Game Notes, June 1 vs. Arkansas
Published on June 1, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Corpus Christi (25-27) @ Arkansas (21-31)
Andy Simunic sparked a four-run rally with a one-out single in the top of the 15th and Erick Abreu wrote another chapter in the Hooks record book as Corpus Christi outlasted Arkansas here last night 5-2 to capture the second game of this series. Simunic's single was followed by a ground-rule double off the bat of Jay Fernandez and a go-ahead sacrifice fly to center from Austin Wates. Jonathan Villar's infield hit and subsequent steal of second preceded Jose Martinez's two-run double into the left field corner. Jon Singleton's RBI knock to left capped the uprising at 5-1 Hooks.
Abreu won for the fifth time this year and the 18th time in portions of four seasons that he's pitched for the club. Abreu now stands alone as the franchise's all-time leader in wins, moving past Chance Douglass (17).
The Hooks have won eight of their last 11 and four of their last five on the road.
Tonight's Matchup:
LHP Brett Oberholtzer (2-3, 5.61) vs. RHP Johnny Hellweg (2-3, 4.14)
Oberholtzer, acquired by the Astros last July in the Michael Bourn deal with Atlanta, makes his 10th start for the Hooks and his first against the Travelers. Sunday at home against Springfield, Oberholtzer gave up five runs in the first inning - four coming on two-run home runs by Kyle Conley and Xavier Scruggs - then shut the Cardinals down over the next five innings. That first inning was enough, though, as the Cards went on to a 10-1 triumph. The performance continued the lefty's recent up-and-down trend. In his previous start, Oberholtzer tossed six shutout innings May 21 to beat the RockHounds 5-2 in Midland. A Southern League All-Star with Mississippi last year, Oberholtzer is listed as the No. 7 prospect in the Astros system according to Baseball America.
- Has a 1.56 GO/AO ratio in 9 starts with the Hooks
- Made his AAA debut for OKC at Albuquerque April 30 (5.1-7-4-4-1-3, L)
- Has allowed 10 HRs in 51.1 innings with the Hooks (just 19 HRs allowed in 395.0 IP in first 4 yrs. as a pro)
Hellweg, a 16th-round pick of the Angels in 2008 out of Florida Community College (Jacksonville, FL), makes his 11th start this season and his first against the Hooks. Last Saturday in San Antonio, Hellweg held the Missions to a run on five hits over five innings in a 4-3 Travelers win. The 6'9" righty, though, issued six walks, equaling his season high, which he set the start before on May 20 vs. Northwest Arkansas. Hellweg has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.61 ERA. He has, however, in that time allowed 22 hits and 17 walks in 20.2 innings (1.89 WHIP). A member of the Angels 40-man roster, Hellweg spent all last year with Inland Empire in the California League, going 6-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 28 games and 14 starts.
- Has a 1.69 GO/AO ratio in 10 starts with the Travs
- Leads the league in walks allowed (36) and tied for the league lead with 8 wild pitches
- Holding lefties to a .214 average while righties are batting .319 against him
The long and winding road
It's been a while since the Hooks have played a game like the one here last night. The longest game for both these clubs this season, the two teams battled for 15 innings and four hours and 27 minutes. The last time the Hooks played a game that lasted at least 4:27 was September 2, 2010, when the Hooks and RoughRiders played for 4:36 in a game at Whataburger Field.
The last time the Hooks played at least 15 innings? You have to roll the clock back to April 26, 2007, when the Hooks and RockHounds went at it for 18 innings, also at Whataburger Field.
Extras, and winning with fewer hits
Last night's game marked the third extra-innings game for the Hooks this year. Corpus Christi is now 2-1 in extra-innings games, with both wins coming on the road. In addition, the Hooks have outscored their opponents in bonus frames this season 8-2.
Corpus Christi's two wins this series are the club's first two victories this year when getting out-hit by the opposition. The Travelers have out-hit the Hooks 21-15 in these first two games, but the Hooks have the upper hand in runs 8-4.
Odds & Ends from last night's game
The Hooks used 16 players last night while the Travelers used 20. The only players the Travs didn't use were the four starters not involved last night and lefty reliever Andrew Taylor, who pitched two innings here on Wednesday.
The Hooks scored one run on five hits over the first 14 innings, then scored four runs on five hits in the 15th. Also, the Hooks were 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position last night. They were 3-for-4 with RISP in the 15th inning.
There were a total of 435 pitches thrown. Four Hooks pitchers threw 195 of those pitches, while eight Travs hurlers tossed a total of 240.
There were no wild pitches, hit batters, balks or passed balls.
Pitching Rotation at Springfield
Saturday: RHP Jake Buchanan (2-4, 5.22) vs. RHP Trevor Rosenthal (4-4, 2.72)
Sunday: RHP Jarred Cosart (3-2, 3.79) vs. RHP Richard Castillo (2-0, 1.33)
Monday: RHP Ross Seaton (4-3, 3.28) vs. LHP Tyler Lyons (4-4, 3.88)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Adam Bailey
- Added to roster Wednesday from Advanced-A Lancaster
- Was 0-6 in his 2012 Hooks debut last night
- In 47 games with the JetHawks was batting .279 (50x179) with 13 doubles, 8 HRs and 25 RBIs (also with 2 SBs)
- Broke camp with the Hooks and homered in exhibition loss to Houston April 2
- In 23 games at the end of last season with the Hooks hit .323 with 7 doubles, 3 HRs and 15 RBIs
- A 23rd-round pick of the Astros in 2010 out of the University of Nebraska
Jay Fernandez
- Hits in 4 of his last 6 games, 5-19 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 1 run and 3 RBIs
- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.1 (166 of 414)
- In 8 seasons in the Mariners and Twins systems hit .244-16-162 in 439 games
Jacob Goebbert
- Hits in 6 of the last 7 games, 8-28 with 2 walks, 2 doubles, 3 runs and 2 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 .218(29-133) vs. RHP; .409(18-44) vs. LHP; .317(13-41) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
- Is 1-21 in his last 7 games with 3 walks, 10 Ks and 1 run
- Hitting .106(7-66) in May with 9 walks and 5 RBIs
- Batting .227(17-75) at home; .159(10-63) on the road
- Batting .176(18-102) vs. RHP; .250(9-36) vs. LHP; .133(6-45) w/RISP
- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)
Jordan Kreke
- Is 0-5 in his last 4 games with 3 Ks
- Batting .235(8-34) at home; .138(4-29) on road
- Batting .212(11-52) vs. RHP; .091(1-11) vs. LHP; 0-17 w/RISP
- Played 1B May 1 for the first time in his career (replaced Singleton)
- Has 135 career games at 3B, 126 at 2B and 49 at SS
Jose Martinez
- Hits in 13 of the last 14 games, 21-62 with 1 walk, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 11 runs and 9 RBIs
- Has 9 RBIs in the last 9 games
- 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 .307(42-137) vs. RHP; .319(15-47) vs. LHP; .352(19-54) w/RISP
- Played just 6 games in the three-year period 2009-11
Ryan McCurdy
- Is 7-26 in his last 10 games with 2 walks, 3 HBPs, 2 sac bunts, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 8 RBIs
- Grand slam last Friday night his first pro HR (in portions of 3 seasons had played in 72 games and has 181 at-bats)
- Batting .295(13-44) vs. RHP; 0-9 vs. LHP; .313(5-16) w/RISP
- Had played just 2 games w/ Lancaster this season, was 2-3 with 1 HBP
Andy Simunic
- Hits in 9 of the last 11 games, 10-43 with 3 walks, 5 runs and 1 RBI
- In his last 25 games, at 3B, SS and RF, has 24 POs, 53 assists and 0 errors
- Batting .294(35-119) vs. RHP; .154(4-26) vs. LHP; .205(8-309) w/RISP
- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 11 DPs in 1,398 plate appearances
Jon Singleton
- Hits in 13 of the last 14 games, 21-57 with 6 walks, 2 doubles, 5 HRs, 13 runs and 17 RBIs
- HR Wednesday night off Andrew Taylor his first HR off a LHP in 2 years; his first HR on the road this season
- Ranks sixth in the league in hitting (.313), third in both OBP (.415) and RBIs (37) and tops the circuit in runs (36)
- Named the Texas League's Player of the Week (May 21-27), hit .500-4-12
- Batting .358(44-123) vs. RHP; .208(11-53) vs. LHP; .380(19-50) w/RISP
- Hitting .344(44-128) when he starts at 1B; .209(9-43) when he starts in LF
- Has started 35 games at 1B; 12 games in LF
- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system
Jonathan Villar
- Is 2-18 in the last 4 games with 1 walk, 2 runs, 1 RBI and 7 Ks
- Has 7 RBIs in the last 9 games
- Leads the league with 22 stolen bases
- Batting .246(34-138) vs. RHP; .264(14-53) vs. LHP; .278(15-54) w/RISP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Chris Wallace
- Returned from DL Saturday night to go 3-for-3, his first 3-hit game this season
- Is 6-16 in 5 games since his return from the DL with 1 walk, 1 double, 1 HR, 1 run and 2 RBIs
- Batting .255(14-55) vs. RHP; .174(4-23) vs. LHP; .240(6-25) w/RISP
- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year
Austin Wates
- Hits in 10 of the last 11 games, 13-46 with 2 walks, 3 doubles, 6 runs and 3 RBIs
- Leads the league with 61 hits
- Batting .314(49-156) vs. RHP; .245(12-49) vs. LHP; .318(14-44) w/RISP
- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories
Brandon Wikoff
- Joined club Monday from extended spring, where he'd been recuperating from a wrist injury (left wrist)
- Went 2-3 in his season debut Monday with a walk and a stolen base
- 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)
BULLPEN REPORT
Starters: 13-21, 4.71 ERA, 277.1 IP, 34 HR, 97 BB, 216 K, .286 AVG
Relievers: 12-6, 4.24 ERA, 186.2 IP, 18 HR, 86 BB, 162 K, .257 AVG
Erick Abreu
- Tossed 5 shutout frames last night to record the victory in relief
- Committed an error in the 8th Sunday: 4 R (2 ER) on 2 H, 2 BB, a balk & a hit batter
- Broke a string of 5 consecutive scoreless appearances (5.1 IP)
- Is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 starts / 5-0 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 G out of the pen
- His 9 HR allowed rank tied for fourth in the Texas League
- Ranked among TL leaders in WHIP (1.22, 4th) and ERA (4.29, 9th) last season
- Captured P-o-W award for 2nd straight year: 10 K, 1 BB, 2 H, 1 UR in 8 IP Aug. 17
- CC's P-o-M in August 2010: 3-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 7 games and 4 starts
- Holds the club record for wins (18) & Ks (262), ranks 2nd in IP (297.1) & G (108)
Kevin Chapman
- Held the Travs to just 2 hits over 2 innings last night
- Has not allowed a run in last 3 appearances (4.0 IP)
- 15 of his 21 outings have been of the scoreless variety
- Holding lefties to a .205 batting average (8x39), 2 RBIs, 8 BB, 16 K
- K/9 IP ratio of 11.03 ranks third among Texas League relievers
- A top-20 KC prospect by BA last year: 1-4, 10 SV, 4.94 ERA in Wilmington & NWA
- Struck out 90 & walked 28 over 62.0 IP...save total ranked 3rd in the Royals system
- Entered '12 with a career BB-to-K ratio of 1-to-3.06 & is averaging 12.38 K per 9 IP
Arcenio Leon
- Permitted 1 H and 1 BB while fanning 2 in a scoreless 8th Monday night
- Faced the minimum thanks to a double play in the 8th Friday night vs. ARK
- Allowed inherited runners to score on a bases-loaded walk and HBP May 21 at MID
- Posted a 2.45 ERA in April (7 G), holding the opposition to a .224 batting average
- Led the Texas League last season in SO/9 IP ratio (10.16) for relievers
- Paced the Hooks with 47 app., the third-highest single-season total in team history
- Placed on 40-man in Nov. '10, going 2-4 w/ 4 SV & a 3.97 ERA in Lex. and CC
- Over seven seasons has a career SO/9 IP ratio of 7.82
Alex Sogard
- Allowed first 3 batters to reach in the 9th Sunday...permitted 1 R on 3 H
- Charged with 3 R, 2 coming on Shaffer's 2B, in the 6th Saturday, part of a 5-run frame
- Tossed 2 shutout innings May 20 at Midland
- Has surrendered a run in 8 of his 9 appearances with the Hooks
- Was 0-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 6 outings at Lancaster to start the season
- Held the California League to a .197 average, 0 HR, 8 BB & 17 K in 16.0 IP
- 3-4 w/ a 4.14 ERA in 31 G (10 starts) for Lex. last year (4-for-6 in SV chances)
- Notched 148 strikeouts against 37 walks (4-to-1 ratio) in first 2 seasons as a pro
- Teammate of Buchanan at NC State: 10-6 w/ a 5.16 ERA, 73 BB, 96 K over 3 years
Jason Stoffel
- Yielded 1 run on 2 hits in the 15th last night
- Broke string of 10 consecutive scoreless app (11.2 IP)...16 of his 19 outings overall
- Notched 6th save in as many chances Wednesday night
- 3rd among TL relievers in runners per 9 (8.10), & AVG (.183), 4th in BB/9 (1.54)
- Went 2-5 w/ 17 SV & a 4.53 ERA in 50 G between Richmond & CC in 2011
- Tied for 4th among SF farmhands in saves, recording 13 in 17 opportunities
- In 2010, led the Giants system with 25 saves and notched a SO/9 IP ratio of 11.17
- Entered '12 season averaging 10.27 SO/9 IP & has a GO/AO ratio of 1.72 for career
- Stands as the Wildcats career leader in saves (29) and appearances (99)
Henry Villar
- Struck out a batter in a 1-2-3 7th Sunday
- Has been perfect in his three outings (3.0 IP, 1 K) since coming off the DL
- Activated May 19 after spending the bulk of the month on the shelf
- Made 2 starts for Cosart (4/16 & 4/10): 2 L, 6 IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 2 HR, 1BB, 4 K vs. TUL
- As a reliever: 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 7 appearances: 10 H, 3 HR, 3 BB, 5 K, 14.0 IP
- Went 4-5 with a 5.45 ERA in 42 appearances between OKC and CC last season
- Made his big-league debut in 2010 as a September call-up, yielding 3 ER in 6 IP
Josh Zeid
- Earned 2nd victory of the season Wednesday night, tossing 1.1 shutout innings
- Yielded just 1 hit and struck out a batter over two frames Saturday night vs. SPR
- Has not been charged with a run over last 3 app. (4.0 IP)...2 of 4 IR have scored
- Prior to current stretch, yielded 10 R in 3 straight outings (1.2 IP, 9 hits, 1 grand slam)
- Moved to Reading's pen in late June last year: 2 SV, 2.25 ERA, 2 BB, 24 K, 16.0 IP
- Joined Hooks in late July: 0-1, 10.13 ERA, 15 G, 16 IP, 6 BB, 15 K
- Mid-season SAL All-Star in 2010
- Top 5 for Lakewood in W (8, T-1st), SV (8, 2nd), K (111, 2nd) & IP (107.1 IP, 4th)
- Has a career 3.18 K/BB ratio over 3 seasons, holding the opposition to a .245 average
Texas League Stories from June 1, 2012
- Hooks Complete Three-Game Sweep - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Take Missions 6-2 - Springfield Cardinals
- Frisco Sweeps Tulsa - Tulsa Drillers
- Ninth Inning Rally Drills Drillers - Frisco RoughRiders
- RockHounds Sweep Naturals - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, June 1 vs. Arkansas - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Lose 15-Inning Marathon Game - Arkansas Travelers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
