Game Notes, April 15 at Tulsa
Published on April 15, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Game Notes, April 15, 2012 Corpus Christi (5-4) @ Tulsa (6-3)
The Hooks open a three-game series this afternoon at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. Last night, the Hooks were unable to hold an early 3-0 lead and fell to Northwest Arkansas 9-7. Right fielder Wil Myers had a field day against Hooks pitching, going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and five RBIs. Carlo Testa and Christian Colon also homered for the Naturals, who avoided a first-ever series sweep at Arvest Ballpark at the hands of the Hooks. Colon's solo homer in the sixth snapped a 7-7 tie.
Brandon Barnes and Jose Martinez drove in two runs each for the Hooks. Martinez leads the Texas League with 13 RBIs, while Barnes and teammate Jacob Goebbert are tied for second in the loop with nine RBIs apiece.
The Hooks take on a Tulsa side that beat San Antonio last night 5-3. The Drillers have won two of three in each of the three series in which they have competed.
Today's Matchup:
RHP Jake Buchanan (0-0, 6.75) vs. LHP Nick Schmidt (0-0, 12.46)
Buchanan, an eighth-round pick of the Astros in 2010 out of North Carolina State, makes his second start of the season. In his first outing last Monday at home against these Drillers, Buchanan was charged with four earned runs on eight hits and a walk in 5.1 innings of work. He struck out six and did not get a decision in Corpus Christi's 7-4 triumph. The Hooks won that night on Jacob Goebbert's walk-off, three-run home run. In 25 starts last season for Lancaster in the California League, Buchanan was 5-10 with a 3.91 ERA. Selected as the Astros 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Buchanan became the first Lancaster pitcher to start a minimum of 20 games and finish the season with an ERA under 4.00 since former Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb accomplished the feat in 2001 (28 starts, 3.99 ERA).
- Had a 2.31 GO/AO ratio with Lancaster in 2011 and held Cal League hitters to a .256 average
- In 14 road starts with the JetHawks went 4-4 with a 2.17 ERA (1-6, 6.86 in 11 home starts)
- Has a career GO/AO ratio of 2.19 in three pro seasons
Schmidt, acquired by the Rockies as the "player to be named later" in the Huston Street deal with San Diego in December of 2011, makes his second start of the season as well. Last Sunday against the Hooks, Schmidt allowed six earned runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings and did not get the decision in Tulsa's 9-7 win. Austin Wates doubled twice off Schmidt while Chris Wallace provided a two-run double. Last year, Schmidt was limited to 12 starts for Lake Elsinore and two rehab starts with the rookie-level Arizona League Padres due to injury. With the Storm he went 3-5 with a 3.84 ERA in 63.1 innings of work. Originally a first-round pick (23rd selection overall) of the Padres in 2007 out of the University of Arkansas, Schmidt was a two-time All-American with the Razorbacks and left Fayetteville as the school's all-time strikeout leader (345).
- Schmidt's 12 starts with Lake Elsinore in 2011 came from July 7 through the end of the season
- In 24 starts for Lake Elsinore in 2010 was 6-9 with a 4.35 ERA
- Has allowed just 18 HRs over 279.2 innings in five pro seasons (1 HR for every 15.5 innings)
31 and counting
In taking two of three from the Naturals the Hooks outscored Northwest Arkansas 31-16. Corpus Christi batted .287 in the series at Arvest Ballpark, and of their 31 hits the Hooks had 13 doubles and 4 triples. The Hooks enter this series with Tulsa leading the Texas League in hitting (.281), runs (67) and doubles (30).
Life at ONEOK
The Hooks have a record of 5-6 over the last two seasons here at ONEOK Field. Corpus Christi swept the first series played in this park in 2010 but lost twice to the Drillers later in the year. Last season, the Hooks went 2-4 in this downtown facility. Overall, the Hooks are 39-52 lifetime against the Drillers.
Martinez RBI leader
Jose Martinez had his six-game hitting streak come to an end last night, but he knocked in two more runs to push his league-leading RBI total to 13 for the year. Martinez went 4-for-10 in the Northwest Arkansas series with 8 RBIs.
Martinez became the 15th player in club history to knock in five or more runs in a game in Thursday's win at Arvest Ballpark. The only other player on the roster who has achieved that feat is Brandon Barnes, who was also the last player to do it. Barnes knocked in six runs in Corpus Christi's 10-9 win in 11 innings over Springfield August 20, 2011, at Whataburger Field.
Bodie milestone watch
Manager Keith Bodie is 9 wins away from milestone win number 1,000 in his pro career. In this his 16th season as a manager in the minor leagues, Bodie enters play today with a career regular-season record of 991-929 (.516 winning percentage). Adding this season to his four years at the helm with Wichita, Bodie's managerial record in the Texas League stands at 311-251. His TL winning percentage of .553 ranks as the eighth-best career winning percentage in Texas League history for managers with at least 500 games experience.
Pitching Rotation at Tulsa
Monday: RHP Jarred Cosart (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Joe Gardner (0-0, 4.76)
Tuesday: RHP Ross Seaton (0-1, 5.63) vs. LHP Edwar Cabrera (1-1, 2.25)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Brandon Barnes
- Has scored a run in all 8 games he's played
- Has 4-game hit streak, 11-18 with 6 doubles, 1 HR, 6 runs and 7 RBIs
- Has 78 career home runs
- Last year hit .238-15-54 in 125 games with CC and OKC
- Was Lancaster's MVP in 2010 (.269-27-80)
Jay Fernandez
- Picked up his first hit Tuesday night - a double in the 4th inning
- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.1 (163 of 406)
- In 8 seasons in the Mariners and Twins systems hit .244-16-162 in 439 games
- Signed by the Astros as a free agent in January, 2012
Jacob Goebbert
- Monday night's walk-off, 3-run HR the first walk-off HR in his 4-year pro career
- Has 5-game hit streak, 10-20 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 runs and 9 RBIs
- Hit .290-12-67 in 132 games last year with Lancaster, CC and OKC
- With the Hooks in 75 games last year batted .305-5-34
Kody Hinze
- Is 3-15 in the last 4 games with 4 walks, 4 runs and 1 RBI
- Has runs in 7 of the 8 games he's played
- Batting .389(7-18) vs. LHP; 0-12 w/RISP
- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)
Jordan Kreke
- Was 1-9 in NW Ark series with a triple and 2 runs
- Has played 302 games in four pro seasons
- Has 129 career games at 3B, 124 at 2B and 49 at SS
- Signed by the Astros as a free agent in January, 2012...originally a 13th-round pick of the Braves in 2009
Jose Martinez
- Hits in 6 of the last 7 games, 10-27 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 6 runs and 13 RBIs
- Played just 6 games in the three-year period 2009-11
- Last full season was 2008 with Springfield (.253-8-67 in 127 games)
- Batting .500(6-12) vs. LHP; .571(8-14) w/RISP
Andy Simunic
- Played late last night as a PR and 3B
- Hit .263-5-32 in 104 games last year with CC, OKC and Lancaster
- Played every position in the field last year except catcher and 1B
- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 10 DPs in 1,245 plate appearances
Jon Singleton
- Has 6-game hit streak, 10-21 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 7 runs and 4 RBIs
- Last year hit .298-13-63 in 128 games with Clearwater and Lancaster
- Hit all 13 of his home runs last season off RHP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system and the No. 39 prospect in the game today
T.J. Steele
- Has RBIs in 5 of his 6 starts
- Batting .333(4-12) w/RISP
- Is tied for fourth on the Hooks all-time stolen base chart with 29
- Has started 158 games in CF for the Hooks - second most in club history
J.C. Thompson
- Was 1-4 Monday night for his first hit of the season
- Hit .273-10-46 in 87 games last year with Lancaster and CC
- With the Hooks in 18 games hit .115-0-0
- Batted .440-10-62 in 59 games with Western Oklahoma State College in 2009
Jonathan Villar
- Leads the league with 7 stolen bases
- Last year hit .241-14-52 with 34 stolen bases in 130 games with Lancaster and CC
- Clubbed a walk-off homer in his Hooks debut last June 1 vs. Springfield
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Chris Wallace
- Hits in 4 of his last 5 games, 4-20 with 4 doubles, 2 runs and 7 RBIs
- Hit .271-20-78 in 102 games last year with Lexington and CC
- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year
- Only Hook to club two grand slams last season (July 3 and July 12)
Austin Wates
- Was 0-5 last night to snap streak of hits and runs in his first 7 games
- Was 1-10 in NW Ark series with 1 run and 2 RBIs
- Hit .300-6-75 with 26 stolen bases in 132 games last year with Lancaster
- Named Lancaster's MVP, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories
Texas League Stories from April 15, 2012
- 'Riders Rally in Eighth, Win 4-3 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Pounded by Midland 18-4 - Springfield Cardinals
- Eighth Inning Rally Does in Travs at Frisco - Arkansas Travelers
- Arenado's Homer Gives Drillers Win - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Washed Away on Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, April 15 at Tulsa - Corpus Christi Hooks
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