TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, July 31 vs. San Antonio

Published on July 31, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


San Antonio (20-17, 48-59) at Corpus Christi (25-12, 62-45)

Rob Rasmussen turned in his best performance as an Astros farmhand last night, tossing 7.1 innings of two-run ball as the Hooks claimed their four-game series against Midland with a 3-2 victory over the RockHounds. Acquired in the July 4 trade which sent Carlos Lee to Miami, Rasmussen walked one and fanned seven, throwing 65 of 102 pitches for strikes. With the Hooks leading by a run, Jason Stoffel yielded a lead-off single in the ninth. Corpus Christi's closer bounced back, inducing a double play before ending the game via strikeout to notch his 20th save of the season.

The Hooks, who have won 20 of the last 25 at Whataburger Field, scored all of their runs in the third. Newcomer Bobby Borchering, picked up by the Astros in the Chris Johnson trade with Arizona, cracked an RBI single and catcher Ben Heath added a key two-run double into the right-field corner.

Corpus Christi, having claimed eight of its last 11 games, leads the Missions by five in the Texas League South second-half race. Meanwhile, San Antonio has dropped eight of its last 11.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Josh Geer (4-4, 4.64) vs. RHP Matt Heidenreich (1-0, 1.13)

Geer, a third-round pick of the Padres in 2005 out of Rice University, makes his 14th start for the Missions and his fourth against the Hooks. He was outpitched by Heidenreich on Thursday at Wolff Stadium, suffering a second-consecutive loss after yielding three runs on nine hits in 7.1 innings. Midland got to him July 21 for six runs (5 ER) and eight hits over five innings. Geer hit three batters, walked one and struck out six. On June 29, he tossed seven shutout innings against Tulsa, allowing just two hits while fanning four. Since then, Geer has registered a 4.91 ERA and .320 opponents' batting average over his last five starts. His worst start of the season came against the Hooks on June 10 at Whataburger Field. Corpus Christi scored 10 times on eight hits and three walks in his three innings en route to an 11-6 triumph over the Missions. Geer opened the season with San Diego's AAA affiliate in Tucson, where in eight starts he was 2-3 with a 7.81 ERA. Geer was the 2007 Texas League Pitcher of the Year with the Missions, going 16-6 with a 3.20 ERA. He led the circuit that season in both wins and ERA. He missed most of last season after having surgery in April to remove a cancerous lymph node from the right side of his neck. Geer pitched two seasons at Navarro College in Corsicana before enrolling at Rice. He was voted the conference's MVP after leading the Bulldogs to the championship with a 1.78 ERA in 2003. With the Owls in 2005, Geer went 12-4 with a 3.32 ERA, striking out 105 against 44 walks in 124.2 innings.

- Has a 1.56 GO/AO ratio in 13 starts with the Missions this season

- 11-11 with a 5.41 ERA in 29 appearances (25 starts) for Triple-A Portland in 2010

- In portions of 2 seasons with the Padres (2008-09), is 3-8 with a 5.28 ERA in 24 games and 22 starts

Heidenreich, acquired by the Astros in the trade that sent Brett Myers to the White Sox, makes his second start with the Hooks. Heidenreich carried a four-hit shutout going into the ninth Thursday in San Antonio. He was charged with one run on five hits and one walk, striking out seven. Heidenreich induced 11 groundball outs compared to three fly outs. He began the season at Winston-Salem in the Carolina League where he went 8-2 with a 3.57 ERA over 15 starts, including two complete games and one shutout. The 21-year old out of Lake Elsinore, CA struck out 62 and walked 13 in 93.1 innings while holding the circuit to a .246 batting average. Heidenreich was the starting pitcher in the Carolina-California League All-Star Game. A fourth-round selection of Chicago in the 2009 draft, Heidenreich ranked within the Carolina League's top ten in ERA (6th), WHIP (T-2nd, 1.06) and home runs allowed (12, 4th). His 1.25 walks per nine slotted second among circuit starters while his batting average against and base runners per nine (10.13) both stood fourth. Heidenreich won his last four starts with the Dash, posting a 1.28 ERA and 15 strikeouts against three walks in 28.0 innings. He was promoted to Double-A Birmingham (1-2, 5.89 ERA) at the beginning of July and won his first start after yielding one earned run in eight frames at Pensacola.

- 10-10 with a 4.32 ERA in 27 starts for Kannapolis last season (101 K | 31 BB | 13 HR | 154.1 IP)

- Enters play tonight with 251 career strikeouts against 73 walks in 373.0 IP

- Drafted out of Temescal Canyon High School

Krauss arrives; Simunic on DL

Outfielder Marc Krauss, acquired by Houston, along with Bobby Borchering, from Arizona in exchange for 3B Chris Johnson, is playing left field and batting third in Keith Bodie's lineup tonight. Krauss, a second-round pick of the Diamondbacks in the 2009 draft, was playing at Double-A Mobile. For the BayBears, he hit .283 with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs and an OPS of .924 in 104 games.

Krauss leaves the Southern League among the leaders in runs (75, 1st), on-base percentage (.416, 1st), extra-base hits (46, 2nd), walks (73, 2nd), doubles, (T-2nd), RBIs (3rd), slugging percentage (.509, 4th) and total bases (176, 4th) On July 8 at Pensacola, he hit two home runs and drove in six runs as Mobile routed the Blue Wahoos 20-3. Krauss featured an 11-game hitting streak from June 22 to July 2. During the streak, he batted .462 with five doubles, one home run and six RBIs, walking 12 times against three strikeouts. Krauss strung together the fifth-longest on-base streak in the circuit at 24. He was rated by MLB.com as the 20th best prospect in the D-backs organization entering this season.

Last year, Krauss hit .242 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs and 65 RBIs for the BayBears. He notched a .302 average for Visalia in 2010, cracking 25 home runs and 87 RBIs in 138 games.

To make room on the roster, INF Andy Simunic has been placed on the disabled list. Simunic, who is currently riding a six-game hitting streak, has missed the last seven games with a sore neck. He is batting .311 with two home runs and 29 RBIs in 81 contests with the Hooks.

On a mission

The Hooks enter play tonight on a roll, having won seven of their last 10 series. During this current stretch, which began on June 22 in Frisco, Corpus Christi is 24-11 and has split two sets, both against Midland. The club's last series loss was in Tulsa July 8-10. The Hooks look to keep the ball rolling against San Antonio. Corpus Christi is 11-8 against the Missions this season. After losing the first three games against their I-37 rival by a composite score of 17-0, the Hooks have won 11 of the last 16, including eight of the last 10.

Bullish

The Hooks bullpen is as automatic as it gets in the Texas League. Corpus Christi is 45-0 and when taking a lead into the eighth inning and 49-0 when leading into the ninth. Despite some struggles of late, RHPs Henry Villar and Josh Zeid and LHP Kevin Chapman have bent but not broken in the seventh and eighth innings before handing the ball to closer Jason Stoffel in the ninth.

In the seventh inning Zeid has allowed four earned runs in 9.2 innings pitched (3.72 ERA), Chapman has given up one earned run in 13.1 innings pitched (0.69) and Villar hasn't been scored on in the seventh in 12.1 innings on the hill.

In the eighth, Villar has given up five earned runs in 12.2 innings (3.55 ERA) and Chapman has allowed seven earned runs in 17.1 innings (3.63). In the ninth, Jason Stoffel has been scored on just four times in 30 innings pitched (1.20) while saving 20 games in 21 chances.

The Hooks success late in games is among the best in all of Double-A. In the Eastern League, Erie is 38-1 when it has a lead after seven innings and Altoona is 39-0 when leading after eight. Meanwhile in the Southern League, Birmingham (40-0), Huntsville (36-0), Pensacola (41-0) and Tennessee (42-0) are all perfect when taking a lead into the ninth. Jackson bears mentioning as well, at 53-1 when leading after seven innings.

Pitching Rotation vs. San Antonio

Wednesday: RHP Eddie Kunz (2-3, 5.10) vs. RHP Paul Clemens (0-0, 5.40)

Thursday: RHP Matt Jackson (0-0, 3.00) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (6-8, 4.23)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- 4-9 with 2 runs, 1 HR and 3 RBIs in Midland series

- Appeared once at SA series, went 0-2

- Has hit safely in 8 of last 12, 12-31 (.387) with 2 doubles, 1 HR and 7 RBIs

- Prior to this stretch, was hitless in previous 10 at-bats

- Batting .263(25-95) vs. RHP; .278(5-18) vs. LHP; .333(9-27) 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

- 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 125 times compared to 32 walks in his career

- Graduated from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, same alma mater as Chris Johnson

Jacob Goebbert

- 2-for-13 with 3 runs and 1 RBI in Midland series

- 4-for-10 with 1 2B and 2 BB at San Antonio

- Hits in 12 of last 19 games: 22-66 (.333) with 16 R, 4 2B, 2 HR and 10 RBIs

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

- His 5 triples are tied for fifth in the circuit

- 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 .255(55-216) vs. RHP; .373(25-67) vs. LHP; .316(24-76) w/RISP

Robbie Grossman

- Acquired from PIT with LHPs Rudy Owens and Colton Cain for LHP Wandy Rodriguez

- Spent the entire 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

- Since June 17th has hit .357 (45-126) with 25 R to raise BA from .214 to .266

- Had a 13 game hitting streak from 6/16-6/29 in which he hit .380 (19-50)

- 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

- 2-for-10 with one double, one walk, a sac fly and four RBIs in Midland series

- 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

- 1-for-3 with a two-run HR in Midland series...has played in 4 G since July 17

- 0-5 with a run and an RBI at SA

- In 12 July games, hitting .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 .261(31-119) at home; .189(24-127) on the road

- Batting .203(36-177) vs. RHP; .275(19-69) vs. LHP; .183(15-82) w/RISP

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

Jordan Kreke

- 2-for-14 in Midland series

- Grand slam Sunday night, first of his career, broke on 0-25 stretch with the Hooks

- 4 RBIs Sunday also a career high...last HR was 9/4/11 with Mississippi at Carolina

- Rejoined the Hooks Wednesday after third stint with OKC

- 12-44 (.273) in 21 games for OKC with 9 R, 3 2B, and 3 RBIs

- Batting .207(17-82) at home; .160(8-50) on the road

- Batting .208(22-106) vs. RHP; .115(3-26) vs. LHP; .125(5-40) w/RISP

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

Drew Locke

- Had his 8 game streak snapped last night, 14-27 (.519) with 2 doubles 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs

- 6-14 with 5 runs and 4 RBIs in Midland series

- Hits in 17 of last 22: 34-85 (.400), 1 HR, 5 2B, 14 R & 16 RBI

- Went 5-for-5 July 19th, the first five-hit game by a Hook this season

- Thru 25 games in July: .376 with 14 runs, 6 doubles, 1 HR and 17 RBIs

- .329-3-20 at home | .299-2-13 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 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 safely in 7 straight, going 9-28 (.321) with 3 R, 1 2B and 2 RBIs

- 5-16 in Midland series with 1 run and 1 RBI

- Went 1-for-15 with R, 2B, RBI in Frisco series

- Since July 12, is 19-75 (.253) to drop from .314 to .302

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

- 6th in TL AVG (.302), 4th PA/K (11.29), 2nd in H (117) & 4th RBI (72)

- 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 .292(87-298) vs. RHP; .341(29-85) vs. LHP; .385(42-109) w/RISP

Ryan McCurdy

- Is 0-15 in his last 6 games with 1 walk and 1 run as a Hook

- Grand slam May 25 his first pro HR (in portions of 3 seasons had played in 72 games)

- Batting .259(15-58) vs. RHP; 0-14 vs. LHP; .238(5-21) w/RISP

- Batted .241 with five runs scored, three doubles and 6 RBIs in 11 G at Lexington

- Had played just 2 games w/ Lancaster this season, was 2-3 with 1 HBP

- Hit .324 with 8 R, 6 2Bs and 17 RBIs in 32 games for Tri-City last season

Ben Orloff

- 3-16 with 1 run and 1 RBI in Midland series

- Has hit safely in five of last 6, 6-24 (1-for-13 in prior 4)

- 3-11 with two runs and one walk at SA

- Batting .244(10-41) vs. RHP; .100(1-10) vs. LHP; .111(1-9) 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

Jon Singleton

- Has 3 extra-base hits in his last 14 games...last HR - July 13 | last RBI - July 23

- Hit safely in last 3 games, going 5-14 with 3 R, 2 2B and 2 BB in Midland series

- 3-10 with 1 run and two walks at SA

- Hits in 14 last 17 games, 20-62 (.323) with 11 R, 4 2B, 3B, 1 HR & 7 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 (68) & T-2nd in walks (67)

- .337-2-13 with 9 2B, 2 3B, 17 BB & 25 K over 27 games in July

- .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 .291(73-251) vs. RHP; .231(21-91) vs. LHP; .297(30-101) w/RISP

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

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 31, 2012


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