TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, July 26 at San Antonio

Published on July 26, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Corpus Christi (21-11, 58-44) @ San Antonio (19-13, 47-55)

The Hooks managed 10 hits last night but could only muster one run as San Antonio evened the series with a 5-1 victory here at The Wolff. Keyvius Sampson, who has struggled with his control all year, was sharp for the Missions. He allowed one run on six hits and did not walk a batter while fanning four. Sampson tossed 88 pitches, 60 for strikes. Seven of the San Antonio nine recorded hits and Reymond Fuentes, Edinson Rincon, Nate Freiman and Dean Anna each collected an RBI. Jonathan Galvez notched the lone multi-hit game for the Missions, posting two doubles.

Rob Rasmussen suffered the loss for Corpus Christi. The lefty permitted three runs on five hits and four walks in four frames. Henry Villar was touched for two runs in two innings of relief. Arcenio Leon fashioned a scoreless seventh and eighth, striking out one. Jacob Goebbert led the offensive attack, going 3-for-4 with a double. Jose Martinez and Drew Locke both had two hits with Locke driving in the lone CC run on a sac fly to right field.

The rubber game of this series carries a great deal of weight in the Texas League South second-half race. A Hooks victory gives the club a three-game lead over the Missions. If San Antonio claims the finale, the margin is one.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Matt Heidenreich (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Josh Geer (4-3, 4.73)

Heidenreich, acquired, along with lefty Blair Walters, by the Astros last weekend in the trade that sent Brett Meyers to the White Sox, makes his debut with the Hooks tonight. He began the season at Winston-Salem in the Carolina League where he went 8-2 with a 3.57 ERA over 15 starts, including two complete games and one shutout. The 21-year old out of Lake Elsinore, CA struck out 62 and walked 13 in 93.1 innings while holding the circuit to a .246 batting average. Heidenreich was the starting pitcher in the Carolina-California League All-Star Game. The showcase was held at his home ballpark and the Carolina League All-Stars won 9-1. A fourth-round selection of Chicago in the 2009 draft, Heidenreich ranked within the Carolina League's top ten in ERA (6th), WHIP (T-2nd, 1.06) and home runs allowed (12, 4th). His 1.25 walks per nine slot second among circuit starters while his batting average against and base runners per nine (10.13) both stand fourth. Heidenreich won his last four starts with the Dash, posting a 1.28 ERA and 15 strikeouts against three walks in 28.0 innings. He was promoted to Double-A Birmingham (1-2, 5.89 ERA) at the beginning of July and won his first start after yielding one earned run in eight frames at Pensacola. Heidenreich has struggled in his last two starts, getting roughed up for 11 combined runs and 21 hits over 10.1 innings.

- 10-10 with a 4.32 ERA in 27 starts for Kannapolis last season (101 K | 31 BB | 13 HR | 154.1 IP)

- Enters play tonight with 244 career strikeouts against 72 walks in 365.0 IP

- Drafted out of Temescal Canyon High School

Geer, a third-round pick of the Padres in 2005 out of Rice University, makes his 13th start for the Missions and his third against the Hooks. He was tagged with the loss on Saturday as Midland got to him for six runs (5 ER) on eight hits in five innings. Geer hit three batters, walked one and struck out six. On June 29, he tossed seven shutout innings against Tulsa, allowing just two hits while fanning four. Since then, Geer has registered a 5.32 ERA and .316 opponents' batting average over his last four starts. His worst start of the season came against the Hooks on June 10 at Whataburger Field. Corpus Christi scored 10 times on eight hits and three walks in his three innings en route to a 11-6 triumph over the Missions. Geer opened the season with San Diego's AAA affiliate in Tucson, where in eight starts he was 2-3 with a 7.81 ERA. Geer was the 2007 Texas League Pitcher of the Year with the Missions, going 16-6 with a 3.20 ERA. He led the circuit that season in both wins and ERA. He missed most of last season after having surgery in April to remove a cancerous lymph node from the right side of his neck. Geer pitched two seasons at Navarro College in Corsicana before enrolling at Rice. He was voted the conference's MVP after leading the Bulldogs to the championship with a 1.78 ERA in 2003.

- Has a 1.56 GO/AO ratio in 12 starts with the Missions this season

- 11-11 with a 5.41 ERA in 29 appearances (25 starts) for Triple-A Portland in 2010

- In portions of 2 seasons with the Padres (2008-09), is 3-8 with a 5.28 ERA in 24 games and 22 starts

New-look Hooks

Nothing has been changed...except for the players. Prior to last night's game, right-handed pitchers Jake Buchanan, Jose Cisnero and Jarred Cosart were promoted to Oklahoma City. Today, the Astros have optioned right-handers Paul Clemens and Adalberto Flores to Corpus Christi from OKC.

In addition, outfielder Robbie Grossman, acquired by the Astros in Tuesday's trade with Pittsburgh for Wandy Rodriguez, joins the Hooks and will start tonight in center field. The Houston native was hitting .262 with 20 doubles, seven home runs, 35 RBIs and a .374 on-base percentage in 94 games for Double-A Altoona. Grossman was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Player of the Year last season after hitting .294 while pacing the Florida State League with 124 runs scored and 104 walks in 134 contests. He was ranked by MLB.com as Pittsburgh's No. 7 prospect. A switch-hitter, Grossman was originally a sixth-round pick of the Pirates in the 2008 Draft out of Cy-Fair High School.

Clemens, picked up by Houston in the trade that sent Michael Bourn to Atlanta last July, is 8-8 with a 6.73 ERA in 20 starts for the RedHawks this season. He has allowed 16 home runs and 32 walks while striking out 68 in 101.2 innings. A seventh-round pick of the Braves in 2008, Clemens began the year well, going 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA thru four April starts. He was assigned to Corpus Christi following the trade and enjoyed life in the Texas League, posting a 2-1 record and 2.35 ERA in five starts. Incorporating his time with Mississippi last season, Clemens is 8-6 with a 3.42 ERA and 119 strikeouts against 56 walks in 139.1 innings at Double-A.

Flores, signed by the Astros a free agent last November, is 6-1 with a 7.54 ERA in 37 appearances out of the Oklahoma City bullpen this season. He has allowed 10 home runs and a .326 opponents' batting average while striking out 33 against 21 walks in 45.1 innings. Flores surrendered two grand slams in the fourth inning on Sunday at Memphis as the Redbirds routed OKC 24-7. Nine of his first 12 outings with the RedHawks were of the scoreless variety. The former Ranger farmhand began 2012 in Corpus Christi, allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings. Flores walked one and fanned seven. He went 5-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 41 appearances for Frisco last season.

Buchanan is 5-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 19 starts for the Hooks. He walked 26 and struck out 74, posting a GO/AO ratio of 2.06. Buchan had been moved to the bullpen to make room for Wojciechowski in the rotation. The Astros' 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year has worked exclusively as a starter during his three-year career.

Cosart, acquired by the Astros in the Hunter Pence deal with Philadelphia last July, posted a 5-5 record with a 3.52 ERA in 15 starts with the Hooks. He notched a 2.12 GO/AO ratio, striking out 68 against 38 walks in 87.0 innings. He combined with Kevin Chapman and Jason Stoffel to toss the first one-hitter in club history July 15 against Frisco. Rated by Baseball America as Houston's No. 2 prospect entering the season, Cosart earned Texas League pitcher of the week honors for delivering consecutive shutouts against San Antonio (6/19) and the RoughRiders (6/24). He struck out nine and walked three batters for the week, inducing 20 ground ball outs compared to 4 fly outs. Cosart made one start for the RedHawks on May 8 and was handed the loss as Las Vegas scored four runs on 10 hits in his six innings.

Cisnero leaves the Hooks riding a franchise-record five-game winning streak. He is 9-6 with a 3.40 ERA in 20 starts, including two complete games and one shutout. Cisnero is the reigning Texas League's Pitcher of the Week, becoming the first Hook to win the award three times in one season since Jason Hirsh in 2005. Over his last 11 starts, Cisnero is 7-1 with a 2.26 ERA (18 ER/71.2 IP), tossing 71 strikeouts against 20 walks. He was 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA thru five starts in June, notching 31 strikeouts and eight walks over 33.0 innings to earn Corpus Christi's Pitcher of the Month honors. Cisnero leads the league is strikeouts (116) and ranks second in victories and is tied for ninth in ERA.

Power outage

Despite winning four of their last six games, the Hooks offense has taken its lumps. In those six games Corpus Christi has scored 21 runs and hit just one home run.

Further, beginning with a 5-0 loss in game one of the doubleheader at Midland on July 18th, the Hooks have scored 29 runs in nine games (3.22 rpg). For the season Corpus Christi averages 5.17 rpg.

In last night's 5-1 loss to SA, Corpus Christi left the bases loaded twice en route to leaving 10 men on base in total. The Hooks have 14 extra base hits in the nine games and two home runs: the first by Jacob Goebbert on July 19 at Midland and the second Andy Simunic's grand slam on July 20 vs. Frisco.

Stuck in neutral

With two stolen bases last night, Corpus Christi broke a stretch of eight games without a steal. Jose Martinez stole second base with two outs in the first inning, his third of the year, and Jon Singleton stole second in the fourth.

Since shortstop Jonathan Villar went down with a fractured hand on July 13th, the Hooks have stolen just four bases in the ensuing 12 games. Jordan Kreke stole a base on 7/15 vs. Frisco and Jacob Goebbert notched a steal on 7/17 at Midland in addition to the swipes last night. Hooks base runners have also been caught stealing once and picked off once during this stretch.

Corpus Christi still leads the Texas League in steals with 106, but with Villar (39 SB) and Austin Wates (13 SB) on the disabled list the Hooks active roster has stolen just 41 bases combined. Andy Simunic (day-to-day with a sore neck) is the leader with 12, followed by Kreke with nine.

Grossman, who joins the club tomorrow, has stolen nine bases in 19 attempts this season for Altoona.

Pitching Rotation vs. Midland

Friday: RHP Shawn Haviland (6-8, 5.06) vs. RHP Paul Clemens

Saturday: RHP Sonny Gray (4-7, 4.35) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (6-7, 4.03)

Sunday: LHP Carlos Hernandez (4-4, 5.72) vs. RHP Asher Wojciechowski (1-0, 1.29)

Monday: LHP Fabio Castro (1-2, 3.11) vs. LHP Rob Rasmussen (1-2, 7.00)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- Entered the game as a pinch-hitter last night and went 0-2

- 4-for-13, R, 2B, 3 RBI in series vs. Frisco

- Has hit safely in 6 of last 9 (8-22) to raise average from .220 to .250

- Prior to this stretch, was hitless in previous 10 at-bats

- Drove in a run in three straight games from July 21-23

- Batting .244(21-86) vs. RHP; .278(5-18) vs. LHP; .304(7-23) 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

Rene Garcia

- Went 4-for-10, R, 2B in series vs. Frisco

- Has hits in 5 of his last 6 games: 7-20 (.350), 2 R,2B, RBI

- Made his Hooks debut on July 18 at Midland and went 0-for-3

- Batting .353(6-17) vs. RHP; .167(1-6) vs. LHP; .250(1-1) w/RISP

- Hit .279 with 13 doubles, and 22 RBIs in 60 games at Lancaster

- Had hit safely in 7 of last 9 games w/ LAN...posted a .321 AVG in 10 RBIs in June

- Posted .984 fielding percentage (7 PB in 447 chances)

- His 26 percent caught-stealing rate ranked seventh in California League

- .242-1-27 in 86 games for the JetHawks last season

- Ranked among the circuit's top catchers last year in fielding percentage (.984), double plays (10, 1st), assists (69, 3rd) and caught-stealing efficiency (30%, 4th)

- Began 2010 at Lexington, hitting .262 with 10 2B, 2 HR & 35 RBIs in 84 games

Jacob Goebbert

- Went 6-for-14, 3 R, 3B in series vs. Frisco

- Hits in 10 of last 14 games: 19-49 (.388) with 13 R, 4 2B, 2 HR and 9 RBIs

- His 5 triples are tied for fifth in the circuit

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

- 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 .254(52-205) vs. RHP; .391(25-64) vs. LHP; .324(23-71) w/RISP

Robbie Grossman

- Acquired from PIT with LHPs Rudy Owens and Colton Cain for LHP Wandy Rodriguez

- Spent the entire season with Double-A Altoona in the Eastern League

- Hit .266 with 20 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 36 RBI and 9 SB in 95 games with the Curve

- Played exclusively in centerfield this season with Altoona

- Fifth in the Eastern League with 59 runs scored and first in walks (59)

- Since June 17th has hit .357 (45-126) with 25 R to raise BA from .214 to .266

- Had a 13 game hitting streak from 6/16-6/29 in which he hit .380 (19-50)

- Batting .242(54-223) vs. RHP; .307(39-127) vs. LHP; .311(23-74) w/RISP

Ben Heath

- Made 2012 Hooks debut Monday against Frisco; went 0-for-3, R, BB

- .298 with nine doubles, five home runs and 29 RBIs in 50 games at Lancaster

- Hit safely in his last four games with the JetHawks / .407-3-16 during June

- Hit .252 with 22 doubles, 10 home runs and 42 RBIs between Lancaster and Lexington last year

- Played in 4 G w/ the Hooks in September of 2010, going 6-for-12 with a double and four RBIs

Kody Hinze

- Entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning last night and struck out

- Made first pro appearance at 3B Tuesday night; last time played there was in college

- In Frisco series went 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

- 6-39 (.154) in last 12 games with 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR & 6 RBI

- In 11 July games, hitting .152 (5-33) with 1 HR and 5 RBI

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

- Struggled in May: .106-0-5 with 9 walks and 24 strikeouts in 66 at-bats

- Batting .259(30-116) at home; .189(24-127) on the road

- Batting .203(36-177) vs. RHP; .273(18-66) vs. LHP; .183(15-82) w/RISP

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

Jordan Kreke

- Last night made first Hooks appearance since July 15th and went 0-4

- Hits in 8 of last 15 games with CC: 11-51 (.216), 4 R, 2 2B and 3 RBI

- Left the Hooks July 16 for third stint with OKC

- 12-44 (.273) in 21 games for OKC with 9 R, 3 2B, and 3 RBIs

- Batting .221(15-68) at home; .174(8-46) on the road

- Batting .228(21-92) vs. RHP; .091(2-22) vs. LHP; .111(4-36) w/RISP

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

Drew Locke

- In Frisco series, went 3-for-11, R, 2B, RBI

- Has hit safely in 13 of last 17: 26-67 (.388), 1 HR, 4 2B, 9 R & 11 RBI

- Went 5-for-5 July 19th, the first five-hit game by a Hook this season

- 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 Sugar Land Skeeters (.285-4-24)

- 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

- Went 1-for-15 with R, 2B, RBI in Frisco series

- Since July 12, is 13-54 (.241) to drop from .314 to .303

- In 57 G since May 16 is 74-240 (.308) with 9 HR and 47 RBI

- 6th in TL AVG (.303), 4th PA/K (10.97), 2nd in H (111) & 4th RBI (70)

- Against San Antonio is hitting .351 (27-77) with 5 2B, 3B, HR and 9 RBI

- 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 .293(83-283) vs. RHP; .337(28-83) vs. LHP; .385(40-104) w/RISP

Drew Muren

- Went 2-for-8, R, 2B in Frisco series

- Broke out of an 0-10 stretch Sunday night with a pinch-hit 2B to start the eighth

- Over last seven games is 2-23 (.087) to drop from .345 to .291

- 13-game hit streak from June 24-July 15 (.370 w/ 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 5 RBIs)

- Has hit safely in 23 of his 32 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 .313(25-80) vs. RHP; .233(7-30) vs. LHP; .160(4-25) w/RISP

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

Ben Orloff

- Is 2-18 (.111) in last four games with 1 R

- Went 2-for-13, R, 2 RBI in Frisco series

- Batting .192(5-26) vs. RHP; .167(1-6) vs. LHP; .200(1-5) w/RISP

- Was hitting .288 with 8 doubles, 29 RBIs and 7 steals in 77 games at Lancaster

- Featured the lowest K/PA ratio (15.09) in the California League...32 BB / 22 K

- Featured a .972 fielding percentage, tops among CL shortstops

- .284-2-31 with 15 doubles and 51 RBIs in 96 games at Lexington last year

- MVP for Tri-City in 2010...ValleyCats went on to win NYPL Championship

- Hit .307 with 52 R, 4 2B, 16 RBIs, 34 BB, 19 Ks & 23 SB in 63 games that season

Andy Simunic

- Missed the last two games with a sore neck

- Hits in six straight games (9-22, .409)

- In Frisco series went 6-for-13, R, 2B, HR, 6 RBI

- Hit 2nd pro grand slam Friday night & drove in career-high 5 runs

- Has hits in 15 of last 17 games, 24-66 (.364) with 16 R, 1 2B, 9 RBI and 6 BB

- 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

- 2nd in the league in hitting (.311)

- Batting .306(70-229) vs. RHP; .328(21-64) vs. LHP; .250(20-80) w/RISP

- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 14 DPs in 1,573 plate appearances

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

Jon Singleton

- In Frisco series went 2-for-10, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI

- Has hits in 10 last 12 games with an AB...15-45 (.333) with 8 R, 3 2B, 3B, 1 HR & 7 RBI

- 7-for-17 July 2-9 w/ 3 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs & 4 BB to earn TL POW honors

- 2nd in the league in runs (65) & 3rd in walks (64)

- .333-2-13 with 7 2B, 2 3B, 14 BB & 21 K over 22 games in July

- Has struggled against San Antonio, hitting .167 (9-54) with 4 RBI and 22 SO

- .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 .295(71-241) vs. RHP; .231(21-91) vs. LHP; .306(30-98) w/RISP

- Hitting .293(75-256) when he starts at 1B (77); .190(11-68) when he starts in LF(19)

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

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 26, 2012


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