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Game Notes, June 4 at Springfield

June 4, 2012 - Texas League (TL) Corpus Christi Hooks

Corpus Christi (27-28) @ Springfield (27-28)

The pitching of Richard Castillo and some clutch two-out hitting carried the home club to an 8-3 win over the Hooks here last night. Castillo earned his second win over the Hooks and his third win in four starts for Springfield by limiting the visitors to a run on eight hits and two walks over six-plus innings. The two-out, two-run singles were provided by Xavier Scruggs in the sixth and pinch hitter Jake Shaffer in the eighth.

Corpus Christi's first loss this road trip snapped the club's winning streak at four games and the team's road winning streak at five. Despite the loss, the Hooks have won nine of their last 12 games and, with a victory here tonight, would post their fourth consecutive .500 or better road series.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Ross Seaton (4-3, 3.28) vs. LHP Tyler Lyons (4-4, 3.88)

Seaton, a third-round selection of the Astros in the 2008 draft, makes his 11th start for the Hooks and his first against the Cardinals. Seaton opened this trip last Wednesday at Dickey-Stephens Park, limiting the Travelers to two runs on nine hits (all singles) over 6.2 innings. He did not get the decision in Corpus Christi's 3-2 victory. Seaton, just selected by the Astros as Corpus Christi's pitcher of the month in May, is 3-0 with a 1.87 ERA in his last five starts. His recent success has moved him to eighth in the league in ERA. Seaton led the Hooks and the Texas League with 28 starts last season, posting the second-highest single-season total in team history. A valedictorian at Houston's Second Baptist High School his senior year, Seaton has not missed a turn in the rotation since July of 2009 when he pitched for Lexington - a span of 74 starts.

- Has not allowed more than 4 earned runs in any of his 10 starts with the Hooks

- In 7 road starts is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA (2-1, 2.37 ERA in 3 home starts)

- Made AAA debut with OKC April 22 vs. Albuquerque (4.2-7-6-5-2-1, ND)

Lyons, a ninth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2010 out of Oklahoma State University, makes his 11th start for Springfield and his first against the Hooks. Here Wednesday to begin the home stand against San Antonio, Lyons held the Missions to three runs on seven hits over six innings in a 10-5 Cardinals win. The lefty equaled his season high with seven strikeouts. After losing three of his first four starts this season, Lyons is 4-1 with a 3.53 ERA over his last six outings. In his first year at the AA level, Lyons spent all last season (his first year in pro ball) with Palm Beach in the Florida State League, where in 33 games and 12 starts he went 9-4 with 1 save and a 4.50 ERA.

- Has a 1.71 GO/AO ratio in 10 starts with the Cardinals

- Much better at home this season (3-1, 1.88 ERA, 5 starts) than on the road (1-3, 6.20 ERA, 5 starts)

- Went 22-14 with 1 save, 8 complete games and a 4.44 ERA in 4 years with OSU

Cisnero honored

RHP Jose Cisnero has been selected as the Texas League's Pitcher of the Week for the period May 28-June 3. The native of the Dominican Republic earned the acclaim for his effort Thursday night in North Little Rock against the Travelers. Cisnero allowed just one unearned run on five hits and a walk over 7.0 innings and 111 pitches. He struck out seven and did not figure in the decision, as the Hooks beat the Travs 5-2 in 15 innings.

Cisnero becomes the first Hooks pitcher to be so honored this season. Last year, four Hooks pitchers received the league's weekly award. The most recent recipient was RHP Erick Abreu, recognized last August 15-21.

Astros announce May players of the month

The Astros Player Development Department announced its May players of the month for its four full-season affiliates. Here in Corpus Christi, the acclaim goes to (what is this, the Academy Awards??!!) RHP Ross Seaton, 1B/DH Jon Singleton and IF Andy Simunic.

Seaton was chosen as the Hooks pitcher of the month. In six May starts, Seaton went 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He limited Texas League hitters to a .264 average over 36.2 innings.

Singleton was picked as the club's offensive player of the month. In 27 games, Singleton hit .281 (27x96) with 3 doubles, 7 HRs, 20 runs and 24 RBIs. He posted a .931 OPS in May.

Simunic was the choice as Corpus Christi's defensive player of the month. Seeing action at 3B, SS and RF, Simunic recorded 25 put-outs and 58 assists while committing only 1 error (.988 fielding percentage).

Steal away

Despite the fact that the Hooks haven't stolen a base in the last three games, the Hooks continue to lead the Texas League with 61 steals this season. The Hooks are stealing bases at a 73.5% success rate. SS Jonathan Villar enters play tonight tied with his counterpart at Arkansas, Jean Segura, for the league lead with 22 stolen bases. The Travs are second in the circuit with 55 steals.

The Cardinals are next-to-last in the loop with 33 steals as a team. San Antonio is last in the league with 29.

Should the Hooks go without a stolen base tonight, it will mark just the second time this season that the Hooks have gone as many as four consecutive games without a steal.

Hooks can't figure Scruggs, Curtis

Springfield's corner infielders are having a field day with Corpus Christi pitching this half. Xavier Scruggs (1B) is now 5-for-13 against the Hooks with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. Scruggs is batting .189 against the rest of the league. Jermaine Curtis (3B) is now 9-for-20 against the Hooks with 2 doubles, 1 HR and 4 RBIs. Curtis enter's tonight's action with a 12-game hitting streak (20x45).

Pitching Rotation vs. Midland

Wednesday: RHP Shawn Haviland (3-4, 5.53) vs. RHP Jose Cisnero (2-5, 4.59)

Thursday: RHP Murphy Smith (4-2, 2.88) vs. LHP Brett Oberholtzer (3-3, 5.02)

Friday: RHP Sonny Gray (1-4, 4.19) vs. RHP Jake Buchanan (3-4, 5.02)

Saturday: RHP Gary Daley (6-3, 5.30) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (3-3, 4.09)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- Added to roster Wednesday from Advanced-A Lancaster

- All 3 hits so far have gone for extra bases (2 doubles, 1 HR)

- Is 2-8 this series with 1 double, 1 HR, 2 runs and 3 RBIs

- In 47 games with the JetHawks was batting .279 (50x179) with 13 doubles, 8 HRs and 25 RBIs (also with 2 SBs)

- Broke camp with the Hooks and homered in exhibition loss to Houston April 2

- In 23 games at the end of last season with the Hooks hit .323 with 7 doubles, 3 HRs and 15 RBIs

- A 23rd-round pick of the Astros in 2010 out of the University of Nebraska

Jay Fernandez

- Hits in 4 of his last 6 games, 5-19 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 1 run and 3 RBIs

- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.1 (166 of 414)

- In 8 seasons in the Mariners and Twins systems hit .244-16-162 in 439 games

Jacob Goebbert

- Hits in 9 of the last 10 games, 12-37 with 5 walks, 3 doubles, 5 runs and 3 RBIs

- Has a 5-game hit streak, 6-19 with 3 walks, 2 doubles, 2 runs and 1 RBI

- His walk-off, 3-run HR April 9 the first walk-off HR in his pro career

- Named Texas League Co-Player of the Week (April 5-15), hit .429

- Batting .227(32-141) vs. RHP; .422(19-45) vs. LHP; .310(13-42) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

- Is 3-26 in his last 10 games with 3 walks, 11 Ks, 1 run and 1 RBI

- Hit .106(7-66) in May with 9 walks and 5 RBIs

- Batting .227(17-75) at home; .176(12-68) on the road

- Batting .187(20-107) vs. RHP; .250(9-36) vs. LHP; .149(7-47) w/RISP

- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)

Jordan Kreke

- Is 3-10 this road trip with 1 double and 3 Ks

- Batting .235(8-34) at home; .189(7-37) on road

- Batting .233(14-60) vs. RHP; .091(1-11) vs. LHP; .053(1-19) w/RISP

- Played 1B May 1 for the first time in his career (replaced Singleton)

- Has 136 career games at 3B, 127 at 2B and 49 at SS

Jose Martinez

- Hits in 15 of his last 16 games, 23-70 with 1 walk, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 11 runs and 9 RBIs

- Has 9 RBIs in his last 11 games

- Has grounded into 6 double plays in his last 15 games, including 2 last night

- Reached base safely in 23 consecutive games (May 4-28) w/.352 avg. and .402 OBP

- CC's defensive player of the month in April (47 PO, 56 A, 0 E)

- Batting .303(44-145) vs. RHP; .319(15-47) vs. LHP; .339(19-56) w/RISP

Ryan McCurdy

- Is 9-30 in his last 11 games with 2 walks, 3 HBPs, 2 sac bunts, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 runs and 8 RBIs

- Was 2-4 with a run last night in his only start this road trip

- Grand slam May 25 his first pro HR (in portions of 3 seasons had played in 72 games)

- Batting .313(15-48) vs. RHP; 0-9 vs. LHP; .294(5-17) w/RISP

- Had played just 2 games w/ Lancaster this season, was 2-3 with 1 HBP

Jon Singleton

- Is 0-6 this series with 2 walks and 2 runs

- Is 4-19 this road trip with 5 walks, 1 double, 2 HRs, 4 runs and 3 RBIs

- Ranks eighth in the league in hitting (.306), third in RBIs (38), fifth in slugging percentage (.565) and tops the circuit in runs (39)

- Named the Texas League's Player of the Week (May 21-27), hit .500-4-12

- CC's offensive player of the month in May (.281-7-24, .931 OPS)

- Batting .348(46-132) vs. RHP; .204(11-54) vs. LHP; .365(19-52) w/RISP

- Hitting .328(44-134) when he starts at 1B; .209(9-43) when he starts in LF

- Has started 37 games at 1B; 12 games in LF

- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system

Jonathan Villar

- Is 2-8 this series with 1 walk and 1 RBI

- Is 3-18 this road trip with 1 walk, 1 run, 2 RBIs and 8 Ks

- Tied for the league lead with 22 stolen bases

- Batting .247(36-146) vs. RHP; .264(14-53) vs. LHP; .286(16-56) w/RISP

- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system

Chris Wallace

- Returned from DL May 26 to go 3-for-3, his first 3-hit game this season

- Is 6-24 in 7 games since his return from the DL with 2 walks, 1 double, 1 HR, 2 runs and 2 RBIs

- Batting .230(14-61) vs. RHP; .160(4-25) vs. LHP; .214(6-28) w/RISP

- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year

Austin Wates

- Had 6-game hit streak snapped with last night's 0-5

- Is 7-20 this road trip with 3 walks, 1 double, 2 runs and 3 RBIs

- Hits in 12 of the last 14 games, 17-58 with 4 walks, 3 doubles, 7 runs and 5 RBIs

- Second in the league with 65 hits

- Batting .311(52-167) vs. RHP; .260(13-50) vs. LHP; .319(15-47) w/RISP

- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories

Brandon Wikoff

- Joined club last Monday from extended spring, where he'd been recuperating from a wrist injury (left wrist)

- Is 0-4 this series with 1 HBP; 2-11 this road trip with 1 walk, 1 HBP, 1 run

- In 103 games last year with the Hooks batted .308 w/ 6 doubles, 3 HRs and 26 RBIs

- Was the Texas League's Player of the Week (April 25-May 1, 2011), hit .600

- Maintained an average of .400 or better from April 25 thru June 6 last year

- Finished last season with four September games w/ OKC (.154-0-0)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 15-22, 4.60 ERA, 295.1 IP, 35 HR, 100 BB, 228 K, .284 AVG

Relievers: 12-6, 4.25 ERA, 194.2 IP, 18 HR, 92 BB, 169 K, .256 AVG

Erick Abreu

- Tossed 5 shutout frames Thursday night to record the victory in relief

- Committed an error in the 8th last Sunday: 4 R (2 ER) on 2 H, 2 BB, a balk & a hit batter

- Broke a string of 5 consecutive scoreless appearances (5.1 IP)

- Is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 starts / 5-0 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 G out of the pen

- His 9 HR allowed are tied for fifth in the Texas League

- Ranked among TL leaders in WHIP (1.22, 4th) and ERA (4.29, 9th) last season

- Captured P-o-W award for 2nd straight year: 10 K, 1 BB, 2 H, 1 UR in 8 IP Aug. 17

- CC's P-o-M in August 2010: 3-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 7 games and 4 starts

- Holds the club record for wins (18) & Ks (262), ranks 2nd in IP (297.1) & G (108)

Kevin Chapman

- Allowed 2 IR to score while notching just one out Saturday night

- Has not been charged with a run in last 4 appearances (4.1 IP)

- 16 of his 22 outings have been of the scoreless variety...5 of 9 IR have scored

- Holding lefties to a .200 batting average (8x40), 2 RBIs, 9 BB, 16 K

- K/9 IP ratio of 10.04 ranks third among Texas League relievers

- A top-20 KC prospect by BA last year: 1-4, 10 SV, 4.94 ERA in Wilmington & NWA

- Struck out 90 & walked 28 over 62.0 IP...save total ranked 3rd in the Royals system

- Entered '12 with a career BB-to-K ratio of 1-to-3.06 & is averaging 12.38 K per 9 IP

Arcenio Leon

- Yielded 4 runs on 2 H and 2 BB in 1 IP last night...2 IR also scored

- Allowed 2 unearned runs on 2 BB before recording 2 outs Saturday night

- 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 9 G at home / 0-0 with a 5.84 ERA in 9 G on road

- Posted a 2.45 ERA in April (7 G), holding the opposition to a .224 batting average

- Led the Texas League last season in SO/9 IP ratio (10.16) for relievers

- Paced the Hooks with 47 app., the third-highest single-season total in team history

- Placed on 40-man in Nov. '10, going 2-4 w/ 4 SV & a 3.97 ERA in Lex. and CC

- Over seven seasons has a career SO/9 IP ratio of 7.82

Alex Sogard

- Threw 1 frame last night, permitting 2 R on 2 H

- Allowed first 3 batters to reach in the 9th last Sunday vs. SPR...permitted 1 R on 3 H

- Charged with 3 R, 2 coming on Shaffer's 2B, in the 6th last Sat., part of a 5-run frame

- Has surrendered a run in 9 of his 10 appearances with the Hooks

- Was 0-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 6 outings at Lancaster to start the season

- Held the California League to a .197 average, 0 HR, 8 BB & 17 K in 16.0 IP

- 3-4 w/ a 4.14 ERA in 31 G (10 starts) for Lex. last year (4-for-6 in SV chances)

- Notched 148 strikeouts against 37 walks (4-to-1 ratio) in first 2 seasons as a pro

- Teammate of Buchanan at NC State: 10-6 w/ a 5.16 ERA, 73 BB, 96 K over 3 years

Jason Stoffel

- Notched 7th save in as many chances Saturday night

- Yielded 1 run on 2 hits in the 15th Thursday night at ARK

- Broke string of 10 consecutive scoreless app (11.2 IP)...17 of his 21 outings overall

- 2nd among TL relievers in runners per 9 (8.51)...4th in BB/9 (1.48)

- Went 2-5 w/ 17 SV & a 4.53 ERA in 50 G between Richmond & CC in 2011

- Tied for 4th among SF farmhands in saves, recording 13 in 17 opportunities

- In 2010, led the Giants system with 25 saves and notched a SO/9 IP ratio of 11.17

- Entered '12 season averaging 10.27 SO/9 IP & has a GO/AO ratio of 1.72 for career

- Stands as the Wildcats career leader in saves (29) and appearances (99)

Henry Villar

- Fanned three of the six men he faced Friday night at ARK

- Struck out a batter in a 1-2-3 7th last Sunday vs. Springfield

- Has been perfect in his four outings (5.0 IP, 4 K) since coming off the DL

- Activated May 19 after spending the bulk of the month on the shelf

- Made 2 starts for Cosart (4/16 & 4/10): 2 L, 6 IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 2 HR, 1BB, 4 K vs. TUL

- As a reliever: 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 8 appearances: 10 H, 3 HR, 3 BB, 8 K, 16.0 IP

- Went 4-5 with a 5.45 ERA in 42 appearances between OKC and CC last season

- Made his big-league debut in 2010 as a September call-up, yielding 3 ER in 6 IP

Josh Zeid

- Struck out 2 and walked 1 in a perfect 8th Saturday night

- Notched first save of the season Friday night at ARK with a 1-2-3 ninth inning

- Earned 2nd victory of the year Wednesday night vs. ARK, tossing 1.1 shutout innings

- Has not been charged with a run over last 5 app. (6.0 IP)...2 of 4 IR have scored

- Prior to current stretch, yielded 10 R in 3 straight outings (1.2 IP, 9 hits, 1 grand slam)

- Moved to Reading's pen in late June last year: 2 SV, 2.25 ERA, 2 BB, 24 K, 16.0 IP

- Joined Hooks in late July: 0-1, 10.13 ERA, 15 G, 16 IP, 6 BB, 15 K

- Mid-season SAL All-Star in 2010

- Top 5 for Lakewood in W (8, T-1st), SV (8, 2nd), K (111, 2nd) & IP (107.1 IP, 4th)

- Has a career 3.18 K/BB ratio over 3 seasons, holding the opposition to a .245 average

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Texas League Stories from June 4, 2012


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