TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, August 3 - Corpus Christi at San Antonio

Published on August 3, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Corpus Christi (17-21, 42-66) @ San Antonio (23-15, 72-36)

Highly-regarded and newly-acquired pitching prospects Jarred Cosart and Robbie Erlin dueled to a 0-0 draw after six innings last night. It was fun to watch. Then came the eighth inning - and that was fun if you're a Missions fan. Anthony Contreras, Oscar Garcia and Andy Parrino all provided run-scoring hits in the eighth to carry the Missions to a 4-0 win over the Hooks in the opener of this three-game series.

Contreras singled to left with one out in the eighth to plate Sawyer Carroll from second, breaking the deadlock. Contreras is now 5-for-9 in the last four games with four runs and two RBIs. Parrino's two-run single to right capped the scoring and sealed Corpus Christi's fate.

The result leaves the Hooks 0-9 this season at Wolff Municipal Stadium.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Ross Seaton (4-7, 5.89) vs. LHP Pedro Hernandez (0-0, 5.00)

Seaton, a third-round selection of the Astros in the 2008 draft out of Second Baptist High School in Houston, makes his 22nd start and his fourth against the Missions. Last Thursday at home against San Antonio, Seaton got knocked out in the fourth inning, charged with five runs on eight hits and two walks over 3.2 frames. The Hooks, though, rallied for six runs in the home fourth on the way to a 7-5 win, taking Seaton off the hook. The right-hander jumped to a 2-0 record and a 3.68 ERA in his first four starts this half, but since is 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in his last three outings. In his three starts this year against San Antonio, Seaton is 0-2 with an 11.37 ERA. Seaton is Corpus Christi's best hitting pitcher, 4-for-12 this year with 1 HR, 1 walk, 1 sacrifice fly and 5 RBIs.

· Selected as the Texas League's Pitcher of the Week (July 11-17)

· Has not given up a HR in his last 3 starts after allowing 9 HRs in his previous 8 starts

· Was Lancaster's pitcher of the month last July, going 2-1 with a 4.67 ERA

Hernandez, signed by the Padres as a non-drafted free agent in November of 2006, makes his third start for the Missions and his 13th start this season in the San Diego system. It is his 22nd overall appearance of the year. Last Wednesday at Whataburger Field, Hernandez allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits and a pair of walks over four innings. He did not get a decision, as San Antonio erupted for six runs in the eighth to beat the Hooks 12-6. The southpaw began the year with Lake Elsinore in the California League, where in 15 games and six starts he went 5-0 with a 2.70 ERA. He then got the call to AAA Tucson, where in four starts he posted a 2-1 record with a 6.00 ERA. The fifth-year pro spent all of 2010 with Fort Wayne in the Midwest League, going 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 29 games and 13 starts. As a hitter this year, Hernandez is 0-for-5 with 2 strikeouts and 1 sacrifice bunt.

· Overall this season in 21 games and 12 starts is 7-1 with a 3.66 ERA

· In 83.2 innings has allowed 91 hits and 16 walks while striking out 57

· Won three of his last four starts with Lake Elsinore without issuing a walk (23.0 IP)

Scoreless in San Antonio

Last night's result marked just the sixth time this season the Hooks have been shut out. It snapped a string of 43 consecutive games in which the Hooks had scored at least one run. In 40 of those 43 games, the Hooks tallied three or more runs.

The last time the Hooks were blanked was June 15 - right here at Wolff Municipal - by a 1-0 final. Yesterday's game also snapped another offensive streak for the Hooks - 45 consecutive games with at least one extra-base hit. The Hooks managed seven hits last night, all singles. The last time the Hooks failed to get an extra-base hit was June 13, and by now you know that this was the place. The Hooks were also shut out that night by the Missions 4-0, scraping together six singles.

Alamo City donut

The ingredients for a Hooks win in San Antonio have not yet come together this season. Corpus Christi stands 0-9 in this facility in 2011, and the Hooks have been outscored in these nine games 53-14. Lifetime, the Hooks are 31-60 at Wolff Municipal Stadium.

The losses have come with increased frequency since 2008. During Corpus Christi's first three years in the league, the Hooks were 16-24 at "The Wolff," for a .400 winning percentage. Since 2008, the Hooks are 15-36 here, which translates to a .294 winning percentage.

The last time the Hooks won here was August 30, 2010 - a 4-2 final. Among the many details of that game - Matt Nevarez was the winning pitcher and Evan Englebrook earned the save. The losing pitcher was Tyler Lumsden, who spent the bulk of last season with the Hooks. Bubbie Buzachero was Corpus Christi's starting pitcher that night, and he tossed five innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits while striking out five. Jon Gaston and Jose Vallejo each had an RBI that night.

Cosart makes grand entrance

Jarred Cosart made an immediate impression with his AA debut for the Hooks last night. He allowed two singles, one of the infield variety, and did not issue a walk over six innings. Cosart struck out four and threw just 73 pitches while facing just one batter over the minimum.

Cosart's performance comes just 12 days after another pitcher acquired in a trade for a major leaguer threw goose eggs in his Hooks debut. Henry Sosa, coming over in the Jeff Keppinger deal with San Francisco, tossed seven innings of shutout ball in a July 21 win at home over Midland.

Adding in his last start with Clearwater in the Florida State League, Cosart has not allowed a run in his last 13.0 innings on the hill.

Nicky "86"

The Hooks have been - and pardon the stretch here - a fairly motley crew against Missions reliever Nick Vincent, who has wiped the Hooks out this season. Last night, Vincent struck out the side in order in the ninth to preserve San Antonio's 4-0 win.

In 10 relief outings against the Hooks, Vincent is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, with 8 hits, 1 walk and 15 strikeouts in 12.0 innings. Vincent has not even allowed an unearned run to the Hooks.

What's in a name'

Hooks catcher and corner infielder Emerson Frostad is one of 64 minor league ball players included in the Fifth Annual Minors Moniker Madness, a whimsical piece of tomfoolery foisted upon the masses by the good folks with Minor League Baseball, who clearly have plenty of free time on their hands.

They've set up a bracket, much like the NCAA basketball tournament (before the NCAA got the crazy idea to add 3 or 4 teams, but that's neither here nor there), whereby fans may vote for each matchup to advance these guys on to the next round. Someone with Minor League Baseball picked 64 guys that they believed have unique or funny names, and we're sure Emerson appreciates the thought.

Emerson has been pegged as the "8th seed" in the "Farmer Works" bracket (we're not making this up). That pairs him in the first round against the #9 seed, Didi Gregorius, a shortstop for the AA Carolina Mudcats (Reds), which makes this an all foreign-born matchup, with Frostad hailing from Canada (appropriate, eh... ‚¬ËœFrost'ad...kinda cold in Canada) and Gregorius being a native of The Netherlands.

Anyway, if you'd like to vote for Emerson and push him through this first-round entanglement against Gregorius, you should go to the Minor League website at www.milb.com and look for the Minors Moniker Madness display. But you only have until this Sunday to vote to see Emerson on to the next round.

Hey...how did former Missions shortstop Beamer Weems get a #1 seed'!

Pitching Rotation at San Antonio

Thursday: RHP Paul Clemens (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Joe Wieland (4-0, 1.23)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Brandon Barnes

· Rejoined Hooks Monday from the temporarily inactive list

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

· Has 6-game hit streak, 7-22 with 2 doubles, 3 runs and 1 RBI

· Overall this year in 92 games batting .223 (69x309) w/17 doubles, 5 triples, 11 HRs and 40 RBIs

· Batting .245(12-49) vs. RHP; .387(12-31) vs. LHP; .333(6-18) w/RISP

· Led all Astros farmhands with 28 HRs last year

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 batted .280-2-11

· Hits in 4 of his last 6 games, 5-22 with 1 double, 3 runs and 3 RBIs

· Tossed one inning of shutout relief July 22 (3rd career app as a pitcher)

· Has thrown out 7 of 26 (26.9%) would-be base stealers

Jon Gaston

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

· Hits in 8 of his last 11 games, 12-39 with 2 doubles, 3 HRs, 8 runs and 10 RBIs

· Has 20 RBIs in his last 32 games

· Is 4-27(.148) with 2 runs and 1 RBI in 8 games this season at San Antonio

· Batting .248(57-230) vs. RHP; .215(17-79) vs. LHP; .212(21-99) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

· Joined Hooks July 7 from Lancaster in the Cal League

· Leads all full-season minor leaguers in OBP (.449) and ranks fourth in OPS (1.062) and walks (81)

· Has 8-game hit streak, 10-29 with 1 double, 1 HR, 5 runs and 4 RBIs

· Hits in 18 of his last 19 games, 28-70 with 5 doubles, 4 HRs, 13 runs and 9 RBIs

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

· Led the Cal League at the time of his promotion in OBP (.458) and HR/AB ratio (1/12.95) and was tied for the league lead in HRs

· 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 (27) and RBIs (83)

T.J. Steele

· Is 3-27 in his last 10 games with 4 runs, 1 RBI and 9 Ks

· Is 1-13 this road trip with 2 runs

· Has single-season career highs in games (97), at-bats (351), hits (73), doubles (12), HRs (7), RBIs (42) and steals (16)

· Batting .171(43-251) vs. RHP; .300(30-100) vs. LHP; .184(19-103) w/RISP

Jose Vallejo

· Activated from the disabled list (concussion) Saturday

· Went 4-11 in Midland series with 4 RBIs

· In 37 games this year with AAA OKC hit .209 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs

· In 34 games last year with the Hooks hit .111-0-2 with 1 SB

· Acquired by the Astros along with RHP Matt Nevarez in the deal that sent C Ivan Rodriguez to Texas in August of 2009

Jimmy VanOstrand

· Hits in 10 of his last 13 games, 19-47 with 1 double, 3 HRs, 6 runs and 7 RBIs

· Has 29 multi-hit games, including eight 3-hit games

· Named CC's May offensive player of the month (.310-1-12, .393 OBP, .833 OPS)

· Is Corpus Christi's all-time franchise leader with 164 RBIs

· Batting .307(73-238) vs. RHP; .308(28-91) vs. LHP; .264(24-91) w/RISP

Jonathan Villar

· Hits in 14 of the last 16, 19-60 w/5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HRs, 14 runs and 10 RBIs

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

· In 97 games overall this year batting .244(92x377)-12-44

· Batting .236(34-144) vs. RHP; .220(13-59) vs. LHP; .273(9-33) w/RISP

· Has 70 PO, 128 A, 13 E (Fielding pct. of .938)

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

Chris Wallace

· Joined club June 23 from Lexington in the South Atlantic League

· Is 2-12 this road trip with 1 double, 1 HR, 2 runs and 2 RBIs

· Has 23 RBIs in his last 23 games

· Batting .240(18-75) vs. RHP; .314(11-35) vs. LHP; .375(12-32) w/RISP

· Is 3-4 with 2 HRs with the bases loaded

· Has thrown out 1 of 20 (5.0%) would-be base stealers

· In 66 games w/the Legends hit .285-14-49

· Overall this year in 97 games batting .278(98x352)-20-78

· Went 1-for-2 w/ a double to help the South defeat the North 6-3 in the SAL ASG

· Named the SAL's Batter of the Week April 7-17 (.444-5-17 in 10 games)

Brandon Wikoff

· Hits in 7 of the last 8 games, 8-25 with 2 runs and 1 RBI

· Is currently 9 plate appearances shy of qualifying among league leaders

· 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 19 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games

· Batting .335(60-179) vs. RHP; .254(17-67) vs. LHP; .333(17-51) w/RISP

· Has 82 PO, 176 A, 6 E (Fielding pct. of .977)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 29-38, 4.89 ERA, 591.1 IP, 74 HR, 194 BB, 457 K, .271 AVG

Relievers: 13-28, 5.28 ERA, 363.0 IP, 40 HR, 195 BB, 331 K, .277 AVG

Chris Hicks

· Last appearance: Did not allow a run and struck out a batter over 1.1 innings Sunday night at Midland

· Walked 1 and fanned 1 in a scoreless 7th last Thursday vs. San Antonio

· Allowed a solo HR to Blake Tekotte in the 7th inning last Wednesday

· Hooks debut July 20 vs. Midland: allowed 1 hit and 1 walk in a scoreless 8th

· 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

· Saved 9 games as a Junior for Georgia Tech in 2008, tying for 5th in school history

Blake King

· Last appearance: (2.0 IP, 4 Ks) Suffered the loss Monday, allowing 2 runs (1 ER) on a BB and a HBP

· Waked 1 and struck out a batter in a scoreless 8th Saturday night at Midland

· (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K) Allowed an IR to score on a groundout in the 5th last Wed. vs. SA

· Has yielded 3 runs over last 7 outings (10.1 IP, 19 Ks, 7 BBs)

· Charged with 7 runs over last 18 appearances (25.2 IP, 34 Ks, 16 BBs)

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

· Claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on May 26

· 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: Earned the victory Sunday night: yielded 1 UR & an IR to score on 2 H over 1 IP

· Touched for 2 runs and 6 hits in last 7 appearances: 11 K, 3 BB, 7.0 IP

· Tagged for 4 ER on 5 H over 1.1 IP July 18 vs. Midland

· (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: Suffered the BS Saturday: 3 R (2 ER) on 1 BB and 2 H without recording an out

· Worked around a lead-off error and struck out 2 in a scoreless 8th last Thursday vs. SA

· 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: Allowed 2 IR to score on Parrino's single in the 8th last night

· Has not been charged with a run in last four appearances (3.1 IP), going 2-for-2 in save opportunities

· Yielded 2 runs on 3 hits in 1 inning July 23 at Frisco

· Made Hooks debut July 20 vs. Midland, breezing though a perfect ninth to pick up the save

· 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 120 strikeouts against 42 walks as a professional

· Selected in the 4th round by San Francisco in 2009 out of Arizona

· Wildcats career leader in saves and appearances

Henry Villar

· Last appearance: (1.1 IP, 2 K) Surrendered a 2-run single Monday, allowing a pair of IR to score

· (0.2 IP, 1 H) Allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score Saturday night at Midland

· Touched for 3 R on 4 H, notching just 1 out in the 8th inning last Wednesday vs. SA

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

· Saddled with the loss July 5 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

· 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

· Won Corpus Christi's pitcher of the month honors for April, allowing 1 ER in 12.2 IP

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

Josh Zeid

· Last appearance: Tagged for 4 R on 4 H over 1.2 frames in losing effort last night

· Notched a K and allowed 1 hit while recording 2 outs Sunday night in Hooks debut

· 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

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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Texas League Stories from August 3, 2011


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