality starts on the season

· Carried a no-hitter into the 8th at Hammons Field on May 26

· Leads the TL in strikeouts, 3rd in opposition batting (.238), 5th in WHIP (1.28) and 6th in ERA

· DNP in 2010 regular season but went 1-2 with a 2.32 ERA in 12 appearances for Carolina of the PWL

· Was 4-4 with a 4.66 ERA in 44 relief outings between Tulsa and Modesto in 2009

Chris Hicks

· Last appearance: Walked 1 and fanned 1 in a scoreless 7th Thursday night vs. San Antonio

· Allowed a solo HR to Blake Tekotte in the 7th inning Wednesday night

· Retired all 5 batters he faced last Sunday at Frisco

· Hooks debut July 20 vs. Midland: allowed 1 hit and 1 walk in a scoreless 8th

· Went 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 15 relief appearances for Lancaster: 28 K, 5 BB, 24.2 IP

· Yielded 4 ER over last 11 appearances with the JetHawks (17.1 IP)

· Missed all of 2010 due to shoulder surgery

· Made 26 starts for Lancaster in 2009, posting a 9-11 record and 6.12 ERA: 103 K, 39 BB, 129.1 IP

· Won pitcher of the month honors for April, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA...20 K, 5 BB

· Saved 9 games as a Junior for Georgia Tech in 2008, tying for 5th in school history

Blake King

· Last appearance: Waked 1 and struck out a batter in a scoreless eighth last night

· (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K) Allowed an IR to score on a groundout in the 5th Wed. vs. SA

· Struck out 2 and walked 1 over 1.2 scoreless last Saturday at Frisco

· Has yielded 1 run over last 6 outings (8.1 IP, 15 Ks, 6 BBs)

· Charged with 5 runs over last 17 appearances (23.2 IP, 30 Ks, 15 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

· Held the opposition to a .171 batting average, tops among Texas League relievers

Arcenio Leon

· Last appearance: Spun 2.1 shutout frames Thursday vs. SA, allowing 1 H and 1 BB with 1 K

· Touched for 1 run and 4 hits in last 5 appearances: 10 K, 2 BB, 6.0 IP

· Tagged for 4 ER on 5 H over 1.1 IP July 18 vs. Midland

· (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K) Yielded a 3-run HR to Jonathan Greene July 15 at Frisco...broke a string 9 appearances without allowing an ER: 18 Ks, 6 BBs in 13.0 IP

· 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: Suffered the BS last night: 3 R (2 ER) on 1 BB and 2 H without recording an out

· Worked around a lead-off error and struck out 2 in a scoreless 8th Thursday vs. SA

· Failed to record an out July 22 as Frisco hit 2 HRs and scored 6 runs

· Had not yielded an ER in prior 11 outings (11.0 IP) with CC: 5 saves in as many opportunities

· Was 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA for OKC, notching 27 Ks and 14 BBs in 25.2 IP

· 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

Jason Stoffel

· Last appearance: Earned 2nd save with CC Thurs. vs. SA, facing the minimum in the 9th thanks to a DP

· Walked 1 and struck out 2 in a scoreless 9th Wednesday night

· Yielded 2 runs on 3 hits in 1 inning last Saturday at Frisco

· Made Hooks debut July 20 vs. Midland, breezing though a perfect ninth to pick up the save

· Went 1-2 with 13 saves and a 3.98 ERA in 32 appearances for Richmond: 31 K, 16 BB, 31.2 IP

· Allowed 1 ER over first 8 appearances (9.1 IP) with the Flying Squirrels

· 8 of his last 9 appearances at Richmond were of the scoreless variety, going 4-for-4 in save chances

· Posted a 2-4 record and 4.80 ERA at San Jose last season, notching 25 saves in 29 opportunities

· Features 120 strikeouts against 42 walks as a professional

· Selected in the 4th round by San Francisco in 2009 out of Arizona

· Wildcats career leader in saves and appearances

Henry Villar

· Last appearance: (0.2 IP, 1 H) Allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score last night

· Tagged for 3 R on 4 H, notching just 1 out in the 8th inning Wednesday night vs. SA

· Had not yielded a run in his last four appearances (1 W, 1 SV, 5 IP, 4 Ks)

· Worked 7 (8.0 IP) consecutive scoreless outings to open 2011 tenure with CC

· Saddled with the loss July 5 after 6 Frisco singles led to 4 runs in the 9th inning

· Began a 5-game run when he allowed 9 ER over 4.2 IP

· 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

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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