Game Notes, May 6 vs. San Antonio
Published on May 6, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
San Antonio (10-19) @ Corpus Christi (12-17)
The Texas League's leaders in home runs did just that last night. The Missions went deep four times and that was more than enough support for Hayden Beard and Ryan Kelly as the men from the Alamo City skunked the Hooks 6-0. Cody Decker homered twice and knocked in three runs, while Jedd Gyorko and Edinson Rincon added solo shots for the visitors. The only San Antonio run that didn't come courtesy of the long ball was the final run, driven in by Kelly in the top of the ninth on a triple. Kelly's first hit in the pro ranks came in just his second official plate appearance.
Beard was the big story of the night for the Missions. Rebounding from a dismal effort (9 ER in one-third of an inning) Monday in Midland, Beard blanked the Hooks on five hits and a walk through seven innings. He struck out four and retired 10 of the last 11 men he faced. Kelly kept the Hooks off the board over the final two frames.
Today's Matchup:
LHP Robbie Erlin (0-1, 2.66) vs. RHP Jake Buchanan (1-1, 4.20)
Erlin, one of two pitchers acquired by the Padres at last year's trade deadline in the deal that sent RHP Mike Adams to the Rangers, makes his sixth start this season. Tuesday at home against Frisco, Erlin recorded season highs in strikeouts (10) and innings pitched (8.0) in arguably his best outing of the year, yet suffered a 2-0 loss. He allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk. Known for his eye-popping walk-to-strikeout ratio, the southpaw is at it again this year, with five walks and 30 strikeouts in 23.2 innings of work. Last year with Myrtle Beach, Frisco and San Antonio, Erlin was a combined 9-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 26 games and 25 starts. Baseball America ranks Erlin the eighth-best prospect in the Padres system.
- Holding righties to a .232 average, but lefties are hitting .393 against him
- Last year struck out 154 batters and issued just 16 walks in 147.1 innings
- Originally a third-round pick of the Rangers in 2009 out of high school in California
Buchanan, an eighth-round pick of the Astros in 2010 out of North Carolina State, makes his sixth start this season. Tuesday at Midland, Buchanan put forth another quality start, only to lose to the Hounds 5-3. In six innings he allowed three earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two. Buchanan has been a measure of consistency in the Hooks rotation, holding opponents to four or fewer runs in all five starts and working between 5.1 and 6.2 innings each time out. 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).
- Has a 1.42 GO/AO ratio after 5 starts
- Was 4-5 with a 4.28 ERA in 14 starts for Tri-City in 2010
- In 3 pro seasons has allowed 15 HRs in 256.2 IP (1 HR for every 17.1 IP)
Homer time
With their four homers last night, the Missions now lead the league with 37 home runs this season. Coincidentally, the Hooks have given up 37 dingers this season, which also leads the circuit. With both clubs having played 29 games to date, Missions hitters and Hooks pitchers are on pace to hit/allow 178 home runs this year.
Last year, the Missions clubbed 159 HRs while the Hooks allowed 150 long balls. Last night's game marked the first time this season the Hooks have given up more than three HRs in a game.
Goose eggs
Yesterday's result marked the fourth time this season the Hooks have been shut out - the second time at Whataburger Field. All four shutouts have come within the span of the last 18 games.
The 6-0 final was the first shutout victory for the Missions this year. San Antonio was the last team in the league to record a shutout this season.
Counting the end of the regular season last year and the first 28 games this season, the Missions had gone 37 consecutive games without blanking an opponent. Prior to last night, San Antonio's last shutout victory came last August 27 - at Whataburger Field - by the score of 6-0. Cody Decker homered that night, too.
"Who, those guys -
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the two clubs, the Hooks just can't seem to get the upper hand on "those guys," meaning the Missions. In the last 36 meetings between the Hooks and the Missions, dating back to August 5, 2010, the Hooks are 6-30 against those guys.
Bodie milestone watch
Manager Keith Bodie remains 2 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 tonight with a career regular-season record of 998-942 (.514 winning percentage). Adding this season to his four years at the helm with Wichita, Bodie's managerial record in the Texas League stands at 318-264.
Pitching Rotation vs. San Antonio
Monday: LHP Juan Oramas (1-4, 8.46) vs. LHP Wes Musick (3-1, 2.51 w/ Lancaster)
Tuesday: RHP Keyvius Sampson (2-1, 3.94) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (1-3, 5.25)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Brandon Barnes
- Is 1-14 in the last 4 games with 1 HBP, 1 walk, 1 run and 1 RBI
- Has just 1 extra-base hit in his last 11 games (double)
- Leads TL in doubles (14)
- Corpus Christi's offensive player of the month in April (.353-4-21, 22 games)
- Named Texas League Co-Player of the Week (April 5-15), hit .432
- Names Texas League Player of the Week (April 16-22), hit .391
- Batting .307(23-75) vs. RHP; .357(10-28) vs. LHP; .345(10-29) w/RISP
Jay Fernandez
- Is 2-17 in his last 6 games with 1 run
- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.0 (165 of 412)
- 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
- His walk-off, 3-run HR April 9 the first walk-off HR in his 4-year pro career
- Has 3-game hit streak, 5-12 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 runs and 2 RBIs
- Was 0-15 in the previous 4 games
- Named Texas League Co-Player of the Week (April 5-15), hit .429
- Batting .219(16-73) vs. RHP; .409(9-22) vs. LHP; .429(9-21) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
- Is 1-14 in the last 5 games with 2 walks, 1 RBI and 8 Ks
- Batting .311(14-45) at home; .171(7-41) on the road
- Batting .213(13-61) vs. RHP; .320(8-25) vs. LHP; .160(4-25) w/RISP
- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)
Jordan Kreke
- Has 3-game hit streak, 3-9 with 1 double and 2 runs
- Played 1B Tuesday night for the first time in his career (replaced Singleton)
- Has 133 career games at 3B, 126 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
- Is 0-9 in the last 3 games with 3 walks
- Hits in 5 of his last 10 gms, 9-31 w/8 walks, 1 dbl, 1 triple, 1 HR, 4 runs and 4 RBIs
- CC's defensive player of the month in April (47 PO, 56 A, 0 E)
- Batting .246(17-69) vs. RHP; .333(7-21) vs. LHP; .444(12-27) w/RISP
- Played just 6 games in the three-year period 2009-11
Ryan McCurdy
- Joined club Thursday, went 1-4 in his AA debut
- Had played just 2 games w/ Lancaster this season, was 2-3 with 1 HBP
- Played 53 games in 2 seasons (2010-11), hitting .285-0-18 in 130 at-bats
- Signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent in June of 2010...played at Duke
Andy Simunic
- Hits in 3 of the last 5 games, 4-16 with 2 doubles and 1 RBI
- 4-RBI night April 21 his first since July 29 last season
- Batting .315(17-54) vs. RHP; .286(2-7) vs. LHP; .263(5-19) w/RISP
- Played every position in the field last year except catcher and 1B
- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 11 DPs in 1,306 plate appearances
Jon Singleton
- Is 2-18 in his last 6 games with 1 double, 1 run and 1 RBI
- Has just 1 RBI in his last 8 games
- Last year hit .298-13-63 in 128 games with Clearwater and Lancaster
- Batting .375(24-64) vs. RHP; .200(6-30) vs. LHP; .350(7-20) w/RISP
- Has started 18 games at 1B; 7 games in LF
- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system
T.J. Steele
- Clubbed CC's first pinch-hit HR of the season last Sunday in the 8th
- Went 3-11 on road trip with 1 HR, 2 runs and 1 RBI
- Batting .182(6-33) vs. RHP; .118(2-17) vs. LHP; .250(4-16) w/RISP
- Ranks fourth on the Hooks all-time stolen base chart with 30
J.C. Thompson
- Is 1-18 in his last 7 games
- Hit .273-10-46 in 87 games last year with Lancaster and CC
- Batted .440-10-62 in 59 games with Western Oklahoma State College in 2009
Jonathan Villar
- Hits in 5 of his last 7 games, 6-21 with 1 double, 1 triple, 3 runs and 2 RBIs
- Is 3-11 in the last 4 games with 1 triple, 1 run and 6 Ks
- Tied for the league lead with 12 stolen bases
- Batting .221(15-68) vs. RHP; .212(7-33) vs. LHP; .231(6-26) w/RISP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Austin Wates
- Has reached base safely in 8 straight games and in 25 of 28 this season
- Hits in 6 of the last 8, 9-31 with 1 double, 2 HRs, 4 runs and 8 RBIs
- Batting .325(27-83) vs. RHP; .300(9-30) vs. LHP; .407(11-27) w/RISP
- 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 May 6, 2012
- Early Hole Too Big for Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Midland Takes Game Two over Frisco 3-1 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cardinals Hold on to 10-7 Win over Arkansas - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Drop 2nd Straight - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Edge Drillers - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, May 6 vs. San Antonio - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Edge Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
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