TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, July 15 vs. Frisco

Published on July 15, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Frisco (10-11, 51-40) @ Corpus Christi (14-7, 51-40)

The Hooks had Frisco on the ropes early last night but the RoughRiders erupted for 11 runs on 19 hits over the final six innings to win 11-7 in Game 3 of the series. Only three of Frisco's 19 knocks, a season-high against Corpus Christi this season, went for extra bases. Former Hook Val Majewski and Jose Felix, the bottom two batters in the RoughRider order, combined for six hits and five runs. Barret Loux, who leads the minors with a 12-1 record, escaped with a no-decision after allowing five runs on three hits, three walks and three wild pitches in three innings.

Hooks starter Rob Rasmussen, acquired by Houston as part of the trade that sent Carlos Lee to Miami, was tagged for six runs over three frames in his second appearance as an Astros farmhand. Jacob Goebbert went 1-for-3 with one run scored, a double and two RBIs.

Corpus Christi, having won 13 of the last 16 at Whataburger Field, now shares the best overall record in the Texas League with Frisco. The club remains one game ahead of San Antonio for first place in the TL South second-half race.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Cody Buckel (1-3, 3.22) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (4-5, 3.91)

Buckel, a second-round pick of the Rangers in 2010 out of Royal High School in Simi Valley, California, makes his fourth start and fifth appearance for the RoughRiders. He followed Justin Grimm, who is working his way back into a starting role, with six strong innings of relief Monday against Arkansas. He allowed just three hits but one was a solo shot by former RoughRider Renny Osuna which accounted for the lone run of the game. Buckel walked one and struck out six. He beat the Travs July 4 in North Little Rock, tossing six shutout innings. Buckel matched up against Cosart in his Double-A debut on June 24 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. He suffered the loss, allowing two runs on five hits over five frames. Ranked by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Texas System, Buckel was 5-3 with a 1.31 ERA (11 ER/75.2 IP) in 13 starts at Myrtle Beach. He struck out 91 batters against 25 walks, holding the opposition to a .186 batting average. Buckel allowed two runs or less in all but one of his starts (April 28 at Potomac | 6.0-9-3-3-1-4, L). A Carolina League All-Star, he led the circuit in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP (0.98) and base runners per nine innings (8.92) at the time of his promotion. Buckel spent all of last year at Hickory where he went 8-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 23 games (17 starts). He was rated by BA as the 19th-best prospect in the South Atlantic League, notching 120 strikeouts in 96.2 innings. Following senior campaign at Royal HS, Buckel was named a Louisville Slugger All-American and the Ventura County Athlete of the Year.

- Features best control in the Rangers system, according to BA

- Was a starting pitcher for the gold-medal winning USA 18 Under National Team in 2009

- Owns 220 strikeouts against 53 walks in 177.1 career innings (11.17 K/9 IP)

Cosart, acquired by the Astros in the Hunter Pence deal with Philadelphia last July, makes his 14th start for the Hooks and sixth against Frisco. Cosart left his July 3 start against Tulsa in the fifth inning due to a blister on his pitching hand. He struck out five without issuing a walk and was charged with four runs on eight hits in the loss. Cosart turned in his second consecutive shutout performance June 24 at Frisco, holding the RoughRiders to four hits and two walks over six frames to earn Texas League pitcher of the week honors. He blanked San Antonio thru seven innings June 19. Cosart struck out nine against three walks for the week, inducing 20 ground ball outs compared to 4 fly outs. A member of the Texas League South All-Star Team, Cosart had a rough stretch from May 18 to June 9, allowing 17 earned runs over four starts for a 6.20 ERA. Selected by Baseball America as the second-best prospect in the organization, he is also ranked by the periodical as the No. 50 prospect in the game, with the "Best Fastball" and "Best Curveball" in the system. The League City native owned a combined 10-10 record and 4.12 ERA between Clearwater and Corpus Christi last year. Cosart struck out 101 and walked 56 over 144.1 innings, holding the opposition to a .241 batting average. His final seven starts last year came with the Hooks (1-2, 4.71 ERA). A graduate of Clear Creek High School, Cosart was the winning pitcher in the XM All-Star Futures Game last July in Phoenix.

- Has a 2.12 GO/AO ratio in 13 starts with the Hooks

- Went 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three April starts, posting 13 strikeouts against 9 walks in 13.1 IP

- 3-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 5 starts vs. Frisco (15 K | 13 BB | 27.1 IP)

Roster moves

Corpus Christi's roster experienced a seismic shift today. Shortstop Jonathan Villar, who fractured his right hand during Friday's game, has been placed on the disabled list. Villar will undergo surgery on his hand next week and will miss approximately six weeks.

Jarred Cosart has been activated from the DL to start tonight's game. He missed one turn in the rotation after leaving his July 3 start against Tulsa in the fifth inning with a blister on the outside of his middle finger. Cosart had missed a couple starts in mid-April due to an inside blister on the thumb off his curveball. This latest sore stemmed from his four-seam fastball. To make room for Cosart on the active roster, right-handed starter Bobby Doran has returned to Lancaster. The Flower Mound native made four starts for the Hooks, going 3-1 with a 5.57 ERA. Doran walked three and struck out 13 over 21.0 innings.

Catcher Jay Fernandez, currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, has been promoted to Oklahoma City. Fernandez, who has hit safely in 16 of the last 20 games (.319) with five doubles, four home runs, 14 runs scored and 15 RBIs, has played in 30 games at the Triple-A level over his nine-year career. He is currently batting .264 with a career-high five home runs and 19 RBIs in 39 games for the Hooks. Fernandez has been charged with one passed ball this season and has thrown out base runners at a 26% clip. OKC's Carlos Corporan is now with the Astros after former Hook Jason Castro was placed on the DL due to discomfort in his right knee.

To fill the void left by Villar and Fernandez, shortstop Ben Orloff and catcher Rene Garcia have been called up from Lancaster. Orloff, a ninth-round pick of the Astros in 2009 out of California - Irvine, is hitting .288 with eight doubles and 29 RBIs in 77 games for the JetHawks. He has walked 32 times compared to 22 strikeouts while stealing seven bases in nine attempts. Orloff features the lowest PA/K ratio in the California League at 15.09. He has committed eight errors in 285 total chances for a .972 fielding percentage, tops among circuit shortstops. In 2010, Orloff was the MVP for the Tri-City ValleyCats who went on to win the New York-Penn League Championship. He hit .307 that season with 52 runs scored, four doubles, 16 RBIs, 34 walks, 19 strikeouts and 23 stolen bases in 63 games.

Garcia is batting .279 with 13 doubles and 22 RBIs in 60 games at Lancaster this season. He's hit safely in nine of his last 11 games after posting a .321 average and 10 RBIs in June. Garcia has posted a .984 fielding percentage, committing seven errors and seven passed balls in 447 total chances. His caught-stealing percentage is at 26, good enough for seventh in the league. Garcia hit .242 with one home run and 27 RBIs in 86 games for the JetHawks last season. He ranked among the circuit's top defensive catchers in fielding percentage (.984), double plays (10, 1st), assists (69, 3rd) and caught-stealing efficiency (30%, 4th).

Grin and Barret

Barret Loux, who wiggled off the hook last night thanks to a strong offensive showing from his RoughRiders, has had a tough time against Corpus Christi this season. He owns a 3-1 record and 6.15 ERA in six starts with two of his four no-decisions coming against the Hooks. The former Aggie is holding the rest of the Texas League to a .208 batting average, posting a 12-0 record and 2.81 ERA. Loux shares the best record in baseball with R.A. Dickey of the Mets.

Meanwhile, the Hooks have the best record against Frisco in the circuit at 13-10. Corpus Christi has taken seven of the last nine games from the RoughRiders.

Pitching Rotation at Midland

Monday: RHP Jose Cisnero (7-6, 3.38) vs. RHP Shawn Haviland (5-7, 5.37)

Tuesday: RHP Ross Seaton (6-5, 3.54) vs. RHP Murphy Smith (5-5, 4.31)

Wednesday: RHP Jake Buchanan (5-5, 4.90) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (3-7, 4.72)

Thursday: LHP Rob Rasmussen (0-1, 9.00) vs. LHP Carlos Hernandez (2-4, 5.96)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- 1-6 on the road trip with 1 RBI (PH RBI single Monday night)

- 2-16 in last 9 games with 2 RBIs

- Has 3 RBIs in last 17 games

- Batting .209(14-67) vs. RHP; .267(4-15) vs. LHP: .235(4-17) 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

Jacob Goebbert

- Has hit safely in 3 straight & in 18 of the last 23 w/ CC, 25-81 (.309) w/ 1 HR, 15 BB, 6 2B, 15 R & 7 RBIs

- 2-11 on the road trip with 4 R, 1 HR and 4 BB

- HR Monday night at Tulsa was his first since May 16

- 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 .236(42-178) vs. RHP; .393(22-56) vs. LHP; .304(17-56) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

- 2-13 on the road trip with 1 R, 1 2B and 2 RBIs

- Hits in 10 of the last 17, 14-62 (.226) with 2 2B, 7 BB, 4 HRs, 9 R and 12 RBIs

- Hit .306 (22-72) in June with 2 doubles, 5 HRs, 10 runs and 17 RBIs

- Batting .257(29-113) at home; .195(23-118) on the road

- Batting .204(34-167) vs. RHP; .281(18-64) vs. LHP; .189(14-74) w/RISP

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

Jordan Kreke

- Hits in 8 of last 12 games with CC: 11-43 (.256) 3 R, 2 2B and 3 RBIs

- Called up to the RedHawks in mid-June

- 6-27 (.222) in 13 games for OKC with 4 R, 2 2B, and 2 RBIs

- Batting .234(15-64) at home; .190(8-42) on the road

- Batting .247(21-85) vs. RHP; .095(2-21) vs. LHP; .133(4-30) w/RISP

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

Drew Locke

- 10-23 (.435) on the road trip with 2 2B, 1 HR and 6 RBIs

- Has hit safely in 6 of last 8: 13-35 (.371), 1 HR, 2 2B, 6 R & 8 RBIs

- .313-3-15 in 13 G at home | .240 -2-9 in 17 G on the road

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

- Tied with Mark Saccomanno (05-06) for franchise lead with 4 career grand slams

- Had played 40 games this season for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, where he was batting .285(47x165) with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HRs, 28 runs and 24 RBIs

- 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

- Hits 5 of 7 since 5-day hiatus (knee): 9-33 with 5 R, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR & 12 RBIs

- Hits in 28 of his last 33 games, 47-146 (.322) w/ 7 2Bs, 7 HR, 25 runs and 36 RBIs

- 4th in the TL in AVG (.307), 3rd in PA/K (11.25) & in hits (100), T-2nd in RBIs (66)

- 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 .293(73-249) vs. RHP; .351(27-77) vs. LHP; .400(38-95) w/RISP

Drew Muren

- Has a 6-game hit streak, 10-22 with 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 3 RBIs

- Has hit safely in 20 of his 24 games with the Hooks

- Added to roster June 13 from Class A Lexington

- In 48 games with the Legends batted .279-3-17 with 12 doubles and 4 SBs

- Batting .367(22-60) vs. RHP; .269(7-26) vs. LHP; .211(4-19) w/RISP

- A 22nd-round pick of the Astros last June out of Cal State-Northridge

Andy Simunic

- Has hits in 8 straight: 13-33 (.394) with 12 R, 1 2B and 2 RBIs

- Has hit in 28 of last 33 games, 45-143 (.315) with 25 R, 5 2B & 10 RBIs

- 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 (.308)

- Batting .299(61-204) vs. RHP; .339(19-56) vs. LHP; .225(16-71) w/RISP

- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 13 DPs in 1,440 plate appearances

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

Jon Singleton

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

- 3-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's Futures Game

- 1st in the league in runs (61) & 3rd in walks (60)

- .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 .283(60-212) vs. RHP; .247(21-85) vs. LHP; .322(28-87) w/RISP

- Hitting .296(64-216) when he starts at 1B (62); .183(11-60) when he starts in LF(16)

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

Chris Wallace

- Has hits in 5 straight, 9-15 with 2 R, 2 BB, 2 2B and 2 RBIs

- 3-for-3 June 22 at FRI with 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR & 3 RBIs

- Has hits in 7 of last 10 (.464), 13-28 with 7 R, 3 2B & 4 RBIs

- Batting .234(25-107) vs. RHP; .275(11-40) vs. LHP; .233(10-43) w/RISP

- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year

Austin Wates

- Hit his first walk-off HR as a pro Thursday (first HR since May 4 at MID)

- 4th player in Hooks history to drive in six RBIs in one game

- Ranks 9th in the league with a .298 average

- 2-17 on the road trip with 11 Ks

- Activated following the all-star break after a 15-day stint on DL (left quad)

- Hits in 14 of his last 24 games, 25-81 (.309) w/ 7 BB, 5 2B, 9 R, 1 HR & 13 RBIs

- Struck out 5 times last Thursday at NWA - a career and franchise high

- Batting .312(64-205) vs. RHP; .254(17-67) vs. LHP; .328(20-61) w/RISP

- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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