TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, August 9 vs. Arkansas

Published on August 9, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Arkansas (22-23, 49-66) @ Corpus Christi (29-16, 66-49)

Last night, the Travelers and lefty Nick Maronde held the Hooks scoreless at home for the first time in three months. Maronde, a third-round pick of the Angels last year out of Florida, pitched a career-high eight innings and Kevin Johnson slammed the door in the ninth to preserve a 4-0 victory over Corpus Christi in the series opener. Maronde walked one and struck out five, throwing 67 of 105 pitches for strikes. Only Jose Martinez, who hit a popup double behind the mound in the first, reached second base. All of the Travelers runs came via home runs - Roberto Lopez's lead-off shot in the fifth and Darwin Perez's three-run blast in the seventh.

Paul Clemens turned in his best start with the Hooks, tossing six innings of three-hit, one-run ball. He walked three and fanned five but a pitch count of 102 accounted for the early exit. Alex Sogard retired all six men he faced in relief, striking out two. The lefty has permitted one run in his last four appearances (6.2 IP, 1 BB, 6 K).

The Hooks, who have won 22 of their last 29 games at Whataburger Field, are 6-1 against the Travelers this season. Corpus Christi still leads San Antonio by five games in the Texas League South second-half race.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP A.J. Schugel (5-7, 2.87) vs. RHP Asher Wojciechowski (1-0, 2.08)

Wojciechowski, acquired by the Astros in the 10-player trade with Toronto, makes his fourth start with the Hooks. He did not factor in the decision last Friday in Midland, allowing one run on two hits, one hit batter and two walks in 5.1 innings. In his Double-A debut July 24 at San Antonio, Wojciechowski tossed seven innings of one-run ball to earn the victory, allowing three hits and three walks. He fanned six batters and threw 62 of 95 pitches for strikes, retiring the last eight Missions in order. Wojciechowski has not allowed more than two earned runs in his last 10 starts. The 23-year-old out of Charleston was with Dunedin in the Florida State League and went 7-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 18 starts. He struck out 76 and walked 22, holding the league to a .261 batting average. Wojciechowski went 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA over his last seven starts as a Blue Jay with 34 strikeouts against 11 walks. He won league Pitcher of the Week honors for May 21-29 after permitting just one run over two outings, fanning 12 batters against one walk in 12.0 innings pitched. Toronto made Wojciechowski the highest draft pick in the history of the Citadel when it selected him with the 41st overall pick in the 2010 draft after his junior season. A consensus second-team All-American in "˜10, he went 12-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 17 starts, posting 155 strikeouts in 125.2 innings.

- Ranked by Baseball America has Toronto's No. 10 prospect entering the season

- Pitched for Team USA as a sophomore at the Citadel | Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year as a junior

- 11-9 with a 4.70 ERA for Dunedin last year, striking out 96 against 31 walks while allowing 15 home runs

Schugel, a 25th-round pick of the Angels in 2010 out of Central Arizona College, makes his 23rd start this season and his third against the Hooks. He features the third-best ERA in the Texas League and his innings pitched (122.1) are tied for fifth. In an effort to limit Schugel's workload, Arkansas will use him for one inning tonight with RHP Eddie McKiernan to follow. He allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in 5.1 innings on Friday vs. Northwest Arkansas, walking four while striking out four. Schugel has permitted a total of three earned runs in his prior five appearances (22.0 IP) for a 1.23 ERA. His last loss was way back on June 21 when he was tagged for six runs June 21 vs. Springfield but only two were earned. Schugel has allowed three earned runs or less in 19 of his 22 appearances. The Texas League All-Star is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA vs. Corpus Christi, walking four while fanning 14. Last year, Schugel split his time between Cedar Rapids of the Midwest League and Inland Empire of the California League, going a combined 5-5 with 1 save and a 3.03 ERA. McKiernan, a 17th-round pick of the Angels in 2007 out of Monrovia (CA) High School, makes his 13th appearance for the Travelers. He rejoins Arkansas from Salt Lake where we went 5-3 with a 7.35 ERA in 13 outings (10 starts). McKiernan spent all last year with the Travelers, going 9-12 with a 5.22 ERA in 27 games and 20 starts. He led the loop last year in hit batters (15) and tied for second in complete games (3).

- McKiernan was tagged for 9 ER (12 R) on 11 hits and two home runs in 2.2 on May 24 at WF

- Prior to that appearance, had yielded a total of 5 ER in first 11 outings of the season (1.47 ERA)

- Features a 2-0 record and a 0.60 ERA in 8 appearances out of the Arkansas pen

Springer has sprung in CC

The Astros today promoted 2011 top draft pick George Springer from Lancaster to Corpus Christi. In 106 games with the JetHawks, Springer hit .316 with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs and his name is all over the California League leader board. He earned mid-season all-star honors and was voted the circuit's player of the week for May 7-14 after going 12-for-23 (.522) with eight runs, one triple, five home runs and 10 RBIs. The week included a three-homer night on May 11 vs. Lake Elsinore. Springer posted a 16-game hitting streak from June 23 to July 8, batting .455 with 19 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 15 RBIs. For the season, he's stolen 28 bases in 34 chances.

The 11th overall pick in last year's draft, Springer played exclusively in centerfield for Lancaster and split time between the two and three holes in the batting order. He received the second highest signing bonus in Astros history, $2.525 million, and is rated as the organization's third-best prospect by Baseball America and MLB.com behind Jon Singleton and Jarred Cosart.

BA also called him the best defensive outfielder in the system and the owner of the best outfield arm in Houston's organization. The 2011 Big East Player of the Year out of Connecticut, Springer hit .343 with 12 HR and 77 RBI in 66 games for the Huskies his junior season.

STAT No. CL RANK

BA .316 8th

HR 22 t-3rd

RBI 82 5th

H 137 2nd

SLG .557 3rd

XBH 50 2nd

Skid row

We're being a little dramatic but the Hooks have fallen on tough times of late. Corpus Christi has dropped four of its last six games after winning four in a row and 10 of 13. Prior to this stretch, the club had not lost two in a row since June 14-15 at Frisco. You have to go back to early June to find the last time the Hooks have lost three straight (June 3-4 at Springfield and June 6 vs. Midland). Last night marked the ninth shutout against Corpus Christi this season but it was the first at Whataburger Field since May 7 against San Antonio.

Pitching Rotation vs. Arkansas

Friday: RHP Mike Piazza (4-3, 2.28) vs. RHP Bobby Doran (3-1, 6.26)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- Was 0-for-5 in series at Midland

- Hitless in last 7 at-bats with 1 run and 3 Ks

- Hit .308 with 2 doubles, 1 home run and 7 RBIs thru 17 games in July

- Batting .250(25-100) vs. RHP; .263(5-19) vs. LHP; .321(9-28) 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

- Is 1-for-10 over his last three games with 2 BB and 4 SO

- 7-for-16 with 4 runs, two doubles, two home runs and 4 RBIs in series at Midland

- 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 447 times compared to 141 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

- Has hit in three straight games (3-10)

- 2-for-9 with 1 run, 1 double and 2 RBIs in series at Midland

- Has hit safely in 19 of the last 26, 27-89 (.304) w/ 6 2B, 4 HR, 16 R & 17 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 .232(23-99) vs. RHP; .310(13-42) vs. LHP; .261(12-46) w/RISP

- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 39.5 (169 of 427)

- In 8 seasons in the Mariners and Twins systems, hit .244-16-162 in 439 games

Jacob Goebbert

- 1 for last 14 with 1 RBI, 2 R & 5 BB

- From July 18-July 28 hit .405 (15-37) to raise average from .267 to .286

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

- 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 .252(56-222) vs. RHP; .347(25-72) vs. LHP; .313(25-80) w/RISP

Robbie Grossman

- Has hits in 10 of his 13 games with CC

- His 0-for-4 last night ended a 7 hitting streak in which he was 9-27 with 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B & 1 RBI

- 4-for-10 with 5 runs and three walks in series at Midland

- 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

- 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

- 1-for-2 Sunday with a double and a run...lone start at MID

- 2-for-4 last Thursday...only offensive action vs. SA

- 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

- 0-10 with 1 run, 1 walk & 5 K in series at Midland...has played in 9 G since July 18

- 1 for his last 22...2-run HR, 2 BB, 9 K

- 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 .252(31-123) at home; .175(24-137) on the road

- Batting .198(36-182) vs. RHP; .244(19-78) vs. LHP; .170(15-88) w/RISP

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

Drew Locke

- Went 0-4 last night to end a 6-game hit streak, 13-27 (.481) with 6 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 8 RBIs

- Has hit safely in 14 of last 16, 26-61 (.426) with 7 2B, 1 3B, 12 R, 1 HR and 16 RBIs

- Has the highest batting average in the Texas League since July 12 at .393 (35-89) with 18 RBI

- Hits in 23 of last 29: 46-116 (.397), 2 HR, 10 2B, 1 3B, 20 R & 24 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

- .326-4-26 at home | .321-2-15 on the road

- Batting .326(47-144) vs. RHP; .317(19-60) vs. LHP; .385(25-65) 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

- Has hit in 6 straight and in 14 of last 15 games, 21-62 (.339) with 15 R, 3 2B, 4 BB and 5 RBIs

- 8-for-20 with 6 runs, 1 double and 3 RBIs in series at Midland

- Posted second four-hit game of the season Saturday night

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

- .318-4-22 during 15 games in June | .283-4-18 in 25 games in July

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

- 4th in TL AVG (.306), 1st PA/K (11.70), 2nd in H (129), T-1st in R (75), 4th RBI (75)

- CC's defensive player of the month in April (47 PO, 56 A, 0 E)

- Batting .290(94-324) vs. RHP; .361(35-97) vs. LHP; .388(45-116) w/RISP

Ben Orloff

- 1-3 in series at Midland...has started two games in August

- Has hit safely in 7 of last 10, 9-39 (.231)...1-for-13 in prior 4

- Batting .208(11-53) vs. RHP; .231(3-13) vs. LHP; .091(1-11) 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

Andy Simunic

- Has hit in 9 of last 10 games, going 14-38 (.368) with 1 HR and 8 RBI

- Went 2-4 with 1 3B, & 2 RBIs Saturday in return from an 11-day stint on DL (sore neck)

- Batted .316 thru 21 games in July, scoring 17 runs and driving in 9

- Hit 2nd pro grand slam July 20 & drove in career-high 5 runs

- Has hits in 18 of last 21 games, 29-82 (.354) with 19 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBI and 7 BB

- Rejoined Hooks June 14 from AAA Oklahoma City, where he was 0-9 in 8 games

- Hit .391 with 4 doubles and 7 RBIs during 16 games in June

- 3rd in the league in hitting (.311)

- Batting .304(72-237) vs. RHP; .333(24-72) vs. LHP; .244(21-86) w/RISP

- Finished last year at Lancaster: .295-5-28 in 67 games

Jon Singleton

- Has hit safely in 7 of last 11, 12-45 (.267) with 10 R, 2 2B, 7 BB, 7 RBIs

- 3-15 with 2 runs 3 walks, 3 sac flys and 5 RBIs in series at Midland

- Has 4 extra-base hits in his last 20 games

- Hits in 18 last 25 games, 27-92 (.293) with 18 R, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR & 13 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

- T-1st in the league in runs (75), 2nd in walks (72)

- .347-3-14 with 9 2B, 2 3B, 18 BB & 25 K over 28 games in July to earn CC P-o-M honors

- .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 .289(78-270) vs. RHP; .245(27-110) vs. LHP; .300 (33-110) w/RISP

- Batted .350 with 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR 13 RBIs, 12 walks, 16 Ks thru 22 G in April

George Springer

Hit .316 with 18 2B, 10 3B, 22 HR, 82 RBI and 28 SB in 106 games for Advanced-A Lancaster 8th in the California League in BA (.316), t-3rd in HR (22), 5th in RBI (82), 2nd in H (137) The right-handed batter has fared equally well against LHP and RHP (.316 against both) 422 of his 433 at-bats with the JetHawks came in centerfield; the others were at DH In July hit .389 with 6 HR and 24 RBI and 9 SB; had a .464 OBP and a .657 SLG All of his at-bats came out of either the two (295) or three (138) hole in the lineup Rated as the No. 3 prospect in the HOU system by both Baseball America and MLB.com BA rated him as the best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm in the organization Played in eight games last season for Short Season A Tri City last year and went 5-for-28 Received the second highest signing bonus in Astros history at $2.525 million Selected in the first round (11th overall) in the 2011 draft out of the University of Connecticut Became the highest draft pick in UConn history Named the 2011 Big East Player of the Year after hitting .343 with 12 HR, 77 RBI and 31 SB

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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