Game Notes, July 4 vs. Tulsa
Published on July 4, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Tulsa (3-7, 43-37) @ Corpus Christi (7-4, 44-37)
Last night, the Drillers rode the right arm of Brandon Hynick who held the Hooks to four hits over eight innings as Tulsa tamed the Hooks 5-1 in the middle game of this three-game series. The veteran Hynick permitted one run and struck out two without walking a batter. He induced 14 groundball outs against four fly outs while throwing 55 of 84 pitches for strikes.
Corpus Christi starter Jarred Cosart was forced to leave the game with two away in the fifth due to a recurring blister on his pitching hand. Cosart, who was charged with four runs on eight hits, saw his consecutive scoreless innings streak end at 18 in the third. Erick Abreu entered in relief and retired all 10 batters he faced, striking out five. Jay Fernandez doubled to lead off the third and came around to score the lone CC run on a line-drive single to right off the bat of Jonathan Villar.
Despite the loss, the Hooks have won 10 of their last 12 games at Whataburger Field.
Tonight's Matchup:
RHP Joe Gardner (3-5, 4.52) vs. RHP Jose Cisnero (5-6, 3.62)
Gardner, one of the players acquired by the Rockies from Cleveland at last year's trade deadline in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, makes his 16th start of the season and third against the Hooks. Friday night in San Antonio, Gardner suffered a second consecutive tough-luck loss, allowing three runs (2 ER) on six hits over 6.1 innings. He pitched six innings June 23 vs. Springfield and held the Cardinals to three earned runs on four hits but the Drillers fell 5-4. Six of Gardner's last eight outings have been quality starts, going 1-3 with a 3.79 ERA in six June starts. Gardner had a forgettable month of May, posting a 6.48 ERA in five outings. The 24-year old out of Fremont, CA, made his first two starts of the season against Corpus Christ but did not factor in either decision. Gardner was touched by the Hooks for four runs (3 ER) on 11 hits in nine innings. In six starts at the end of last season with Tulsa, Gardner was an impressive 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA, with eight walks and 22 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. Prior to the trade he had made 19 starts (7-8, 4.99 ERA) for Double-A Akron in the Eastern League. Originally a third-round pick of the Indians in the 2009 draft, Gardner was a First Team All-Big West selection his junior year at UC Santa Barbara, finishing fourth in the conference in strikeouts (69) and sixth in ERA (3.40).
- Was a Carolina League All-Star with Kinston in 2010 (12-6, 2.65 ERA, 22 starts)
- Led all Indians farmhands in wins (13) and strikeouts (142) in 2010
- A ground-ball pitcher, his career GO/AO ratio stood at 2.69 thru first two pro seasons
Cisnero, signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in December of 2007, makes his 17th start this season and his first against. Cisnero opened this home stand with a victory against Northwest Arkansas on Friday, spreading eight hits and one run over six innings. He fanned five and walked two while tossing 100 pitches. June 21 in San Antone, Cisnero settled for a no-decision after yielding three runs on five hits over five innings. The Missions won the game 5-3 in 11 innings. Cisnero hurled the first complete-game shutout of his five-year professional career on June 16 at Frisco to carry the Hooks to a 5-0 victory. He allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six over his 118-pitch performance to earn TL Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season. He currently ranks fourth in the circuit with 88 strikeouts. Over his last seven starts, Cisnero is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA, with nine walks and 43 strikeouts in 45.0 innings. Last year, as a stalwart in Lancaster's rotation, Cisnero led all Houston farmhands and ranked sixth in the California League with 152 strikeouts. Selected Lancaster's pitcher of the month twice last season (May and July), Cisnero led the JetHawks in starts (27) and tied for the team lead in wins (8).
- Selected as the league's Pitcher of the Week May 28-June 3 (7.0-5-1-0-1-7, ND at Ark May 31)
- 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA in June | 0-3 with a 5.33 ERA in May
- Has held opponents to four runs or less in 15 of his 16 starts
Tulsa blues
Corpus Christi has managed just two wins against Tulsa in eight tries this season. But both victories came on walk-off home runs here at Whataburger Field. Jonathan Villar's opposite-field shot Monday night followed up a three-run blast by Jacob Goebbert off Kurt Yacko on April 9.
The Hooks though enter tonight's having won 10 of their last 15 games and 17 of the last 24. Meanwhile, the Drillers, who have dropped nine of their last 12, snapped a season-long six game losing streak last night.
Need a revolution
The club enters play tonight with a 1-5 record on July 4. Corpus Christi's lone win on Independence Day came back in 2006 when Chance Douglass delivered a 2-0 victory at Midland. The Hooks and Wichita were postponed on this day in 2007 due to heavy rain here at Whataburger Field. A rainout at Lawrence Dumont Stadium on June 29 forced the teams to play consecutive double headers the next two nights. Corpus Christi ran the table, taking all four games from the Wranglers.
Martinez day to day
Hooks second baseman Jose Martinez is out of the line-up for the third consecutive game, nursing a sore knee. Martinez left Sunday's contest in the sixth inning while running the bases. He is currently hitting .311 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs. Martinez, who has hit safely in 22 of his last 26 games, ranks third in the Texas League in batting average and fourth in RBIs.
Pitching Rotation at Northwest Arkansas
Thursday: RHP Bobby Doran (2-0, 6.55) vs. LHP Noel Arguelles (2-8, 6.62)
Friday: RHP Ross Seaton (5-5, 3.39) vs. RHP Sugar Ray Marimon (1-0, 0.77)
Saturday: RHP Jake Buchanan (4-5, 5.24) vs. RHP Michael Mariot (3-2, 3.68)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Adam Bailey
- 0-1 with a BB Sunday in lone appearance of the NWA series
- Added to roster May 30 from Advanced-A Lancaster
- Was 6-26 on road trip with 4 walks, 2 doubles, 3 runs and 2 RBIs
- Game-winning RBI in 12th June 20 snapped 8-game RBI drought
- Batting .222(14-62) vs. RHP; .286(4-14) vs. LHP: .250(4-16) w/RISP
- 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
Jay Fernandez
- 1-8 with a R and RBI in NWA series
- Hits in 10 of last 14 games, 14-47 (.298) w/ 2 BB, 4 2B, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 9 R & 6 RBIs
- Selected Texas League Player of the Week June 11-17, hit .524-1-5 w/ 3 doubles
- Now has 6 games experience at 3B in his 9-year career
- Batting .194(14-72) vs. RHP; .357(10-28) vs. LHP; .207(6-29) w/RISP
- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.1 (169 of 421)
- In 8 seasons in the Mariners and Twins systems hit .244-16-162 in 439 games
Jacob Goebbert
- 0-for-4 Sunday in his return to CC
- Promoted to OKC on June 9...went 4-for-30 (.133) with 2 R, 1 2B and 1 RBI in 16 G
- Hits in 13 of the last 16 with the Hooks, 18-59 (.305) w/ 9 BB, 4 2B, 7 R and 4 RBIs
- 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 .231(37-160) vs. RHP; .385(20-52) vs. LHP; .300(15-50) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
- 3-for-9 with 2 R with an RBI in NWA series
- Hits in 7 of the last 11 games, 11-43 (.256) with 6 walks, 3 HRs, 7 runs and 9 RBIs
- Hit .306 (22-72) in June with 2 doubles, 5 HRs, 10 runs and 17 RBIs
- Batting .262(28-107) at home; .200(21-105) on the road
- Batting .205(32-156) vs. RHP; .304(17-56) vs. LHP; .203(13-64) w/RISP
- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)
Drew Locke
- 4-11 with 1 R, 2B, RBI, 2BB in NWA series
- Was 8-53 (.151) on road trip with 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 walks, 2 doubles and 5 runs
- Hit safely in first 5 games with the Hooks: 8-21 (.381) with 3 HRs & 12 RBIs
- Joined club June 9 as a free-agent signee by the Astros
- 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
- 2-9 with 3 R, HR, 5 RBIs in NWA series
- Hits in 22 of his last 26 games, 36-114 (.316) w/ 5 2Bs, 4 HRs, 20 runs and 24 RBIs
- Was 16-55 on road trip with 2 walks, 2 doubles, 7 runs and 7 RBIs
- 3rd in the league in AVG (.311) & PA/K (11.77), T-3rd in hits (91) & 4th in RBIs (54)
- 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 .301(65-216) vs. RHP; .347(26-75) vs. LHP; .381(32-84) w/RISP
Drew Muren
- 1-7 with 2 R and RBI in NWA series
- 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
- Has hit in 6 straight and in 13 of last 14, 19-55 with 10 runs and 3 doubles
- Batting .333(14-42) vs. RHP; .300(6-20) vs. LHP; .133(2-15) w/RISP
- A 22nd-round pick of the Astros last June out of Cal State-Northridge
Andy Simunic
- 4-9 with 2 R, 2 2B and 4 RBI in NWA series
- Had club-high 14-game hit streak snapped Monday
- Has hit in 20 of last 24 games, 32-106 (.302) with 13 R, 4 2B & 8 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
- T-6th in the league in hitting (.300)
- Batting .302(52-172) vs. RHP; .294(15-51) vs. LHP; .237(14-59) w/RISP
- Grounded into a DP Monday night for just the third time this season
- 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
- Hit a home run a Monday night, first since June 1 at Arkansas
- 2-11 with 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K in NWA series
- Was 5-37 (.135) on road trip with 8 walks, 2 runs and 2 RBIs
- 2nd in the league in runs (52), 3rd in walks (51)
- 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(54-189) vs. RHP; .221(17-77) vs. LHP; .325(25-77) w/RISP
- Hitting .299(56-191) when he starts at 1B (55); .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
- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system
Jonathan Villar
- Has hit two walk-off home runs this season, three in tenure with club
- 4-9 with 3 R, 1 RBI and 4 BB in NWA series
- Hits in 6 straight and in 13 of his last 15, 18-65 with 7 walks, 2 doubles, 4 HRs, 10 runs and 15 RBIs
- Is 44-143(.308) in his last 35 games with 2 doubles, 8 HRs, 30 runs and 30 RBIs
- Leads the league with 35 stolen bases
- Tied franchise record with 4 steals June 9 vs. Midland
- Batting .265(57-215) vs. RHP; .273(21-77) vs. LHP; .325(25-77) w/RISP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Chris Wallace
- 1-3 Sunday with a HR last night in lone appearance of the NWA series
- Was 3-18 on road trip with 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5 runs and 9 Ks
- 3-3 last Friday with 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR & 3 RBIs (1st HR since 5/31 vs. ARK)
- Was 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs June 13 to close out home stand
- Batting .211(20-95) vs. RHP; .206(7-34) vs. LHP; .231(9-39) w/RISP
- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year
Austin Wates
- 3-11 with 1 R and 1 RBI in NWA series
- Activated from DL today after 15-day stint (left quad)
- Hits in 10 of his last 15 games, 16-48 with 6 walks, 2 doubles, 6 runs and 5 RBIs
- Ranks 5th in the league in average (.304)
- Saturday, recorded his first RBI at home since April 26 vs. Mid
- Batting .315(56-178) vs. RHP; .271(16-59) vs. LHP; .321(17-53) w/RISP
- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories
Brandon Wikoff
- 0-3 Sunday night in lone appearance of the NWA series
- Joined club May 28 from extended spring, where he'd been recuperating from a wrist injury (left wrist)
- Has played in 4 games since June 12
- Was 7-25 on previous home stand with 4 walks, 2 doubles, 5 runs and 2 RBIs
- In 103 games last year with the Hooks batted .308 w/ 6 doubles, 3 HRs and 26 RBIs
- Was the Texas League's Player of the Week (April 25-May 1, 2011), hit .600
- Maintained an average of .400 or better from April 25 thru June 6 last year
- Finished last season with four September games w/ OKC (.154-0-0)
Texas League Stories from July 4, 2012
- Tulsa Suffers Tough Loss in Road Trip Finale - Tulsa Drillers
- Missions Sweep Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Travs Shutout on Independence Day - Arkansas Travelers
- Buckel Guides 'Riders to Series Win - Frisco RoughRiders
- Missions Defeat Naturals 4-2, Sweep Series - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Blank Midland 5-0 - Springfield Cardinals
- Game Notes, July 4 vs. Tulsa - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Loux Shuts Downs Travelers' Bats - Arkansas Travelers
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