TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, July 10 - Nw Arkansas at Corpus Christi

Published on July 10, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


NW Arkansas (6-9, 41-41) @ Corpus Christi (6-9, 31-54)

Darin Holcomb, a player who missed all of last season with what was thought to be a career-ending back injury, saved his best game of the year last night for the Hooks. Tulsa's third baseman and cleanup hitter went 4-for-5 with a double and five RBIs to lead the Drillers to a 5-4 win in 10 innings. Holcomb's single to right in the top of the 10th plated Ben Paulsen from second with the game-winning run. In case you were wondering, Holcomb's previous best game this year was back on April 15, when he went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Drillers to a 9-6 win, over the Hooks, here at Whataburger Field.

T.J. Steele's two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Hooks to a 4-4 tie. Corpus Christi is finished with Tulsa for the year. The Drillers captured the season series seven games to five. The Naturals come to town to begin a three-game set tonight. Northwest Arkansas leads the season series with the Hooks seven games to two.

Tonight's Matchup:

LHP Chris Dwyer (2-8, 6.40) vs. LHP Xavier Cedeno (4-5, 3.60)

Dwyer, a non-roster invitee to Royals Spring Training, makes his 17th start this season and his fourth against the Hooks. Tuesday at Arvest Ballpark, Dwyer allowed five runs on six hits and five walks in only 4.1 innings and left trailing 5-1. His teammates rallied for a 7-6 walk-off win, rendering Dwyer a no-decision. The southpaw has an 18.00 ERA over his last two starts and is 0-3 with a 7.41 ERA over his last four outings. A fourth-round pick of Kansas City in the 2009 draft out of Clemson University, Dwyer split his time last year between Wilmington in the Carolina League and Northwest Arkansas. In four starts with the Naturals, he went 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA. Both of his wins came against the Hooks in early July, and in those two starts Dwyer allowed just one run over 11 innings (0.82 ERA).

· In his 3 starts against the Hooks is 1-0 with a 6.59 ERA (10 ER in 13.2 IP)

· In 8 road starts is 1-5 with a 3.63 ERA (1-3, 10.19 ERA in 8 home starts)

· Pegged by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the KC system and as having the best curveball in the organization

Cedeno, a free-agent signee of the Astros in December, makes his 18th start and his fourth against the Naturals. Monday in Springdale, Cedeno produced his eighth quality start this season, but it wasn't good enough. He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks over six innings and took a no-decision in Corpus Christi's 5-3 loss. The result was Cedeno's seventh no-decision among his last eight starts. His ERA over those eight starts is 2.65 (15 ER in 51.0 IP). His last win came May 20 at home over Midland (5-4). Cedeno leads the league in strikeouts (98) and ranks third in innings pitched (100.0) and sixth in ERA (3.60).

· In 3 starts vs. NW Arkansas is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA (12 ER in 12.0 IP)

· Is the standing TL Pitcher of the Week for his June 27 start vs. Frisco (6.2-1-0-0-0-14, ND)

· In 9 home starts is 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA (1-3, 4.60 ERA in 8 road starts)

Steele blast sets record

T.J. Steele's home run in the seventh last night gives the Hooks homers in eight straight games - a new franchise record. The previous record of home runs in seven straight was set during the second half of the inaugural 2005 season.

During the current streak, the Hooks have hit 11 HRs, and the offense has scored 53 runs over the last eight games, which works out to an average of 6.6 runs per game. In the last 14 games, the Hooks have hit 19 HRs, or, 1.4 HRs per game. Corpus Christi managed just 42 HRs in the club's first 71 games, or, 0.59 HRs per game.

Offense maintains streak

The Hooks have now scored at least three runs in 21 consecutive games - the longest such streak of the season. Corpus Christi has amassed 113 runs in the last 21 games, an average of 5.38 runs per game. San Antonio, the highest-scoring team in the league, is averaging 5.99 runs per game for the season.

Defense locks it up

Corpus Christi's defense did not commit an error last night, snapping a string of nine consecutive games in which the club made at least one error. During that nine-game span, the Hooks committed 18 errors, posting a .947 fielding percentage in the process (236 POs, 85 assists, 18 errors).

Despite the nine-game swoon, the Hooks remain fourth in the Texas League in team defense with an overall fielding percentage of .975, having made 80 errors this season in 85 games.

Bonus baseball

Whataburger Field patrons have been treated to extra innings here the last two nights. It's the second time this season the Hooks have played back-to-back extra-innings games here at home. The Hooks also played beyond nine on the 18th and 19th of June, falling to Frisco by scores of 9-6 in 13 innings and 9-8 in 12 innings.

For the year, the Hooks are 2-7 in extra-innings games; 1-4 here at Whataburger Field.

Martinez streak at 12

J.D. Martinez' current 12-game hitting streak is the longest active streak in the Texas League. It marks the second time this season that J.D. has hit safely in 12 straight. He also managed a 12-gamer June 11-22.

The reigning Texas League Batter of the Week has knocked in runs in nine of the last 10 games (12 RBIs) and enters tonight's game ranked second among all Astros farmhands in batting (.333) and tied for third in RBIs (56).

Pitching Rotation vs. Northwest Arkansas

Monday: RHP Manauris Baez (1-0, 4.45) vs. RHP Jonnathan Aristil (3-6, 5.72)

Tuesday: RHP Jake Odorizzi (1-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (4-5, 5.67)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Jose Altuve

· Leads all full-season minor leagues with his .387 batting average (135x349)

· Slated to participate in today's XM All-Star Futures Game in Phoenix

· Hits in 4 of his last 6 games, 8-26 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 runs and 4 RBIs

· Has 18 multi-hit games w/ the Hooks

· In 52 games w/Lancaster batted .408-5-34 and was leading the Cal League in hits (87) and triples (7) at the time of his promotion

· Lancaster's offensive player of the month for May (.388-3-22, 7 SB) and CC's offensive player of the month for June (.364-3-18, 5 SB)

· Batting .351(39-111) vs. RHP; .360(9-25) vs. LHP; .316(12-38) w/RISP

· Has 52 PO, 70 A, 3 E (Fielding pct. of .976)

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 was batting .280-2-11

· Hits in 6 of his last 8 games, 11-30 with 1 double, 1 triple, 1 HR, 5 runs and 2 RBIs

· Has thrown out 7 of 19 (36.8%) would-be base stealers

· Played parts of 4 seasons (07-10) w/Frisco, hit .257(253x985) w/ 27 HRs, 131 RBIs

Jon Gaston

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

· Hits in 6 of his last 8 games, 8-26 with 1 double, 1 triple, 4 runs and 3 RBIs

· Hits in 12 of his last 15 games, 17-54 w/1 double, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 9 runs and 9 RBIs

· Batting .257(47-183) vs. RHP; .206(13-63) vs. LHP; .198(16-81) w/RISP

Jacob Goebbert

· Hits in 7 of the last 9 games, 12-32 w/3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 5 runs and 7 RBIs

· Hits in 15 of the last 19, 24-74 w/7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HRs, 10 runs and 10 RBIs

· Has 20 multi-hit games

· Batting .316(49-155) vs. RHP; .298(14-47) vs. LHP; .404(23-57) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

· Joined Hooks Thursday from Lancaster in the Cal League

· Leads all full-season minor leagues in OBP (.450) and ranks third in walks (71)

· With the JetHawks in 80 games batted .323(92x285) with 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 (22) and RBIs (71)

J.D. Martinez

· Has 12-game hit streak, 19-45 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HRs, 11 runs and 15 RBIs

· Hits in 24 of the last 26, 37-100 w/5 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HRs, 20 runs & 22 RBIs

· Named the TL's Batter of the Week June 27-July 3 (10-21 w/3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 5 runs and 8 RBIs in 5 games)

· Has 21 multi-hit games

· Went 2-for-4 w/ a double to help the South beat the North 3-2 in the TL ASG

· Also has hit streaks this season of 12 games (June 11-22) and 11 games (April 7-18)

· Established a club-record nine-game RBI streak (April 11-21) with 14 RBIs

· Batting .333(62-186) vs. RHP; .333(23-69) vs. LHP; .366(30-82) w/RISP

· Houston's Minor League Player of the Year in 2010 (.341-18-89, 5 SBs)

Jimmy Paredes

· Has 4-game hit streak, 8-19 w/1 triple, 1 HR, 4 runs and 2 RBIs

· Hits in 7 of the last 8 games, 14-37 w/1 double, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 7 runs and 4 RBIs

· Has 3 HRs in the last 14 games (4 HRs in his first 59)

· Ranks third in the TL in steals (26)

· Leads team with 25 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games

· Batting .281(63-224) vs. RHP; .272(22-81) vs. LHP; .291(23-79) w/RISP

· Has 105 PO, 157 A, 15 E (Fielding pct. of .946)

· Hit .287-8-65 last year with Charleston and Lexington, ranking third in the South Atlantic League with 50 stolen bases

T.J. Steele

· Hits in 4 of the last 5 games, 5-17 w/1 HR, 1 run and 2 RBIs

· Has single-season career highs in games (81), at-bats (302), HRs (6) and steals (15)

· Batting .184(40-217) vs. RHP; .271(23-85) vs. LHP; .196(18-92) w/RISP

· In his first three pro seasons hit .281-10-79 in 157 games; his playing time hampered by a variety of injuries

Jimmy VanOstrand

· Hits in 8 of his last 12 games, 11-32 with 2 HRs, 5 runs and 9 RBIs

· Went 1-3 in Tulsa series with 1 run

· Has 23 multi-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 157 RBIs

· Batting .296(59-199) vs. RHP; .284(21-74) vs. LHP; .263(21-80) w/RISP

Jonathan Villar

· Went 2-13 in Tulsa series with 2 runs and 4 Ks

· Injured his right ankle in 2nd inning June 24...missed 3 games

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

· Batting .271(19-70) as a right-handed hitter; .226(50-221) as a lefty hitter

· Has 39 PO, 72 A, 9 E (Fielding pct. of .925)

· 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

· Hits in 10 of his last 12 games, 12-42 with 2 HRs, 6 runs and 12 RBIs

· In 66 games with the Legends hit .285 (69x242) with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HRs, 37 runs and 49 RBIs

· 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)

· In just his second year of pro ball...last year split his time between Greeneville (.310-8-32) and Tri-City (.250-2-8), hitting .293 overall

· A 16th-round pick of the Astros last year out of the University of Houston

· In 4 seasons with the Cougars hit .291-20-96 over 162 games and was picked All-Conference USA Second Team in 2009 (junior year)

Brandon Wikoff

· Hits in 5 of his last 8 games, 7-29 w/4 runs and 1 RBI

· Went 12-53(.226) in June 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 17 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games

· Batting .341(46-135) vs. RHP; .326(14-43) vs. LHP; .395(15-38) w/RISP

· Has 45 PO, 119 A, 4 E (Fielding pct. of .976)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 22-30, 4.83 ERA, 468.0 IP, 58 HR, 160 BB, 359 K, .269 AVG

Relievers: 9-24, 5.19 ERA, 288.0 IP, 29 HR, 167 BB, 259 K, .274 AVG

Kyle Greenwalt

· Last appearance: (1 IP, BB) winning run scored for Tulsa last night on a pair of singles & a WP

· Picked up the win Friday night, fashioning a scoreless 10th

· (3 ER, 4 H, 1 HR 1 BB, 3 K, 2.2 IP) Tagged with the loss Tuesday night at NWA

· Yielded Mike Bianucci's game-winning 3-run homer in the 13th inning June 18 prior to 2 scoreless IP

· 8 of his last 11 appearances have been of the scoreless variety (17.0 IP, 12 K, 4 BB)

· Made first relief appearance May 30 at Ark...tagged with the loss, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits in 1.0 IP

· Went 2-5 with a 9.31 ERA in 9 starts...yielded 8 HR, walked 12 and fanned 28 in 38.2 IP

· Tagged for 31 ER over 6 outings in May, issuing 10 walks and 17 strikeouts in 19.1 innings

· Led the JetHawks in wins and ranked second in starts (27) and innings pitched (136.2) last season

· Went 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 5 starts for the Peoria Javelinas this past fall

· Greeneville's MVP in 2008 (6-4, 3.14 ERA), posting the second-best overall ERA (3.01) in the system

Brad James

· Last appearance: Tossed 2 shutout Thursday night, walking 2 while fanning 1

· Allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks without recording an out last Saturday at Tulsa

· Joined CC on Tuesday from Tri-City

· Was 1-0 for the ValleyCats with a 3.18 ERA in 5 appearances...3 BBs and 8 Ks over 5.2 IP

· Had shoulder surgery in 2009 and missed all of last season

· Played portions of 3 seasons for the Hooks (2007-09): 9-21, 5.92 ERA in 50 games and 48 starts

· Is 2nd in franchise history with 48 starts and third all-time in innings pitched (247.2 IP)

· A TL All-Star in 2008, missed most of the 2nd half due to back problems

· Tied for 2nd among Astros farmhands with 10 wins and ranked 2nd in ERA (3.03) in 2007

Blake King

· Last appearance: (.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 WP) Permitted an IR to score on a single in the seventh last night

· (0 R, 2 K) Worked around 2 walks (1 IBB) to record three outs in the ninth Thursday

· Yielded 2 runs on 1 hit and 2 walks in 0.2 IP Tuesday night at NWA

· Charged with 3 runs over last 10 appearances (13.1 IP, 13 Ks, 8 BB)

· 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 - 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings - one of the highest ratios in the minors

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

Arcenio Leon

· Last appearance: Worked 2+ frames Friday night, struck out 5 and walked 1, allowing just 2 H

· (0.2 IP, 2 UR) Committed a throwing error and yielded 1 hit and 2 walks Monday at NWA

· Earned his first victory June 26, holding the ‚¬ËœRiders to 1 hit over 1.1 IP

· Has not surrendered an earned run in last 8 appearances, fanning 16 while walking 6 over 10.0 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

· Made his AA debut w/ Hooks July 19 and limited opponents to 2 ER in first 6 app. (2.16 ERA)

Mike Perconte

· Last appearance: (1 R, 2 H, 1 IP) Lead-off 2B led to a run in the 7th Thursday night

· Tagged for 6 runs on 7 hits (3 HRs) in 1 IP last Saturday at Tulsa

· Surrendered the lead June 27 in the 8th vs. Frisco on a 2-run double by Guilder Rodriguez

· Signed by the Astros as a free agent in June

· 3-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 19 appearances for Frisco, 28 Ks, 15 BBs over 28.1 IP

· Surrendered a grand slam to J.D. Martinez on May 2 (6 R, 2.1 IP) at Whataburger Field

· Released by the Cubs after spring training

· 5-2 with a 3.71 ERA and 7 saves (10 chances) in 48 appearances for Daytona last season

· Entered 2011 with a 12-6 career record and 4.02 ERA in 3 seasons: 207 K, 79 BB over 208.1 IP

· Originally acquired by Chicago as a non-drafted FA in 2008 out of Murray State

· Father, Jack, played 6 seasons in the majors at 2B with the Dodgers, Indians, Mariners & White Sox

Patrick Urckfitz

· Last appearance: Yielded a 2-run homer to Wheeler in the 8th Thursday night, recorded just one out

· Struck out 2 and allowed just 1 hit over 2.0 IP Sunday night at NW Arkansas

· Walked 3 & hit a batter June 30 at Tulsa, yielding 3 runs while recording 2 outs in loss

· Broke a string of 5 consecutive scoreless appearances (6.2 IP)

· Had yielded 11 ER and 16 H 5.2 IP at OKC before being reassigned to CC June 26

· Yielded just 1 earned run in first 7 appearances (10.2 IP)

· Shifted to Lancaster's rotation full-time in early July last season to gain more innings

· Led the JetHawks in strikeouts (103) and tied for fourth in victories (5)

· In 2009, ranked second in the Astros organization with 14 saves

Henry Villar

· Last appearance: Struck out a batter over 2 scoreless innings last night

· Had yielded 9 ER on 13 H over the last 5 appearances (4.2 IP)

· Notched 2 outs to end the 8th Thursday but yielded 3 1Bs & a HR to open the 9th

· (0.0 IP, 1 H) Yielded the game-winning single in the ninth Tuesday night at NWA

· Saddled with the loss July 5 after 6 Frisco singles led to 4 runs in the 9th inning

· Broke a string of 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

· Allowed 4 runs and 10 walks against 2 strikeouts over 6.1 innings as a RedHawk reliever

· 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

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 10, 2011


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