Corpus Christi Hooks Game Notes
Published on July 3, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
The Hooks continue their road trip tonight with the opener in a three-game series at Northwest Arkansas. Corpus Christi's departure from Tulsa was not a pleasant one. The Drillers set season highs for runs and hits in a 17-5 thrashing of the Hooks. First baseman Ben Paulsen spearheaded the onslaught, going 5-for-6 with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Shortstop Tommy Field had a 4-for-4 night that included a double, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, three runs and two RBIs.
The Hooks allowed season highs in runs, hits (21) and home runs (5). Lars Davis clubbed two of those home runs - both solo shots. Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez and Jacob Goebbert each had two hits and an RBI for the Hooks, who are now 11-28 on the road this season.
Tonight's Matchup:
LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-6, 2.72) vs. LHP Edgar Osuna (6-3, 7.36)
Keuchel, a seventh-round selection of the Astros in the 2009 draft out of the University of Arkansas, makes his 15th start and his second against the Naturals. His most recent outing came in Wednesday's Texas League All-Star Game in San Antonio. Keuchel was the only hurler on either side to work more than one inning, tossing two frames of shutout relief to help the South edge the North 3-2. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three - including strikeouts of Mike Trout and Tim Wheeler to leave the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. Keuchel's last regular-season appearance came June 25 at home versus Frisco (7.0-6-1-1-1-6, W). In his last four starts, all of which have been exactly seven innings in length, Keuchel is 3-1 with a 0.96 ERA (3 ER in 28.0 IP). Keuchel enters tonight's game as the league's ERA leader. He's also second in WHIP (1.12), fourth in opponents' average (.240) and fifth in innings pitched (89.1).
- Has twice been named Texas League Pitcher of the Week (April 7-17; June 6-12)
- Has 10 quality starts (four consecutive)
- First start this year came here at NW Ark April 10 (6.0-5-1-1-0-3, ND)
Osuna, a Rule 5 selection of the Royals from the Braves in December, 2009, makes his 14th appearance and 11th start this year for the Naturals. In his most recent outing June 23 at Tulsa, Osuna allowed six earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs, over four innings in a 12-8 loss to the Drillers. After posting wins in back-to-back outings against Arkansas (June 10) and Tulsa (June 14) in which he did not allow a run over 10.1 innings, Osuna is 0-1 in his last two appearances with an 11.37 ERA. Last year, his first with the Royals, Osuna spent the bulk of the season with the Naturals, going 6-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 starts. His first start came against the Hooks April 11, 2010, when he allowed three unearned runs on five hits over 5.1 innings to get the win over Jordan Lyles in a 7-4 decision.
- In 2 starts this season against the Hooks is 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA (first 2 starts of the year)
- In 7 games and 5 starts last year for AAA Omaha, went 1-3 with a 9.62 ERA
- Tagged by Baseball America as having the best changeup in the Royals system entering the 2010 season
Offense continues to produce
Despite dropping two of three in Tulsa, Corpus Christi's offense continues to produce at a fairly consistent rate. The Hooks scored 17 runs on 32 hits in the series, with 6 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs. The club stretched its streak of scoring three or more runs to 15 games. In these last 15 games, the Hooks have tallied 74 runs for an average of 4.9 runs per game. Corpus Christi has swatted 14 HRs in that time.
The team's record in the last 15 games is 6-9.
Defense falters
Corpus Christi's defense, reliable for most of the year, has stumbled badly of late. The Hooks committed eight errors in the series at Tulsa - three in each of the last two games. The Hooks have racked up 10 errors over their last four games - this after making just 62 errors in the first 75 games.
Despite the recent downturn, the Hooks rank fourth in the league in team defense with an overall fielding percentage of .976, with 72 total errors in 79 games.
Series vs. NW Arkansas
The Hooks are 1-5 this season against the Naturals, 0-3 here at Arvest Ballpark. Lifetime, the Hooks are just 6-15 in games played here in Springdale.
The Hooks have had an especially tough time this season on the road against North Division foes (3-12).
Pitching Rotation at Northwest Arkansas
Monday: LHP Xavier Cedeno (4-5, 3.54) vs. TBA
Tuesday: RHP Jonnathan Aristil (3-6, 5.88) vs. LHP Chris Dwyer (2-8, 6.16)
Texas League Stories from July 3, 2011
- Drillers Lose Opener to Missions - Tulsa Drillers
- Stoneburner, 'Riders Rally to Win 7-6 - Frisco RoughRiders
- Hooks' Slams Sink Naturals Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Cardinals Beat Midland 6-3 - Springfield Cardinals
- Corpus Christi Hooks Game Notes - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Former Natural Crow named as AL All-Star - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Naturals Aim to Continue Mastery of Hooks - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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