TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, August 7 - Midland at Corpus Christi

Published on August 7, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Midland (22-20, 49-63) @ Corpus Christi (17-25, 42-70)

A single, a sacrifice and an error produced the game-winning run for Midland in the top of the ninth last night, giving the RockHounds their second 4-3 win over the Hooks in this series. Wes Timmons, who singled to open the frame, scored from second when a hot grounder off the bat of Ryan Ortiz deflected off third baseman Brandon Wikoff into left field. The late run made a winner of southpaw reliever Trey Barham (5-2), who tossed two innings of shutout ball.

Brandon Barnes clubbed a two-run homer for the Hooks. Jon Gaston delivered a clutch two-out, RBI single in the eighth that knotted the score at 3-3. Corpus Christi starter Erick Abreu turned in his sixth straight quality start but was saddled with a no-decision. Abreu allowed three runs on eight hits over 7.1 innings while striking out five.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Shawn Haviland (5-9, 7.36) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (0-0, 0.00)

Haviland, Oakland's 33rd-round selection in 2008 out of Harvard University, makes his 23rd start and his fifth against the Hooks. Tuesday at Citibank Ballpark against Frisco, Haviland allowed five runs on 11 hits over seven innings but got the win in a 13-8 final. Haviland has not lost since July 12 at Springfield. In his last four starts, Haviland is 3-0 with a 5.96 ERA. Haviland served up a season-high three home runs when he pitched here July 18, but he also struck out a season-high 10 batters on the way to a 15-8 win. Haviland allowed five runs over five innings in that July 18 start. Haviland is tied for the league lead in games started (22) and ranks second in home runs allowed (22).

· Opponents are batting .337 vs. Haviland

· In 4 starts this year vs. Corpus Christi is 2-2 with a 6.04 ERA (15 ER in 22.1 IP)

· Led all Oakland farmhands with 169 strikeouts last year (Stockton-166 and Sacramento-3)

Cosart, one of the three known players obtained by the Astros in the Hunter Pence deal with Philadelphia, makes his Whataburger Field debut in this his second start for the Hooks. In his AA debut Tuesday in San Antonio, Cosart was impressive, limiting the Missions to two singles over six shutout innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out four, all while throwing just 73 pitches. A graduate of Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, Cosart spent his time prior to the trade with the Clearwater Threshers of the Advanced-A Florida State League, where in 20 appearances and 19 starts he was 9-8 with a 3.92 ERA, with 98 hits, 43 walks and 79 strikeouts in 108.0 innings. Combining his final start with Clearwater and his Tuesday start at San Antonio, Cosart has not allowed a run in his last two outings, covering 13.0 innings. He enters play tonight having not allowed a run over his last 15.0 innings of work.

· Tied for 4th in the Phillies system in wins (9) at the time of the trade

· Tossed an inning of shutout relief to help the North beat the South 5-3 in the June 18 FSL All-Star Game

· Originally a 38th-round pick of the Phillies in 2008, pegged by Baseball America as the #4 prospect in the Philadelphia system

Abreu keeps plugging

If there were an award for consistency of performance and effort, Erick Abreu would be at the top of the list. His outing last night marked his sixth consecutive quality start. In those six starts, Abreu is 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA (13 ER in 39.2 IP). In each outing he has worked between 6.0 and 7.1 innings and given up either one, two or three runs. Abreu now ranks eighth in the TL in ERA (3.98) and fourth in WHIP (1.16).

Hooks starters are getting the job done despite the club's current six-game losing streak. Over these last six games, Corpus Christi starters are 0-1 with five no-decisions and a 2.78 ERA (11 ER in 35.2 IP).

Six in a row

The club's current skid is the second-longest losing streak for Corpus Christi this season. The longest stretch without a win - nine games - occurred May 5-14. That streak involved two home losses to Midland, followed by four losses at San Antonio and then three defeats at Frisco.

July players of the month

The Astros Player Development Department late Friday night announced its July players of the month throughout the organization. Here in Corpus Christi, the honors go to LHP Dallas Keuchel and outfielders J.D. Martinez and Jacob Goebbert. None of those players are currently with the club.

Keuchel earned pitcher-of-the-month acclaim. In six July starts, Keuchel went 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA, with 5 walks and 27 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. Keuchel made his AAA debut with Oklahoma City Thursday night.

Martinez was named Corpus Christi's offensive player of the month. In 26 July games, Martinez hit .380 (35x92) with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HRs and 26 RBIs. Martinez got the call to Houston July 30 and that night delivered a pinch-hit, RBI double in his first major league at-bat at Milwaukee.

Goebbert played both corner outfield positions and put time in (2 games) at first base as well to earn the selection as the Hooks defensive player of the month. Goebbert had 58 put-outs, 5 assists and 1 error in July for a .984 fielding percentage. Four of those five assists came in the outfield. Goebbert made his AAA debut with Oklahoma City Tuesday night.

One-run affairs

Last night's result marked the sixth consecutive one-run game played between these two clubs. Midland has won five of the six. For the year, 10 of the 26 games between Corpus Christi and Midland have been decided by a single run, with the RockHounds holding a 6-4 edge in those games.

For the record, the Hooks are 10-22 in one-run games this season; 5-8 at home. No team in the league has played more one-run games than Midland. The RockHounds are 17-20 in one-run games.

7-8-9

Midland rallied from a 2-0 deficit after six innings to win last night's game. That gives the Hooks a 36-13 record this season when leading after six innings. No other club in the league has lost more than seven games (Springfield 46-7) when taking a lead into the seventh inning.

During this current six-game losing streak, the Hooks have been edged 9-8 over the first six innings, but have been outscored 20-2 in the last three frames. The bullpen ERA in these six games stands at 7.04 (12 ER in 15.1 IP). Corpus Christi's batting average in the final three innings of these six games is .167 (10x60) with 1 RBI.

Timmons on a roll

Midland 2B Wes Timmons is the hottest hitter in the league right now. His 14-game hitting streak is the longest current streak in the circuit and is three games shy of the longest streak in the league this year. During his 14-game streak, Timmons is 28-for-58 (.483) with 2 HRs and 12 RBIs. He extended the streak last night with a home run leading off the seventh. That homer gave Midland its first run of the game.

Pitching Rotation vs. Midland

Monday: RHP Ethan Hollingsworth (4-4, 3.72) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (4-8, 5.92)

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

· Hits in 9 of his last 10 games, 11-36 with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 runs and 4 RBIs

· Overall this year in 96 games batting .226 (73x323) w/18 doubles, 5 triples, 12 HRs and 43 RBIs

· Batting .250(14-56) vs. RHP; .368(14-38) vs. LHP; .333(8-24) w/RISP

· Led all Astros farmhands with 28 HRs last year

Brian Esposito

· Returned to club yesterday from AAA Oklahoma City

· Had been on the DL (right knee)

· Bounced into DP as a pinch hitter last night

· Batting .163(7-43) vs. RHP; .111(2-18) vs. LHP; .308(4-13) w/RISP

· Has thrown out 5 of 20 (25.0%) would-be base stealers

David Flores

· Rejoined club Thursday from Lancaster

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

· In his last 4 games with Lancaster went 4-12 with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs

· Batting .177(17-96) vs. RHP; .261(12-46) vs. LHP; .258(8-31) w/RISP

· Has 67 PO, 72 A, 5 E (Fielding pct. of .965)

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

· Is 0-10 in his last 4 games; 1-18 in his last 6

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

· 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 3 of the last 4 games, 4-14 with 1 double and 1 RBI

· Has 11 RBIs in his last 15 games

· Batting .249(59-237) vs. RHP; .221(19-86) vs. LHP; .214(22-103) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

· Joined Hooks July 7 from Lancaster in the Cal League

· Ranked second among all full-season minor leaguers in OBP (.441), third in walks (83) and sixth in OPS (1.042)

· Hits in 9 of his last 12 games, 11-43 with 1 double, 2 HRs, 6 runs and 6 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 (28) and RBIs (85)

T.J. Steele

· Is 4-39 in his last 14 games with 4 runs, 1 RBI and 14 Ks

· Went 1-18 on road trip with 2 runs

· Has single-season career highs in games (101), at-bats (363), hits (74), doubles (12), HRs (7), RBIs (42) and steals (16)

· Batting .171(44-257) vs. RHP; .283(30-106) vs. LHP; .179(19-106) w/RISP

Wladimir Sutil

· Rejoined Hooks Friday night from AAA Oklahoma City

· In 31 games with the RedHawks hit .222 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 2 SBs

· Named Corpus Christi's offensive and defensive player of the month in April

· Hit safely in first 16 games of the season (.418, 28x67)

· Batting .248(31-125) vs. RHP; .391(25-64) vs. LHP; .282(11-39) w/RISP

· Has 68 PO, 150 A, 5 E (Fielding pct. of .978)

· Is Corpus Christi's franchise leader in games (342), at-bats (1,241) and hits (340)

Jimmy VanOstrand

· Has 5-game hit streak, 9-16 with 1 double, 2 runs and 1 RBI

· Hits in 12 of his last 15, 21-52 with 2 doubles, 3 HRs, 6 runs and 8 RBIs

· Placed on the DL (left hamstring) yesterday

· 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 165 RBIs

· Batting .308(74-240) vs. RHP; .309(29-94) vs. LHP; .269(25-93) w/RISP

Jonathan Villar

· Hits in 16 of the last 20, 23-77 w/7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HRs, 17 runs and 10 RBIs

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

· In 101 games overall this year batting .244(96x394)-12-44

· Batting .243(37-152) vs. RHP; .206(14-68) vs. LHP; .250(9-36) w/RISP

· Has 76 PO, 138 A, 13 E (Fielding pct. of .943)

· 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

· Went 2-14 on road trip with 1 double, 1 HR, 2 runs and 2 RBIs

· Removed from game Wednesday night (wrist)

· Batting .240(18-75) vs. RHP; .297(11-37) vs. LHP; .364(12-33) 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 98 games batting .277(98x354)-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 9 of his last 11 games, 10-35 with 2 runs and 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 19 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games

· Batting .332(62-187) vs. RHP; .246(17-69) vs. LHP; .327(17-52) w/RISP

· Has 84 PO, 179 A, 7 E (Fielding pct. of .974)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 29-39, 4.82 ERA, 616.1 IP, 78 HR, 202 BB, 475 K, .269 AVG

Relievers: 13-31, 5.32 ERA, 372.0 IP, 41 HR, 203 BB, 341 K, .278 AVG

Chris Hicks

· Last appearance: (.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H) Inherited Timmons who scored the winning run in the 9th last night

· Allowed an IR to score and a run of his own on 3 H in 1.2 IP Wed. at San Antonio

· Had yielded 1 ER in his first 6 appearances with CC (6.2 IP)

· 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: Fashioned a scoreless 7th Friday night, walking 1 and fanning 1

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

· Has yielded 3 runs over last 8 outings (11.1 IP, 20 Ks, 8 BBs)

· Charged with 7 runs over last 19 appearances (26.2 IP, 35 Ks, 17 BBs)

· Allowed 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: Charged with 3 R (2 ER) over 1-plus Thursday night at San Antonio

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

· Earned the victory last Sunday at Midland: yielded 1 UR & an IR to score on 2 H over 1 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: Absorbed the loss last night, yielding an unearned run on 1 H in 1 IP

· Had been tagged for 5 R (4 ER) in prior two appearances (0.2 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 a two-run homer to Jeremy Barfield in the ninth Friday, suffering the loss

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

· Allowed 2 IR to score on Andy Parrino's single in the 8th Tuesday night at SA

· 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 121 strikeouts against 43 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: Pitched a perfect 8th Friday night, striking out 2

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

· (0.2 IP, 1 H) Allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score Saturday night vs. the RockHounds

· 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

· Worked 7 (8.0 IP) consecutive scoreless 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

· 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: Walked a batter and allowed 3 H in the 8th Thurs at SA...charged w/ 2 unearned runs

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

· Notched a K and allowed 1 hit while recording 2 outs last Sunday at Midland 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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