TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Game Notes, June 24 at Frisco

Published on June 24, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


Corpus Christi (3-1, 40-34) @ Frisco (1-3, 42-32)

Jake Buchanan took a four-hit shutout into the eighth inning last night as the Hooks continued their winning ways against Frisco with a 5-1 triumph over the RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Jose Martinez capped a two-run fifth inning with a solo shot to left field off 'Riders starter Jake Brigham. His seventh home run of the season produced RBI No. 48 which is tied for third in the Texas League. The Hooks tacked on three more in the seventh on a two-run double by rehabbing Astro Travis Buck and an RBI line drive to center off the bat of Adam Bailey.

The support was more than enough for Buchanan (4-5), who yielded six hits and two walks over 7.2 scoreless innings. He struck out four, inducing 15 ground outs against two fly outs. Arcenio Leon entered the game in relief of Buchanan with the bases loaded in the eighth. Leon struck out Chris McGuiness, who hit three home runs Friday night, to end the inning and preserve the shutout. Alex Buchholz scored Frisco's lone run after being hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth. He moved to second on a wild pitch from Jason Stoffel, advanced to third via a line out to center and crossed home plate on another errant offering from Stoffel.

The Hooks, 10-8 against Frisco this season, have won their last four games here in the Metroplex.

Tonight's Matchup:

RHP Jarred Cosart (3-4, 4.00) vs. RHP Cody Buckel (0-0, 0.00)

Cosart, acquired by the Astros in the Hunter Pence deal with Philadelphia last July, makes his 12th start for the Hooks and his fifth against the RoughRiders. Cosart tossed seven shutout innings in his last outing on Tuesday at San Antonio, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out eight. He settled for a no-decision as the Hooks went on to beat the Missions 4-0 in 12 innings. The performance stood in stark contrast to his prior five starts (1-2, 5.87 ERA, 14 BBs, 23 Ks). Last Thursday to open this trip in Frisco, The League City native allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks over six innings in a 4-3 loss to the RoughRiders. Overall this season against Frisco, Cosart is 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in four starts. Selected by Baseball America as the second-best prospect in the organization, Cosart is also ranked by the periodical as the No. 50 prospect in the game, with the "Best Fastball" and "Best Curveball" in the system. 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 2.02 GO/AO ratio in 11 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

- Made his AAA debut with OKC May 8 vs. Las Vegas (6.0-10-4-4-2-5, L)

Buckel, a second-round pick of the Rangers in 2010 out of Royal High School in Simi Valley, California, makes his Double-A debut here tonight against the Hooks. 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 leads the circuit in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP (0.98) and base runners per nine innings (8.92). 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 an All-Star

Hooks starting pitcher Jarred Cosart has been named to the Texas League South Division All-Star Team. The best of the North and South meet in the 76th Texas League All-Star Game Thursday, June 28, at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.

Cosart replaces Frisco lefty Chad Bell who was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Corpus Christi had seven players voted onto the South club by league managers, broadcasters and beat writers. Infielders Jose Martinez and Jon Singleton and outfielder Austin Wates were originally tabbed as starters. Pitchers Kevin Chapman, Brett Oberholtzer and Jason Stoffel and infielder Jonathan Villar fill out the Hooks' All-Star contingent.

Wates, currently on the disabled list, and Brett Oberholtzer, who was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, will not play in the game.

June boom

The Hooks, who have won six of their last eight and 13 of the last 17 games, are playing their best brand of ball here in the month of June. For the month, the club is 15-7, including a 7-1 mark at Whataburger Field. Corpus Christi features a team batting average of .276, 20 home runs and 110 RBIs. The Hooks are averaging 5.7 runs per game in June.

Pitching has been the key to this recent run. Hooks hurlers have posted a 3.92 ERA, a vast improvement from their overall ERA of 4.34. They have struck out 183 against 61 walks during the month, limiting the league to a .247 batting average. For the season, the opposition is batting .267.

Running rough shot

Corpus Christi enters play tonight having won four in a row against first-place Frisco. The Hooks have outscored the RoughRiders 37-13, reaching double digits in runs twice in between triumphs of 5-0 and 5-1. Jose Cisnero kicked off the streak with a complete game two-hit shutout last Saturday.

Singleton to play in Futures Game

Astros top prospect Jon Singleton has been selected as Houston's lone representative to play in Major League Baseball's All-Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City next month.

Singleton is currently hitting .270 with a team-leading 11 home runs and 42 RBIs, which rank second on the club. He stands second in the Texas League in runs scored (49) and third in walks (47). Acquired as part of the trade that sent Hunter Pence to Philadelphia last season, Singleton was named Corpus Christi's player of the month for May when he hit .281 with 7 home runs and 24 RBIs while featuring an OPS of .931. He was also tabbed as the league's player of the week for May 21-27 (.500-4-12).

The Hooks have been represented at each of the Futures Games since the club's inception. Last season, Jose Altuve went 2-for-3 for the World Team. Altuve is a favorite to lineup for the Astros at this year's MLB All-Star Game.

Buck rehab

Astros outfielder Travis Buck continues his rehab with the Hooks. On Houston's 15-day disabled list with Achilles tendinitis, Buck is 2-for-14 with 2 runs, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in 5 games with Corpus Christi. He's expected to stay with the club for the duration of the series here in Frisco.

In 33 games with the Astros this year, Buck is hitting .216 (16x74) with no homers and 6 RBIs. Originally a supplemental first-round pick of the A's in 2005 out of Arizona State, Buck played a portion of the 2006 season (50 games) with Midland, hitting .302-4-22 for the RockHounds.

Pitching Rotation at Frisco

Monday: RHP Ross Seaton (5-3, 3.83) vs. RHP Neil Ramirez (0-0, 0.00)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Adam Bailey

- Added to roster May 30 from Advanced-A Lancaster

- Is 6-23 on road trip with 4 walks, 2 doubles, 3 runs and 2 RBIs

- Game-winning RBI in 12th Wednesday night snapped 8-game RBI drought

- Batting .251(14-58) 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

- Hits in 7 of his last 9 games, 12-30 w/ 1 BB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 6 R and 5 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 .213(13-61) vs. RHP; .364(8-22) vs. LHP; .208(5-24) w/RISP

- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.0 (167 of 417)

Kody Hinze

- Hits in 5 of the last 7 games, 8-30 with 4 walks, 3 HRs, 5 runs and 8 RBIs

- Hitting .311(19-61) in June with 1 double, 5 HRs, 8 runs and 16 RBIs

- Batting .255(25-98) at home; .208(21-101) on the road

- Batting .212(32-151) vs. RHP; .292(14-48) vs. LHP; .210(13-62) w/RISP

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

Drew Locke

- Joined club June 9 as a free-agent signee by the Astros

- Is 7-44 (.159) on road trip with 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 1 double and 5 runs

- 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 in 19 of his last 22 games, 31-99 with 5 doubles, 2 HRs, 15 runs and 18 RBIs

- Is 13-47 on road trip with 2 walks, 2 doubles, 6 runs and 6 RBIs

- 2nd in the league in AVG (.312) & PA/K (11.73), 3rd in hits (86) & T-3rd in RBIs (48)

- 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 .300(63-210) vs. RHP; .348(23-66) vs. LHP; .375(30-80) w/RISP

Ryan McCurdy

- Is 0-12 in his last 5 games with 1 walk and 1 run

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

- Batting .259(15-58) vs. RHP; 0-11 vs. LHP; .238(5-21) w/RISP

- 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

Drew Muren

- 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

- Had 7-game hit streak snapped last night, 12-31 with 1 walk, 3 doubles and 7 runs

- Batting .333(9-27) vs. RHP; .286(4-14) vs. LHP; .200(2-10) w/RISP

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

Andy Simunic

- Rejoined Hooks June 14 from AAA Oklahoma City, where he was 0-9 in 8 games

- Has club-high 13-game hit streak, 22-56 with 2 walks, 2 doubles, 9 runs and 3 RBIs

- Seventh in the league in hitting (.303)

- Batting .314(49-156) vs. RHP; .262(11-42) vs. LHP; .216(11-51) w/RISP

- Grounded into a DP Wednesday night for just the second time this season

- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 12 DPs in 1,439 plate appearances

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

Jon Singleton

- Is 5-32 on road trip with 6 walks, 2 runs and 2 RBIs

- 2nd in the league in runs (49) and 3rd in walks (47)

- 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 .290(51-176) vs. RHP; .221(15-68) vs. LHP; .338(24-71) w/RISP

- Hitting .298(51-171) when he starts at 1B; .183(11-60) when he starts in LF

- Has started 48 games at 1B; 16 games in LF

- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system

Jonathan Villar

- Hits in 7 of his last 8, 10-39 with 2 walks, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 5 runs and 10 RBIs

- Is 36-117(.307) in his last 28 games with 2 doubles, 6 HRs, 26 runs and 25 RBIs

- Leads the league with 33 stolen bases

- Tied franchise record with 4 steals June 9 vs. Midland

- Batting .258(50-194) vs. RHP; .278(20-72) vs. LHP; .315(23-73) w/RISP

- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system

Chris Wallace

- Is 3-17 on road trip with 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 runs and 9 Ks

- 3-3 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 .217(20-92) vs. RHP; .182(6-33) vs. LHP; .243(8-37) w/RISP

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

Brandon Wikoff

- Joined club May 28 from extended spring, where he'd been recuperating from a wrist injury (left wrist)

- 0-1 as a PH Thursday night...first action of the road trip

- Was 7-25 on recent 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)

BULLPEN REPORT

Starters: 22-25, 4.54 ERA, 412.2 IP, 43 HR, 130 BB, 330 K, .275 AVG

Relievers: 18-9, 4.01 ERA, 253.1 IP, 22 HR, 114 BB, 231 K, .253 AVG

Erick Abreu

- Surrendered 2-run walk-off HR to SA's Nate Freiman in the 11th Thursday night

- Earned 8th victory (T-2nd in TL) Wednesday night: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 IBB, 2 K

- Has not been charged with a run in 10 of last 13 outings...3 of 12 IR have scored

- Is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 starts / 8-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 21 G out of the pen

- 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 club record for Ws (21), Ks (271) & APP (114) & ranks 2nd in IP (305.1)

Kevin Chapman

- Carved out 2 scoreless IP Wednesday night in SA, allowing 2 H while striking out 3

- Suffered the L on last Friday at FRI...allowed 1 R on 1 H, 1 BB and 1 HBP in the 8th

- Had not been charged with a run in 9 of last 10 APP (9.2 IP)...2 of 5 IR have scored

- 21 of his 28 outings have been of the scoreless variety...5 of 12 IR have scored

- Holding lefties to a .227 batting average (10x44), 2 RBIs, 11 BB, 17 K

- K/9 IP ratio of 10.63 ranks 1st 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

- Big K with the bases loaded to end the eighth last night (1 HBP, 1 R, 0.1 IP)

- Earned the W Tuesday night in SA with 2 shutout frames (2 K, 0 H)

- Has been charged with 3 ER over last 10 APP (12.0 IP)...4 of 4 IR have scored

- Lefties hitting .323 with 12 BB and 13 K / Righties hitting .195 with 9 BB and 21 K

- 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

Alex Sogard

- Allowed 2 H over 2 scoreless frames Thursday night

- Strung together 3.1 shutout frames on Monday in SA: 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K

- Has not yielded a run in last 3 APP (7.1 IP)...2 of 2 IR have scored

- Has surrendered a run in 10 of his 14 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

- Allowed IR to score last night on two WP (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R)

- Notched 10th save (T-3rd in TL) Wednesday night after a scoreless 9th

- Blew first save chance of the season last Sunday at FRI: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K

- Has not been charged with a run in 17 of last 19 app (20.1 IP)...2 of 10 IR have scored

- 23 of his 28 outings have been of the scoreless variety

- 1st among TL relievers in runners per 9 (8.42) & BB/9 (1.45), 2nd in AVG (.200)

- 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

- Earned first save of the season Friday night, permitting 2 R over 4 IP

- Struck out 4 & did not walk a batter over 3 scoreless IP Tuesday night in SA

- Held opp. scoreless in 7 of 10 APP since DL stint: 2.55 ERA (5 ER/17.2 IP, 2 BB, 15 K)

- 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 3.45 ERA in 14 appearances: 27 H, 4 HR, 5 BB, 19 K, 28.2 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

- Struck out 2 and walked 1 over 2 shutout IP Thursday night

- Worked 2 scoreless frames Monday night in SA: 1 H, 4 K

- Has not allowed a run in 5 of last 6 APP (7.1 IP)...1 of 4 IR have scored

- His 10.20 K/9 IP ratio is 3rd among TL relievers

- Bases-loaded BB & HBP preceded a grand slam June 6. vs. MID (3 R, 1 IP)

- Was not charged with a run over 5 app. from May 23 to June 2 (6.0 IP)...2 of 4 IR scored

- Prior to that 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

Check out the Corpus Christi Hooks Statistics

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