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Game Notes, July 14 vs. Frisco

July 14, 2012 - Texas League (TL) Corpus Christi Hooks

Frisco (9-11, 50-40) @ Corpus Christi (14-6, 51-39)

After scoring eight runs over the final three innings of an improbable come-from-behind walk-off win on Thursday, Corpus Christi's offense stormed out of the gate last night. Jonathan Villar led off the first with a home run into the Goodwill Zone in left field. His 11th blast on the year was the first of a season-best five home runs for the Hooks who engineered a 12-2 rout of Frisco in Game 2 of the series. Jose Martinez hit two long balls on the night, a pair of two-run shots to left field. Kody Hinze and Jon Singleton added solo home runs in the fifth and seventh innings, respectively. Austin Wates, who went 3-for-5 with a double, walk-off home run and six RBIs on Thursday, cranked out four hits, including two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Hooks starter Jake Buchanan scattered nine hits, three walks and two runs over six innings to earn the victory. Lefties Kevin Chapman and Alex Sogard combined for three innings of scoreless relief. Chapman struck out two and Sogard fanned one batter in a perfect ninth.

Corpus Christi, having won 13 of the last 15 at Whataburger Field, now holds the best overall record in the Texas League and is one game ahead of San Antonio for first place in the TL South second-half race.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Barret Loux (12-1, 3.61) vs. LHP Rob Rasmussen (0-0, 3.60)

Loux, signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in November of 2010, makes his 17th start this season and his sixth against the Hooks. Corpus Christi handed Loux his lone loss of the season, tagging him for nine runs (8 ER) on eight hits in three innings June 22 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Since then, Loux has put together a pair of quality starts, winning the decision on July 3 at Arkansas. He settled for a no-decision against the Travs last Sunday at Dr Pepper Ballpark, holding Arkansas to three runs and seven hits over six innings. The 'Riders went on to win the game 5-4 in 10 innings. Loux is tied with Modesto's Christian Bergman, R.A. Dickey of the Mets and Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals for the most wins in baseball. He has not factored in a decision three times, including June 17 at Whataburger Field when the Hooks scored three times on six hits, knocking Loux out of the game after four innings. Corpus Christi went on to score nine runs in the 11th to win the rollercoaster ride 14-5. He struggled in June, posting an ERA of 6.00. Loux began the season on an incredible roll, posting a 5-0 record and 1.63 ERA thru his first five starts. Last season, he went 8-5 with a 3.80 ERA for Myrtle Beach, ranking second in the Carolina League with 127 strikeouts against 34 walks in 109.0 innings pitched. In his junior year (2010) with Texas A&M, Loux went 11-2 with a 2.83 ERA, with 136 strikeouts in 105.0 innings. Those numbers brought him acclaim as a First Team All-Big 12 selection, a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American and a semi-finalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

- Holding Texas League hitters to a .250 average

- 3-1 with a 5.79 ERA and 27 Ks in 23.1 IP over 5 starts against the Hooks

- Originally the sixth pick in the 2010 draft by Arizona, but didn't sign and was later declared a free agent

Rasmussen, acquired by Houston as part of the trade that sent Carlos Lee to Miami, makes his second start with the Hooks. The lefty settled for a no-decision in his debut as an Astros farmhand last Sunday in Tulsa. He was charged with three runs (2 ER) on five hits, including two home runs, over five innings. Rasmussen was 4-7 with a 3.90 ERA for Jupiter of the Florida State League, ranking 10th in the Marlins system in ERA. The lefty struck out 75 and walked 36 over 87.2 innings pitched for the Hammerheads, holding the circuit to a .250 batting average. He permitted one run in each of his last three starts with Jupiter, going 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA. Four of Rasmussen's seven losses occurred over his first five starts despite a 3.62 ERA. Rasmussen entered the season as Miami's No. 7 prospect according to Baseball America and was rated by the publication has having the top slider in the Marlins system. Selected in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft out of UCLA, Rasmussen led the 2010 Bruins to a school-best 51-17 record and a trip to the College World Series. Rasmussen posted an 11-3 record and 2.72 ERA, striking out 128 over 109.1 innings. He tossed six-innings of one-run ball, fanning seven, to beat Oklahoma 5-2 on March 14 at the Whataburger College Classic.

- 12-10 with a 3.64 ERA in 27 starts for the Hammerheads last season (118 Ks | 71 BBs | 148.1 IP)

- 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in the '09 Cape Cod League...selected to start the all-star game at Fenway Park

- Currently enrolled at UCLA, majoring in History with a minor in Economics

Villar out six weeks

Shortstop Jonathan Villar fractured his right hand between innings last night after punching a door. He finished the game but X-rays later revealed the fracture. Villar will undergo surgery on his hand next week and will miss approximately six weeks.

The 21-year-old Villar, who entered this season ranked as the Astros No. 3 prospect by Baseball America, has 11 home runs and 50 RBIs in 86 games for the Hooks with a Texas League-best 39 stolen bases. His home run, RBI and stolen base totals are among the best of all shortstops in minor league baseball. Villar was named to the 2012 Texas League All-Star squad and won Corpus Christi player of the month honors for June after hitting .292 with five home runs and 20 RBIs

No roster move has been made for tonight's game.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

The good times continue to roll for Corpus Christi. Entering play tonight, the Hooks own the best record in the minors since the beginning of June at 26-12 (.684). Indianapolis (26-14 | .650) and Norfolk (26-15 | .634) of the Triple-A International League equal Corpus Christi in victories but trail in winning percentage. The Hooks are hitting .275 with 41 home runs and 198 RBIs over the last two months, averaging 5.7 runs per game. Corpus Christi pitchers have posted and ERA of 3.52, striking out 300 against 92 walks.

Yard work

The Hooks' five home runs last night fall one shy of the club record last achieved April 30, 2009 at Midland. Jose Martinez became the fourth Hook to hit two home runs in a game this season. Jon Singleton has done it twice (April 24 vs. Midland & May 25 vs. Arkansas). Brandon Barnes had a multi-homer game April 20 vs. Frisco and Kody Hinze accomplished the feat against Midland on June 7. No player in franchise history has hit three long balls in one game. Corpus Christi is tied for third in the league with San Antonio, boasting 83 home runs on the season. These RoughRiders pace the circuit with 90 round-trippers.

Twist of fate

After going 2-for-17 on the road trip with 11 strikeouts, Austin Wates has run full throttle during the first two games of this homestand. Wates' first professional walk-off home run gave him a club-record six RBIs in his final two at-bats on Thursday. Last night, Wates turned in his second four-hit game this season, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored, two doubles and two RBIs.

Pitching Rotation vs. Frisco

Sunday: RHP Cody Buckel (1-3, 3.22) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (4-5, 3.91)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- 1-6 on the road trip with 1 RBI (PH RBI single Monday night)

- 2-16 in last 9 games with 2 RBIs

- Has 3 RBIs in last 17 games

- Batting .209(14-67) vs. RHP; .267(4-15) vs. LHP: .235(4-17) w/RISP

- Added to roster May 30 from Advanced-A Lancaster

- In 47 games with the JetHawks was batting .279-8-25 with 2 SBs

- In 23 games at the end of last season with the Hooks hit .323-3-15

Jay Fernandez

- Hits in 7 straight & 16 of the last 20 G, 23-72 (.319) w/ 5 2B, 4 HR, 14 R & 15 RBIs

- 5-13 on the road trip with 3 R, 2 HR and 5 RBIs

- Selected Texas League Player of the Week June 11-17, hit .524-1-5 w/ 3 doubles

- Now has 6 games experience at 3B in his 9-year career

- Batting .233(21-90) vs. RHP; .343(12-35) vs. LHP; .275(11-40) w/RISP

- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 39.7 (169 of 425)

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

Jacob Goebbert

- 2-11 on the road trip with 4 R, 1 HR and 4 BB

- HR Monday night at Tulsa was his first since May 16

- Promoted to OKC on June 9...went 4-for-30 (.133) with 2 R, 1 2B and 1 RBI in 16 G

- Hits in 17 of last 22 w/ CC, 24-78 (.308) w/ 1 HR, 14 BB, 5 2B, 14 R & 5 RBIs

- 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 .233(41-176) vs. RHP; .400(22-55) vs. LHP; .296(16-54) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

- 2-13 on the road trip with 1 R, 1 2B and 2 RBIs

- Hits in 10 of the last 16, 14-59 (.237) with 2 2B, 7 BB, 4 HRs, 8 R and 12 RBIs

- Hit .306 (22-72) in June with 2 doubles, 5 HRs, 10 runs and 17 RBIs

- Batting .262(28-107) at home; .195(23-118) on the road

- Batting .205(34-166) vs. RHP; .290(18-62) vs. LHP; .192(14-73) w/RISP

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

Jordan Kreke

- Hits in 8 of last 11 games with CC: 11-40 (.275) 3 R, 2 2B and 2 RBIs

- Called up to the RedHawks in mid-June

- 6-27 in 13 games for OKC with 4 R, 2 2B, and 2 RBIs

- Batting .246(15-61) at home; .190(8-42) on the road

- Batting .250(21-84) vs. RHP; .105(2-19) vs. LHP; .138(4-29) w/RISP

- Originally a 13th-round pick of the Braves in 2009

Drew Locke

- 10-23 (.435) on the road trip with 2 2B, 1 HR and 6 RBIs

- Has hit safely in 5 of last 7: 11-31 (.355), 1 HR, 2 2B, 5 R & 7 RBIs

- .295-3-14 in 12 G at home | .240 -2-9 in 17 G on the road

- Hit safely in first 5 games with the Hooks: 8-21 (.381) with 3 HRs & 12 RBIs

- Tied with Mark Saccomanno (05-06) for franchise lead with 4 career grand slams

- Had played 40 games this season for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, where he was batting .285(47x165) with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HRs, 28 runs and 24 RBIs

- Was the Texas League's batting champion with the Hooks in 2009 (.338)

- Holds franchise single-season records for average (.338) and RBIs (109)

Jose Martinez

- Hits 5 of 6 since 5-day hiatus (knee): 9-28 with 5 R, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR & 12 RBIs

- Hits in 28 of his last 32 games, 47-141 (.333) w/ 7 2Bs, 7 HR, 25 runs and 36 RBIs

- 3rd in the TL in AVG (.312), PA/K (11.45) & in hits (100), T-2nd in RBIs (66)

- 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 .298(73-245) vs. RHP; .355(27-76) vs. LHP; .400(38-95) w/RISP

Drew Muren

- Has a 6-game hit streak, 10-22 with 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 3 RBIs

- Has hit safely in 20 of his 24 games with the Hooks

- Added to roster June 13 from Class A Lexington

- In 48 games with the Legends batted .279-3-17 with 12 doubles and 4 SBs

- Batting .367(22-60) vs. RHP; .269(7-26) vs. LHP; .211(4-19) w/RISP

- A 22nd-round pick of the Astros last June out of Cal State-Northridge

Andy Simunic

- Has hits in 7 straight: 12-28 (.458) with 10 R, 1 2B and 2 RBIs

- Has hit in 27 of last 32 games, 44-138 (.319) with 23 R, 5 2B & 10 RBIs

- Rejoined Hooks June 14 from AAA Oklahoma City, where he was 0-9 in 8 games

- Hit .391 with 4 doubles and 7 RBIs during 16 games in June

- 4th in the league in hitting (.310)

- Batting .305(61-200) vs. RHP; .327(18-55) vs. LHP; .229(16-70) w/RISP

- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 13 DPs in 1,440 plate appearances

- Finished last year at Lancaster: .295-5-28 in 67 games

Jon Singleton

- 7-for-17 last week w/ 3 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs & 4 BB to earn TL POW honors

- 3-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's Futures Game

- Tied for 1st in the league in runs (59) & 3rd in walks (60)

- .148-1-6 with 4 2B and 20 BB thru 25 games in June

- 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 .284(59-208) vs. RHP; .238(20-84) vs. LHP; .322(28-87) w/RISP

- Hitting .294(62-211) when he starts at 1B (61); .183(11-60) when he starts in LF(16)

- Batted .350 with 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR 13 RBIs, 12 walks, 16 Ks thru 22 G in April

Chris Wallace

- Has hits in 4 straight, 7-12 with 2 R and 1 BB

- 3-for-3 June 22 at FRI with 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR & 3 RBIs

- Has hits in 6 of last 9, 11-25 with 7 R, 2 2B & 4 RBIs

- Batting .226(24-106) vs. RHP; .263(10-38) vs. LHP; .233(10-43) w/RISP

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

Austin Wates

- Hit his first walk-off HR as a pro Thursday (first HR since May 4 at MID)

- 4th player in Hooks history to drive in six RBIs in one game

- 2-17 on the road trip with 11 Ks

- Activated following the all-star break after a 15-day stint on DL (left quad)

- Hits in 14 of his last 23 games, 25-76 (.296) w/ 7 BB, 5 2B, 9 R, 1 HR & 13 RBIs

- Struck out 5 times last Thursday at NWA - a career and franchise high

- Batting .317(64-202) vs. RHP; .262(17-65) vs. LHP; .345(20-58) w/RISP

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

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