TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, July 19 - Midland at Corpus Christi

Published on July 19, 2011 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Midland (11-12, 38-55) @ Corpus Christi (10-13, 35-58)

Wes Timmons went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and Mitch Canham was 3-for-5 with two triples and three RBIs to lead Midland to a 15-8 thumping of the Hooks in last night's series opener. Stephen Parker chipped in with a 3-for-6 effort that included two doubles and two RBIs, as the RockHounds posted season highs in doubles (7) and triples (2).

Despite the loss, the Hooks established a new season high with four home runs. Jose Altuve, back after a week of inactivity, went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, while Jimmy VanOstrand had a 3-for-5 night with his ninth home run of the year. Kody Hinze and Jonathan Villar also homered for the Hooks, whose eight runs scored was the most for the club at home since a 9-8, 12-inning loss to Frisco on June 19.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP A.J. Griffin (2-1, 4.15) vs. RHP Erick Abreu (4-2, 4.20)

Griffin, a 13th-round selection of the A's in 2010 out of the University of San Diego, makes his fourth start for Midland and his 19th start this year in the Oakland system. Last Thursday at home against San Antonio, Griffin clamped down on the Missions, holding the best offensive team in the league to a run on two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out seven in a 10-1 win. The outing was his best since joining the Midland rotation July 1. The poster child for the "have bag, will travel" minor league ball player stereotype, Griffin has pitched for the top four farm teams in the A's organization this year. He began the year with Burlington (4-0, 1.56, 8 starts) in the Midwest League, then moved to Stockton (2-2, 3.12, 6 starts) of the California League. He also made one start for AAA Sacramento in a June 12 loss to Tacoma (6.0-6-3-2-2-8).

· Overall this year is 8-4 with a 2.54 ERA in 18 starts

· Ranks second among Oakland farmhands in both ERA (2.54) and strikeouts (104)

· Has allowed just 87 hits and 18 walks in 110.0 IP (0.955 WHIP)

Abreu, signed by the Astros as a free agent in January of 2008, makes his 25th appearance and 10th start. Last Thursday at Frisco, Abreu held the RoughRiders to a run on four hits and a walk over six innings but did not get a decision, as Frisco scored in the ninth for a 2-1 walk-off triumph. His only blemish was a home run by Davis Stoneburner. In his last two starts, Abreu has two no-decisions and a 2.08 ERA. His last three no-decisions have all been quality starts, and in his other no-decision as a starter, Abreu tossed five shutout innings. Five of Abreu's nine starts have been "quality" in nature (minimum 6 IP, 3 or fewer runs allowed).

· Has struck out a season-high 7 batters on 6 occasions

· Has allowed HRs in each of his last 6 starts (7 HRs) and has given up 11 HRs in his last 10 outings

· In 4 appearances with AAA Oklahoma City this year is 0-0 with a 14.54 ERA

James to DL, Hicks arrives

The Astros have placed RHP Brad James on the disabled list, retroactive to July 15. James had appeared in four games in relief for the Hooks.

Taking James' place on the active roster is RHP Chris Hicks, called up from Lancaster of the California League. In 15 relief appearances for the JetHawks this season, Hicks is 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA, with 19 hits, 5 walks and 28 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work. A 14th-round pick of the Astros in 2008 out of Georgia Tech University, Hicks is in his third season of pro ball. He did not play at all last season after having shoulder surgery in June of 2010. His first outing this year came on May 25.

Altuve again in rare company

Altuve's fifth-inning home run last night puts him in some rare company in the minor leagues. The blast was his fifth with the Hooks and his 10th overall this season. Altuve, already the top hitter among all full-season minor leaguers, now has 22 doubles, 10 triples and 10 HRs for the year, making him just the fourth player in the minors to have double-digit totals in all three extra-base hit categories.

The other three with double digits in doubles, triples and home runs are Jermaine Mitchell (18-13-10), the former RockHound now with AAA Sacramento, Matt Long (21-10-13) of Advanced-A Inland Empire and Alfredo Silverio (29-13-11) of AA Chattanooga. Mitchell, Long and Silverio are all outfielders.

Wallace producing runs

Chris Wallace, a late addition to last night's lineup, knocked in a run with a double in the fourth inning. Wallace now has 18 RBIs in his last 11 games and has knocked in 24 runs in just 19 games since joining the Hooks. Wallace ranks second in the system in RBIs with 73, just three behind Kody Hinze.

VanOstrand vs. Midland

Jimmy VanOstrand continues his mastery against the RockHounds. In 17 games this year vs. Midland, VanOstrand is batting .413 (26x63) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HRs, 12 runs and 13 RBIs.

Lifetime against the Hounds in 74 games, VanOstrand is batting .328 (90x274) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 15 HRs, 38 runs and 62 RBIs.

Record night

The Hooks hit four home runs in a game for the first time this season last night. That wasn't the only season record set last night. Midland's 8-run, 8-hit top of the fifth set new highs for runs and hits allowed in one inning by the Hooks.

HR surge continues

The Hooks have now homered in 15 of the last 16 games, with 25 home runs in that stretch. Here in the second half, the Hooks have hit 33 HRs in 23 games. The Hooks hit 42 HRs during 70 games in the first half.

Pitching Rotation vs. Midland

Wednesday: RHP Gary Daley (4-2, 4.15) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-6, 3.16)

Thursday: RHP Jason Bergmann (0-5, 6.85) vs. LHP Xavier Cedeno (5-5, 3.81)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Jose Altuve

· Leads all full-season minor leagues with his .389 batting average (139x357)

· Has 3-game hit streak, 6-13 with 1 HR, 2 runs and 3 RBIs

· Went 2-for-3 with a double in the XM All-Star Futures Game July 10

· Has 20 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 .361(43-119) vs. RHP; .360(9-25) vs. LHP; .325(13-40) w/RISP

· Has 56 PO, 75 A, 3 E (Fielding pct. of .978)

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

· Was 1-4 in the Frisco series with 1 RBI

· In 7 July games is 4-for-20 with 1 double, 2 runs and 1 RBI

· Has thrown out 7 of 23 (30.4%) would-be base stealers

Jon Gaston

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

· Went 1-8 in the Frisco series with 1 run

· Is 2-26 in his last 9 games with 1 run and 1 RBI

· Batting .239(48-201) vs. RHP; .203(14-69) vs. LHP; .191(17-89) w/RISP

Jacob Goebbert

· Is 1-9 in his last 3 games with 1 double

· Went 2-10 in the Frisco series with 1 run and 1 RBI

· Has 22 multi-hit games

· Batting .318(54-170) vs. RHP; .264(14-53) vs. LHP; .393(24-61) w/RISP

Kody Hinze

· Joined Hooks July 7 from Lancaster in the Cal League

· Ranks third in the minor leagues in walks (73) and fourth in OBP (.446)

· Has 5-game hit streak, 9-20 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 2 runs and 2 RBIs

· Hits in 6 of his last 7 games, 10-28 with 4 doubles, 2 HRs, 4 runs and 5 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 (24) and RBIs (76)

J.D. Martinez

· Has 4-game hit streak, 7-14 with 3 doubles, 2 HRs, 4 runs and 6 RBIs

· Hits in 18 of his last 19, 28-66 w/6 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HRs, 17 runs & 21 RBIs

· Named the TL's Batter of the Week twice (June 27-July 3 and July 11-17)

· Has 23 multi-hit games

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

· Has hit streaks of 14 (June 25-July 11) 12 (June 11-22) and 11 games (April 7-18)

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

· Batting .332(65-196) vs. RHP; .363(29-80) vs. LHP; .391(34-87) w/RISP

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

Jimmy Paredes

· Hits in 6 of the last 7 games, 9-29 w/4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 10 runs and 5 RBIs

· Hits in 10 of the last 12, 17-51 w/4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HRs, 14 runs and 8 RBIs

· Has 5 HRs in the last 22 games (4 HRs in his first 59)

· Tied for third in the TL in steals (27)

· Leads team with 28 multi-hit games, including two 4-hit games

· Batting .280(68-243) vs. RHP; .277(26-94) vs. LHP; .292(26-89) w/RISP

· Has 116 PO, 175 A, 17 E (Fielding pct. of .945)

T.J. Steele

· Has 3-game hit streak, 6-12 with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 2 RBIs

· Has single-season career highs in games (87), at-bats (324), hits (70), doubles (12), HRs (7), RBIs (41) and steals (16)

· Batting .183(42-230) vs. RHP; .298(28-94) vs. LHP; .184(18-98) 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

· Went 1-4 in the Frisco series with 1 double

· Is 7-20 in his last 7 games with 1 double, 1 HR, 4 walks, 2 runs and 1 RBI

· Has 25 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 158 RBIs

· Batting .303(64-211) vs. RHP; .275(22-80) vs. LHP; .256(21-82) w/RISP

Jonathan Villar

· Has 3-game hit streak at home, 4-10 w/3 HRs, 4 runs and 4 RBIs

· Was 2-18 in the Frisco series with 1 double and 1 run

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

· Batting .211(23-109) vs. RHP; .184(7-38) vs. LHP; .227(5-22) w/RISP

· Has 52 PO, 90 A, 11 E (Fielding pct. of .928)

· 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 5 of his last 6 games, 6-22 with 3 doubles, 2 HRs, 3 runs and 11 RBIs

· Has 18 RBIs in his last 11 games

· Has thrown out 1 of 13 (7.6%) would-be base stealers

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

· 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

Brandon Wikoff

· Went 2-15 in the Frisco series with 1 RBI

· Is 7-34(.206) in 11 July games with 7 runs and 2 RBIs

· 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 .331(49-148) vs. RHP; .308(16-52) vs. LHP; .390(16-41) w/RISP

· Has 56 PO, 131 A, 5 E (Fielding pct. of .974)

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