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Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, August 15 - Corpus Christi at Springfield

August 15, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Corpus Christi (18-31, 43-76) @ Springfield (23-26, 55-64)

T.J. Steele homered and drove in four and Brandon Barnes provided the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th as the Hooks snapped their 12-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals here last night. Steele, brought in to pinch hit in the eighth with two on and two out, sliced a line-drive home run to right for his second dinger of the series and 10th of the season to give the Hooks a 3-1 lead. In the 10th, Barnes' single to left through a drawn-in infield plated Jonathan Villar with the go-ahead run. Steele's follow-up double got Barnes home for the 5-3 final.

Extra innings were necessitated when the Cardinals rallied for two runs after the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth were retired. That ninth-inning rally pulled a win out from under Hooks starter Ross Seaton, who limited the Cardinals to a run on four hits through seven innings. Seaton also went 1-for-3 at the plate.

Last night's win came exactly two weeks after the club's most recent triumph - an 8-7 victory at Midland on July 31.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Paul Clemens (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Arquimedes Nieto (0-0, 0.00)

Clemens, acquired by the Astros along with pitchers Juan Abreu and Brett Oberholtzer and outfielder Jordan Schafer in the deal that sent outfielder Michael Bourn to Atlanta, makes his third start for the Hooks. In the opening game of this road trip last Wednesday at Dickey-Stephens Park, Clemens blanked the Travelers on four hits and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out six during a 101-pitch performance that netted him a no-decision. The Travs scored the game's only run in the bottom of the 11th. Clemens has allowed just one unearned run over 12.2 innings in his first two starts with the Hooks. Adding in his last two starts for Mississippi before the trade, Clemens enters tonight's game having not allowed an earned run in his last 21.1 innings of work. The last earned run he allowed came in the third inning of a start at Jacksonville July 21. With the M-Braves of the AA Southern League, Clemens was 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA in 20 starts and a South Division All-Star. Originally a seventh-round selection of the Braves in the 2008 draft out of Louisburg (NC) Junior College, Clemens is 4-for-28 (.143) at the plate this year with 1 double, 3 RBIs and 4 sacrifice bunts.

· Is holding TL opponents to a .136 batting average

· Has 10 quality starts this year and 16 starts with 2 or fewer earned runs allowed

· Has given up just 1 HR in his last 10 starts (spanning 51.2 IP)

Nieto, signed by the Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent in March of 2007, makes his first start this season for Springfield and his 12th appearance this year in the Cardinals' system. After making a start for Advanced-A Palm Beach of the Florida State League on April 9, Nieto went on the disabled list for the better part of three months, not appearing again until a June 22 relief outing with the Cardinals' Gulf Coast League club. He's been active with Palm Beach since June 27 and in 10 games and five starts with the PB Cardinals was 1-4 with a 4.35 ERA. His most recent start came last Tuesday at home against Charlotte, a 7-6 loss (5.0-11-7-7-1-5).

· Posted a 1.66 GO/AO ratio in his 10 games with Palm Beach

· Made 7 appearances and 6 starts for Springfield last year, going 1-3 with a 5.30 ERA

· Ranked fourth last year in the FSL in opponents' batting average (.235); was 9-7 with a 3.44 ERA for PB

Seaton TL Pitcher of the Week

The Texas League announced today that Ross Seaton was selected as the circuit's Pitcher of the Week for the period ending yesterday. Combining his effort last night with his outing last Monday at home against Midland, Seaton allowed just one earned run over 13.0 innings (0.69 ERA). He gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out 12. He tied his season high with six strikeouts in each start.

This is Seaton's second selection as the league's POW. He was also recognized for his efforts the week of July 11-17. The Hooks have grabbed the honor five times this year, with Dallas Keuchel (twice) and Xavier Cedeno also in on the haul.

Astros acquire Santana to complete Pence deal

The Astros announced today that they have acquired 19-year-old outfielder Domingo Santana from the Phillies as the player-to-be-named-later in the Hunter Pence deal. Santana has been assigned to Lexington in the South Atlantic League. The right-handed hitter had played 96 games this season with Lakewood in the same league where he was batting .269(94x350) with 29 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs and 32 RBIs. He also had 4 stolen bases.

Entering the 2011 season, Baseball America ranked Santana as the #9 prospect in the Phillies system.

Two of the other three players acquired by the Astros in the deal - RHPs Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid - are currently with the Hooks.

Deep in a pinch

Steele's blast to right last night was Corpus Christi's third pinch-hit home run this season. Jimmy Paredes hit a two-run shot off San Antonio's Craig Italiano June 23 at Whataburger Field. Chris Wallace clubbed a PH grand slam off Kevin Chapman of Northwest Arkansas July 12, also at Whataburger Field. Wallace's poke is the only grand slam in club history by a pinch hitter.

This is the first season in which the Hooks have hit as many as three PH home runs in one year. The last time the Hooks had more than one PH home run in a season was 2007, when Jimmy Goethals and Jeff Mackor had one each. Mackor now works as an account executive in the Hooks front office.

Have a series

Steele, just 2-for his last-35 when he arrived in Springfield, is 5-for-8 this series with 2 home runs, 3 runs and 6 RBIs. He has back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time since July 15 and 16 at Frisco. Steele's 3-hit game here in the opener Saturday night is his fourth 3-hit game this season, and all four of those games have been on the road.

Won't you come home Bill Bailey'

Alright, his name is Adam Bailey, but cut us some slack, we're on deadline and it's the best we could do! Bailey, who joined the Hooks Friday in North Little Rock, has provided two hits in each game he's played and enters play tonight batting .462 (6x13) with 3 doubles, 2 runs and 2 RBIs. At this rate, that will most certainly "pay the rent."

A 23rd-round selection of the Astros last year out of the University of Nebraska, Bailey is in his second pro season and his first full season in the pro ranks. He currently stands second among all Houston farmhands this season in both HRs (21) and RBIs (82).

Pitching Rotation vs. Arkansas

Wednesday: RHP Eddie McKiernan (7-10, 5.17) vs. LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-1, 3.60)

Thursday: LHP Andrew Taylor (2-9, 4.80) vs. RHP Erick Abreu (5-5, 4.38)

Friday: RHP Matt Shoemaker (11-2, 2.28) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (0-1, 4.70)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

· Joined club Friday from Lancaster in time for game 2 of DH at Arkansas

· Is 6-13 with 3 doubles, 2 runs and 2 RBIs in his first 3 games in AA

· In 109 games this year with Lexington and Lancaster was batting .284(125x440) with 17 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HRs and 80 RBIs

· Ranks second among Astros farmhands in HRs (21) and RBIs (82)

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

Brandon Barnes

· Rejoined Hooks August 1 from the temporarily inactive list

· In 71 games with AAA OKC batted .197-8-27 with 5 SBs

· Hits in 7 of the last 9 games, 11-35 with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 runs and 4 RBIs

· Hits in 14 of his last 17, 19-64 with 5 doubles, 1 HR, 8 runs and 5 RBIs

· Overall in 103 games batting .231(81x351) w/20 doubles, 5 triples, 12 HRs and 44 RBIs

· Batting .247(19-77) vs. RHP; .378(17-45) vs. LHP; .313(10-32) w/RISP

· Led all Astros farmhands with 28 HRs last year

Brian Esposito

· Returned to club August 6 from AAA Oklahoma City

· Had been on the DL (right knee)

· Is 2-14 with 3 walks, 2 runs and 1 RBI in 6 games since his return

· Batting .167(9-54) vs. RHP; .100(2-20) vs. LHP; .294(5-17) w/RISP

· Has thrown out 5 of 32 (15.6%) would-be base stealers

David Flores

· Rejoined club August 4 from Lancaster

· In 50 games with JetHawks hit .311(57x183) with 14 doubles, 12 HRs and 48 RBIs

· In 10 games since his return is 3-25 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs

· Batting .178(19-107) vs. RHP; .240(12-50) vs. LHP; .257(9-35) w/RISP

· Has 71 PO, 79 A, 5 E (Fielding pct. of .968)

Emerson Frostad

· Returned to club July 1 from AAA Oklahoma City

· Played in just one game for OKC (June 26 at RR), going 1-for-3 with 1 walk

· Signed by the Astros as a free agent June 1

· In 15 games with the Lancaster Barnstormers (indy) batted .280-2-11

· Is 5-11 this road trip with 4 walks, 1 double, 1 HR, 2 runs and 1 RBI

· Has thrown out 7 of 31 (22.6%) would-be base stealers

Jon Gaston

· Active since June 24 - was on the temporarily inactive list twice in June

· Hits in 7 of his last 10 games, 9-36 with 3 doubles and 3 RBIs

· Has 13 RBIs in his last 21 games

· Batting .245(63-257) vs. RHP; .227(20-88) vs. LHP; .213(23-108) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

· Joined Hooks July 7 from Lancaster in the Cal League

· Ranks fourth among all full-season minor leaguers in OBP (.437) and walks (85) and ninth in OPS (1.023)

· Has 7-game hit streak, 8-25 with 1 double, 3 runs and 3 RBIs

· Hits in 16 of his last 19 games, 19-68 with 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 9 runs and 9 RBIs

· With JetHawks in 80 games hit .323(92x285) w/20 doubles, 22 HRs and 70 RBIs

· Selected twice as the Cal League Batter of the Week (May 30-June 5 & June 13-19)

· Owns Lancaster's longest consecutive-games on-base streak this year (25 games)

· Had 3 2-HR games, 1 7-RBI game and 1 6-RBI game with the JetHawks

· Leads Astros minor leaguers in HRs (28) and RBIs (88)

T.J. Steele

· Is 5-8 this series with 2 HRs, 3 runs and 6 RBIs

· Has four 3-hit games this season, all on the road

· Has single-season career highs in games (107), at-bats (385), hits (80), doubles (13), HRs (10), RBIs (49) and steals (16)

· Batting .172(47-274) vs. RHP; .297(33-111) vs. LHP; .179(20-112) w/RISP

Jose Carlos Thompson

· Joined club Friday from Lancaster in time for game 2 of DH at Arkansas

· Is 1-11 with 2 walks and a run in 3 games since his return

· In 69 games with JetHawks hit .303(81x267) with 14 doubles, 10 HRs and 46 RBIs

· Signed by Astros as a free agent in January; a non-roster invitee to ML Spring Tr'ing

· Played 1 year at Western Oklahoma JC (2009), hit .440-10-62 in 59 games

Jonathan Villar

· Is 1-14 this road trip with 3 walks and 2 runs

· In 47 games with Lancaster hit .259-4-26 with 20 stolen bases

· In 108 games overall this year batting .242(101x417)-12-46

· Batting .243(41-169) vs. RHP; .203(15-74) vs. LHP; .250(10-40) w/RISP

· Has 85 PO, 155 A, 15 E (Fielding pct. of .941)

· Rated as Astros #3 prospect entering the 2011 season by Baseball America

Brandon Wikoff

· Is 1-19 in the last 6 games with 1 RBI

· Named the TL's Batter of the Week April 25-May 1 (.600, 18x30)

· Named CC's May defensive player of the month (15 PO, 48 A, 1 E, .984 FP)

· Hit first career HR April 27 at Midland in his 657th pro at-bat

· Has 20 multi-hit games, including three 4-hit games

· Batting .324(66-204) vs. RHP; .240(18-75) vs. LHP; .315(17-54) w/RISP

· Has 90 PO, 191 A, 7 E (Fielding pct. of .976)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 29-42, 4.79 ERA, 650.2 IP, 78 HR, 216 BB, 501 K, .268 AVG

Relievers: 14-34, 5.35 ERA, 398.1 IP, 43 HR, 216 BB, 369 K, .279 AVG

Jonnathan Aristil

· Last appearance: Touched for a run on 1 hit and 1 walk over 3 IP in GM 2 of Friday's DH at ARK

· Yielded 2 R, 3 H, 1 HB and 1 BB over 1.2 frames August 7 vs. MID

· Is 3-8 with a 6.75 ERA in 21 games as a starter this season

· His 61 BB and 19 HR, rank third and are tied for 5th, respectively, in the Texas League

· Pitched for the Rockies top three affiliates in 2010, making 11 of his 33 appearances with Tulsa

· Was 1-1 with a 4.39 ERA in 11 appearances and 3 starts last year for the Drillers

· Originally signed by the Rockies as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2003

· Former infielder, converted to pitching while with the DSL Rockies early in 2006

Chris Hicks

· Last appearance: Allowed 3 ER on 3 H over 1.1 frames Saturday night

· Blanked the Hounds over 1.1 frames Monday night

· (.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H) Inherited Wes Timmons who scored the winning run in the 9th last Saturday

· Has not been charged with a run in 7 of his 10 appearances as a Hook

· Went 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 15 relief appearances for Lancaster: 28 K, 5 BB, 24.2 IP

· Yielded 4 ER over last 11 appearances with the JetHawks (17.1 IP)

· Missed all of 2010 due to shoulder surgery

· Made 26 starts for Lancaster in 2009, posting a 9-11 record and 6.12 ERA: 103 K, 39 BB, 129.1 IP

· Won pitcher of the month honors for April, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA...20 K, 5 BB

Blake King

· Last appearance: Walked 3 batters in the 9th last night, allowing an IR to score the tying run

· Struck out 2 and walked 1 over a scoreless 6th in GM 1 of Friday's DH at ARK

· Has yielded 2 earned runs (1.35 ERA) over last 11 outings (13.1 IP, 24 K, 13 BB)

· Charged with 6 earned runs (1.88 ERA) over last 22 appearances (28.2 IP, 39 K, 22 BB)

· Allowed 4 runs in first four appearances (3.2 IP), walking 7 against 5 K

· Was 2-0 with a 11.08 ERA in 15 games at Memphis / Yielded 2 runs on in 1.1 IP with Springfield

· Rated by BA as having the best slider in the St. Louis system in 2010

· Went 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA at Springfield last season, tossed 84 Ks over 68.0 IP

· Held the opposition to a .171 batting average, tops among Texas League relievers

Arcenio Leon

· Last appearance: Tagged for 2 R on 3 H thru 1.2 innings last night

· In last 4 outings, charged with 9 R (7 ER), 11 H, 2 BB and 5 K over 5.2 IP

· Had yielded 2 runs and 6 hits in prior 7 appearances: 11 K, 3 BB, 7.0 IP

· (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K) Yielded a 3-run HR to Jonathan Greene July 15 at Frisco...broke a string 9 appearances without allowing an ER: 18 Ks, 6 BBs in 13.0 IP

· 17 free passes, 4 WP in 9 game stretch from May 2 to June 8 (12 IP, 6.75 ERA), throwing 124 of 245 pitches for strikes

· Did not allow an ER thru first 7 outings (11 IP)

· Would have ranked fifth among relievers in the South Atlantic League last season with a .201 opponents' batting average, but fell two frames shy of the league qualifier

Danny Meszaros

· Last appearance: Touched for a run on 3 H and 1 BB while fanning 4 in 2.2 IP Saturday night

· Has allowed 7 R (5 ER) in prior 5 appearances (5.2 IP)

· Failed to record an out July 22 as Frisco hit 2 HRs and scored 6 runs

· Had not yielded an ER in prior 11 outings (11.0 IP) with CC: 5 saves in as many opportunities

· Was 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA for OKC, notching 27 Ks and 14 BBs in 25.2 IP

· 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA over 12 games in first stint with the club this season

· Last season, went a combined 5-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 10 saves in 33 contests between Corpus Christi and Round Rock before being suspended 50 games / Struck out 47 & walked 22 in 40.1 innings

· Began 2009 campaign at Lexington...did not allow a run in first 13 app., going 9-for-9 in save chances

· Promoted to CC in mid May and went on to lead the team in appearances...limited the league to a .207 average at Whataburger Field, posting a 1.75 ERA / 10 total saves led the Houston system

Jason Stoffel

· Last appearance: Yielded Matt Adam's game-tying HR in the 9th inning Saturday night

· (0.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R) Surrendered game-winning 2B to Mike Trout in the 11th Wednesday

· Yielded a two-run homer to Jeremy Barfield in the ninth August 5, suffering the loss to Midland

· Charged with 2 R over first 6 appearances (5.1 IP) as a Hook, going 3-for-3 in save chances

· Went 1-2 with 13 saves and a 3.98 ERA in 32 appearances for Richmond: 31 K, 16 BB, 31.2 IP

· Allowed 1 ER over first 8 appearances (9.1 IP) with the Flying Squirrels

· 8 of his last 9 appearances at Richmond were of the scoreless variety, going 4-for-4 in save chances

· Posted a 2-4 record and 4.80 ERA at San Jose last season, notching 25 saves in 29 opportunities

· Features 121 strikeouts against 43 walks as a professional

· Selected in the 4th round by San Francisco in 2009 out of Arizona: all-time leader in SV & G

Henry Villar

· Last appearance: Fashioned 1.1 scoreless innings last night to record the victory

· Allowed an IR on 2 H while notching 2 outs in GM 2 of Friday's DH at ARK

· (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R) Matt Sulentic's RBI double in the 7th Monday handed him the loss

· Saddled with the loss June 27 after 6 Frisco singles led to 4 runs in the 9th inning

· Began a 5-game run when he allowed 9 ER over 4.2 IP, ending July 7

· Since then 11 of his last 14 outings have been of the scoreless variety: 5 ER, 15.0 IP, 14 K, 1 BB

· Worked 7 (8.0 IP) consecutive shutout outings to open 2011 tenure with CC

· Went 2-1 with a 6.81 ERA in 10 appearances (7 starts) at Oklahoma City

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

· Was 4-7 with a 4.15 ERA for the 2010 Hooks, appearing in 25 of 36 games out of the bullpen

· For his career, has struck out 343 batters while walking 93 over 372.1 innings entering the 2011 season

Josh Zeid

· Last appearance: Donovan Solano's 3-run HR chased him from Saturday's game w/o notching an out

· Had not allowed an ER in last 3 appearances: 4 IP, 4 K, 1 BB

· Tagged for 4 R on 4 H over 1.2 frames in losing effort August 2 vs. the Missions

· Made 21 appearances and 11 starts for Reading this season: 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA and 2 saves

· Began the year as a starter (2-3, 6.80 ERA) before shifting to the bullpen (2-for-4 in saves, 2.25 ERA)

· Struck out 24 and walked 2 in 16 innings of relief for the Phillies

· Went 8-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 8 saves last season in 43 appearances and 12 starts for Lakewood

· Featured 111 Ks against 27 walks in 107.1 IP as a member of the BlueClaws

· Was 6-0 with a 4.01 ERA for Tulane in 2009, fanning 45 over 76.1 IP...held the opposition to a staff-best .236 batting average

· Pitched 2 years at Vanderbilt where he helped the Commodores set a school record with a string of 38.2 consecutive scoreless innings in March 2006

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