TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, August 2 vs. San Antonio

Published on August 2, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


San Antonio (20-19, 48-61) at Corpus Christi (27-12, 64-45)

Acquired in the trade sending Chris Johnson to Arizona on Sunday, Marc Krauss and Bobby Borchering have made a great first impression with their new club and the Corpus Christi faithful. Krauss and Borchering both hit mammoth three-run home runs to right field last night as the Hooks outslugged the Missions 10-9. Those blasts combined with a two-run triple by Drew Locke in the first and an RBI single up the middle off the bat of pitcher Paul Clemens in the second gave Corpus Christi a 9-3 lead. As was the case Tuesday, San Antonio would not go quietly. Edinson Rincon cut the advantage in half with a three-run homer in the fifth. The Hooks took one back with an unearned run in the sixth but the Missions answered in the seventh, scoring three times on a double by Jason Haggerty & a single from Rymer Liriano.

Clemens struck out a career-high 10 batters over five innings. After allowing three runs thru the first two, he settled down and retired eight in a row leading up to Rincon's home run. Jason Stoffel withstood a Cody Decker solo shot in the ninth to notch his 21st save of the season.

Corpus Christi has won four in a row and 10 of its last 13 games. The Hooks, 46-20 since May 21, lead the Missions by seven in the TL South second-half race.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Matt Jackson (0-0, 3.00) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (6-8, 4.23)

Jackson, selected by San Diego in the 31st round of the 2009 draft out of South Alabama, makes his fourth start with San Antonio. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball on Saturday in Frisco. Jackson faced the RockHounds on June 23, allowing five runs (4 ER) on three hits in six innings. Three of those runs came across on a home run by Miles Head in the third. He made his Double-A debut July 18 at Dr Pepper Ballpark, scattering two runs (1 ER) and five hits over five frames. Jackson started the season in Lake Elsinore, going 5-4 with a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts. He allowed 10 home runs and 14 walks for the Storm, striking out 49 over 85.0 innings. He featured a GO/AO ratio of 1.50 while the California League boasted a .305 batting average. Jackson's best start of the season was April 27 vs. Rancho Cucamonga when he permitted just five hits and struck out four over seven shutout innings. He pitched in one game for Triple-A Tucson, blanking the 51s thru five innings on July 4 in Las Vegas. Jackson was named a Midwest League All-Star for Fort Wayne last season. The Haughton, LA native went 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA over 17 games and eight starts. Jackson struck out 68 against 12 walks in 64.2 innings. He missed most of the second half due to injury.

- 4-3 with a 4.93 ERA between Fort Wayne (18 G) and Eugene in 2010 (3 G)...36 K | 13 BB | 56.0 IP

- 18-15 with a 4.11 ERA in 72 appearances (42 GS) thru 4 pro seasons...212 K | 57 BB | 286.2 IP

- A transfer from LSU, went 5-4 with a 5.33 ERA in 13 starts for USA as a Junior...64 K | 27 BB | 74.1 IP

Seaton, a third-round selection of the Astros in the 2008 draft, makes his 21st start for the Hooks and his fifth start against the Missions. Seaton was tagged for five runs on five hits, including two home runs, on Saturday against the RockHounds. He has lost his last three decisions, yielding 16 earned runs in 16.1 innings for an 8.82 ERA. Run support has been an issue. Corpus Christi has scored just 11 times in the last nine games with Seaton on the mound, averaging 1.2 runs per outing. From June 15 to July 12, he notched five quality starts over six appearances. The Texas League All-Star pitched at least seven innings while allowing two runs or fewer in those five performances, posting an ERA of 2.36. Seaton struck out 31 against six walks during the run but only had a 1-2 record and three no-decisions to show for it. He was selected by the Astros as Corpus Christi's pitcher of the month in May, when he went 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six starts. Tabbed Texas League Pitcher of the Week twice last season, he led the circuit in starts (28), posting the second highest single-season total in team history. Seaton has not missed a turn in the rotation since July of 2009 when he pitched for Lexington - a span of 85 starts. The lone pitcher to hit a home run in Hooks history, Seaton is 3-for-16 with three runs, two doubles and three RBIs at the plate this season.

- Has issued 2 or fewer walks in 18 of his 21 starts with the Hooks (just 14 walks in his last 12 starts)

- 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in 4 starts vs. San Antonio...12 K | 2 BB | 26.0 IP

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

More movement

Following last night's game, the Astros activated RHP Erick Abreu and placed RHP Henry Villar (shoulder tendinitis) on the disabled list. Villar is 4-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 25 appearances, striking out 30 against eight walks in 50 innings. He leads Texas League relievers in walks per nine at 1.43 and ranks fourth in base runners per nine (9.82). Abreu returns to the active roster following an 11-day stint on the shelf. He is 8-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 29 appearances for Corpus Christi. Abreu was strong in July, posting a 2.31 ERA, one walk and 13 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. He holds the club record for wins (21), strikeouts (287) and appearances (120) while ranking second in innings pitched (319.0).

C Rene Garcia, who has been on the DL since July 28, has been sent to the Astros' training complex in Kissimmee, FL. He left last Friday's game in the fourth inning as he fell to the turf after receiving a pitch from Paul Clemens. Garcia was .333 (9-for-27) with one double and one RBI for the Hooks. He had hit safely in six of his nine games at Corpus Christi. Houston also shutdown INF Brandon Wikoff for the season in preparation for wrist surgery. Wikoff joined the club on May 28 from extended spring training where he had been recovering from a left wrist injury. He played in only 22 games for the Hooks, hitting .190 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Hot Hooks

The Hooks started the season 17-25, but since a 5-2 victory at Midland on May 21, Corpus Christi has gone a league-best 46-20, including 27-12 to start the second half. In that May 21st game, Jonathan Villar went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base, Brett Oberholtzer won to improve to 2-2 and Erick Abreu earned his first save of the season. The stretch started with a five-game winning streak from May 21-26, featured a seven-game streak from June 7-13 and two four game winning streaks. The first, from July 4-7 and the second started Saturday against Midland and is ongoing.

The Hooks' record since May 21 is the best in the Texas League ahead of Springfield (42-23) and the best among all Double-A teams ahead of Trenton (44-26). Several Hooks rank among Double-A leaders since that date: Jason Stoffel leads Double-A players in saves with 16; Jose Cisnero is tied for second with seven wins and sixth with a 2.26 ERA; Andy Simunic is fifth in hitting at .328; Jose Martinez's 49 RBI rank sixth.

Power trip

San Antonio has hit three home runs in each of the first two games of the series at Whataburger Field and has hit 12 long balls in its last six games which have all come on the road. Edinson Rincon and Jeudy Valdez have led the way with three each. San Antonio hits .251 as a team with 42 home runs in its pitcher friendly home, Wolff Stadium, and .263 with 62 homers on the road. The Missions have hit 28 long balls in their last 25 games.

SA is third in the Texas League with 104 home runs behind Frisco (110) and Springfield (105) and fourth in all of Double-A. Only the Yankees' Eastern League affiliate, Trenton, has more than any TL team with 131. Cody Decker's home runs in the last two games were his first since July 19, while Nate Freiman has not contributed to the long ball total in this six game stretch. Freiman is homerless since July 23. In addition to homers by Decker, Rincon and Valdez, Dean Anna (twice), Jason Hagerty and Rymer Liriano have gone deep in San Antonio's last six games.

Roughed up

Despite wins in five of its last six games, Corpus Christi pitching has been knocked around for 37 earned runs (6.17 ERA) during this homestand against Midland and San Antonio. Over that stretch, the staff has allowed 53 hits, 17 walks and 14 home runs in addition to hitting eight batters. The starting rotation's ERA in that time is 5.56, while the bullpen has posted a 7.20 earned run average. The Hooks have not allowed an unearned run this homestand.

W-L ERA IP H R ER BB SO HB HR

Starters 2-1 5.56 34.0 32 21 21 9 38 3 8

Relievers 3-0 7.20 20.0 21 16 16 8 15 5 6

Pitching Rotation at Midland

Friday: RHP Asher Wojciechowski (1-0, 2.25) vs. LHP Carlos Hernandez (4-4, 5.60)

Saturday: LHP Rob Rasmussen (2-2, 5.68) vs. LHP Fabio Castro (1-3, 3.40)

Sunday: RHP Matt Heidenreich (1-0, 2.08) vs. RHP Murphy Smith (6-8, 4.42)

Monday: RHP Paul Clemens (1-0, 7.71) vs. RHP Shawn Haviland (6-8, 4.84)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- 4-9 with 2 runs, 1 HR and 3 RBIs in Midland series

- Appeared once at SA, went 0-2

- Has hit safely in 8 of last 13, 12-32 (.375) with 2 doubles, 1 HR and 7 RBIs

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

- Batting .260(25-96) vs. RHP; .278(5-18) vs. LHP; .333(9-27) 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

Bobby Borchering

- Hit .277 with 23 2B, 18 HR and 60 RBIs for Visalia this season

- Promoted to Mobile on July 3: .103-2-8 in 21 games for the BayBears

- 1st round pick of the D-Backs in 2009, rated as best power hitter in their system by BA

- Tabbed by MLB.com as Arizona's No. 11 prospect

- Hit .267 with 29 2B, 24 HR and 92 RBIs for Visalia last year

- Has struck out 126 times compared to 32 walks in his career

- Played exclusively in the OF this season with ARI...161 G at 3B | 68 G at 1B thru first 3 years

- Graduated from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, same alma mater as Chris Johnson

Jay Fernandez

- Rejoined the club last night from OKC and went 0-4, snapping a 7-game hit streak

- Has hit safely in 17 of the last 21, 23-76 w/ 5 2B, 4 HR, 14 R & 15 RBIs

- Promoted in mid-July, was 1-for-8 w/ 2 RBIs for the RedHawks...hip-flexor injury limited action

- Selected Texas League Player of the Week June 11-17, hit .524-1-5 with 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-for-13 with 3 runs and 1 RBI in Midland series

- 4-for-10 with 1 2B and 2 BB at San Antonio

- Hits in 12 of last 19 games: 22-66 (.333) with 16 R, 4 2B, 2 HR and 10 RBIs

- Hitting .282 with 4 2B, 1 3B, 20 BB, 16 K, 2 HR and 10 RBIs in July

- 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 .253(55-217) vs. RHP; .362(25-69) vs. LHP; .316(24-76) w/RISP

Robbie Grossman

- Has hits in 5 of his 7 games with the Hooks...cracked first XBH Tuesday (3B in the 7th)

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

- Opened 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 (.378 OBP)

- Was 5th in the Eastern League with 59 runs scored and first in walks (59) before the trade

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

- Named Pittsburgh's Player of the Year last year, led the FSL in runs (124) and walks (104)

- Hit .292 with 13 home runs, 56 RBIs and 24 stolen bases for Bradenton, posting a .381 OBP

- Originally a 6th round pick of the Pirates in 2008 out of Cy Fair High School in Houston

- Ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's No. 7 prospect entering 2012

Ben Heath

- 2-for-10 with one double, one walk, a sac fly and four RBIs in Midland series

- Made 2012 Hooks debut July 23 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

- 1-for-3 with a two-run HR in Midland series...has played in 5 G since July 17

- 0-5 with a run and an RBI at SA

- In 12 July games, batted .167 (6-36) with 2 HR and 7 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 .261(31-119) at home; .189(24-127) on the road

- Batting .203(36-177) vs. RHP; .275(19-69) vs. LHP; .183(15-82) w/RISP

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

Marc Krauss

- Second Hook to hit HR in first AB with the club this season: Carlos Lee -- 6/14 at FRI

- .283-15-61 for Double-A Mobile this season with 29 2B and an OPS of .924 in 104 G

- Leaves Southern League among leaders in R (75, 1st), OBP (.416, 1st), XBH (46, 2nd), walks (73, 2nd), 2B (T-2nd), RBIs (3rd), SLG (.509, 4th) & TB (176, 4th)

- Featured an 11-game hit streak from June 22 to July 2, .462 w/ 5 2B, 1 HR, 12 BB, 3 K & 6 RBIs

- Notched on-base streak of 24, 5th longest in the circuit

- 2nd round pick of Arizona in 2009 | D-Backs No. 20 prospect as rated by MLB.com

- .242-16-65 RBIs for Mobile last season | .302-25-87 for Visalia in 2010

Jordan Kreke

- 2-for-14 in Midland series

- Grand slam Sunday night, first of his career, broke on 0-25 stretch with the Hooks

- 4 RBIs Sunday also a career high...last HR was 9/4/11 with Mississippi at Carolina

- Rejoined the Hooks Wednesday after third stint with OKC

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

- Batting .207(17-82) at home; .160(8-50) on the road

- Batting .202(22-109) vs. RHP; .115(3-26) vs. LHP; .119(5-42) w/RISP

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

Drew Locke

- Has hit safely in 10 of last 11, 16-37 (.432) with 3 2B, 1 3B, 8 R and 12 RBIs

- 6-14 with 5 runs and 4 RBIs in Midland series

- Hits in 19 of last 24: 36-92 (.391), 1 HR, 6 2B, 1 3B, 16 R & 20 RBI

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

- Thru 26 games in July: .371 with 15 runs, 7 doubles, 1 HR and 19 RBIs

- .325-3-24 at home | .299-2-13 on the road

- Batting .305(40-131) vs. RHP; .327(16-49) vs. LHP; .386(22-57) w/RISP

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

- 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

- Had 8-game hit streak snapped last night, 11-31 (.355) with 5 R, 1 2B and 2 RBIs

- 5-16 in Midland series with 1 run and 1 RBI

- Current stretch combats a 1-for-15 stretch during Frisco series July 20-23

- .318-4-22 during 15 games in June

- Hit .342 with 8 doubles, two triples, 3 home runs and 17 RBIs in May

- 6th in TL AVG (.302), 2nd PA/K (11.23), 2nd in H (119) & 4th RBI (72)

- 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 .291(89-306) vs. RHP; .341(30-88) vs. LHP; .382(42-110) w/RISP

Ben Orloff

- 3-16 with 1 run and 1 RBI in Midland series

- Has hit safely in 6 of last 8, 8-32 (.250)...1-for-13 in prior 4

- Batting .229(11-48) vs. RHP; .182(2-11) vs. LHP; .111(1-9) 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

Jon Singleton

- Tuesday, hit first HR since July 13 and notched first RBI since July 23 - both vs. Frisco

- Hits in five straight, going 9-21 with 8 R, 2 2B and 4 BB | 3-10 with 1 run and two walks at SA

- Has 4 extra-base hits in his last 16 games

- Hits in 16 last 19 games, 24-69 (.348) with 16 R, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR & 8 RBIs

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

- 1st in the league in runs (73), 2nd in walks (69) & 3rd in OBP (.402)

- .347-3-14 with 9 2B, 2 3B, 18 BB & 25 K over 28 games in July

- .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 .296(76-257) vs. RHP; .263(26-99) vs. LHP; .297(30-101) w/RISP

- 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 August 2, 2012


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