Game Notes, May 24 vs. Arkansas
Published on May 24, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Arkansas (19-26) @ Corpus Christi (20-25)
Jake Buchanan nearly tossed a complete game and Brandon Barnes knocked in three runs with a first-inning home run as the Hooks opened this series with a 9-5 win over the Travelers last night. Buchanan had allowed just one run on five hits through the first eight innings and wasn't able to manage the final two outs of the game. Twice in double play situations the Hooks not only failed to turn two, but committed errors that extended the inning and cost Buchanan his chance at a complete game.
In the end, Buchanan allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits and a walk over 8.1 innings. He had plenty of help throughout the lineup. Barnes finished with three hits, while Jon Singleton and Jay Fernandez both went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jonathan Villar added his first home run of the year - a two-run poke in the fourth. The result snapped the Travs' winning streak at three games and gives the Hooks victories in three of their last four and six of their last 10.
Tonight's Matchup:
RHP Eddie McKiernan (3-2, 1.47) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (2-2, 3.48)
McKiernan, a 17th-round pick of the Angels in 2007 out of Monrovia (CA) High School, makes his 12th appearance and fourth start of the season for the Travelers. Last Friday at home against Northwest Arkansas, McKiernan held the Naturals to a run on four hits and two walks over 6.0 innings, but suffered a 1-0 loss. The only run he allowed came on a solo homer by Johnny Whittleman. Though he has lost each of his last two starts, McKiernan has done well as both a starter (1-2, 2.30 ERA, 3 starts) and reliever (2-0, 0.60, 8 apps) this season. At present he is 5.1 innings shy of the minimum number of innings needed to qualify to be amongst the league leaders. His 1.47 ERA would otherwise lead the circuit. McKiernan spent all last year with the Travelers, going 9-12 with a 5.22 ERA in 27 games and 20 starts. He led the loop last year in hit batters (15) and tied for second in complete games (3).
- Holding TL hitters to a .223 average
- Has not issued more than 2 walks in any appearance this season
- In 3 starts last year against the Hooks went 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA
Cosart, acquired by the Astros in the Hunter Pence deal with Philadelphia last July, makes his seventh start for the Hooks and his eighth overall this year. Last Friday at Midland, Cosart allowed four runs on six hits and four walks over 5.2 innings in a game the Hooks lost 6-5. Cosart, who also hit three batters and struck out five, did not get a decision. In two starts since returning from AAA Oklahoma City, Cosart is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. Tabbed 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 in League City, Texas, Cosart was the winning pitcher in the XM All-Star Futures Game last July in Phoenix.
- Has a 1.78 GO/AO ratio and is holding Texas League hitters to a .258 average
- Has been much better at home (2-0, 1.15 ERA, 3 starts) than on the road (0-2, 5.87 ERA, 3 starts)
- Made his AAA debut with OKC May 8 vs. Las Vegas (6.0-10-4-4-2-5, L)
Multi-homer games
With Barnes going deep in the first and Villar belting his first homer of the year in the fourth, the Hooks last night had their first multi-homer game as a team since May 4 at Midland. That night (also known as the "Night that the Lights Went Out in Midland." As far as we know, no innocent men were hung.), Austin Wates and Jacob Goebbert hit solo home runs in back-to-back fashion in the top of the eighth to pull the Hooks to a 5-5 tie. The Hooks eventually lost the game 6-5.
The Hooks have homered more than once six times this year, and are 4-2 when they hit at least two home runs in a game.
Stealing away
Jordan Kreke's stolen base in the fourth last night gives the Hooks their longest streak of consecutive games with at least one stolen base at five. The Hooks, who lead the Texas League with 48 steals this season, have stolen six bases in the last five games.
Villar and Travs' shortstop Jean Segura remain tied for the individual league lead with 18 steals each.
Scoring first
Last night's five-run outburst in the first propelled the Hooks to victory. The club improved to 15-5 on the year when scoring the game's first run. That keeps Corpus Christi tops in the league in that category. Frisco (19-7, .731) remains second in the circuit while Tulsa (15-7, .682) stands. The Hooks are now 9-1 when they score first here at Whataburger Field.
Martinez OB streak hits 18
Hooks second baseman Jose Martinez has stretched his consecutive games on-base streak to 18. During the streak, which began May 4 in Midland, Martinez is batting .343 and has an on-base percentage of .413.
His streak is the longest this season for a member of the club and is currently the fourth-longest active streak in the Texas League. Incredibly, 19-year-old Frisco shortstop Jurickson Profar has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games - a streak that began on the third day of the season (April 7).
Pitching Rotation vs. Arkansas
Friday: RHP AJ Schugel (2-4, 3.04) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (3-3, 3.48)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Brandon Barnes
- Has 3-game hit streak, 5-12 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 3 RBIs
- Hits in 8 of his last 9 games, 13-35 with 5 doubles, 1 HR, 5 runs and 5 RBIs
- Leads TL in doubles (20)
- Corpus Christi's offensive player of the month in April (.353-4-21, 22 games)
- Named Texas League Co-Player of the Week (April 5-15), hit .432
- Named Texas League Player of the Week (April 16-22), hit .391
- Batting .315(34-108) vs. RHP; .333(15-45) vs. LHP; .310(13-42) w/RISP
Jay Fernandez
- Hits in 3 of his last 5 games, 4-14 with 1 double, 1 HR, 1 run and 3 RBIs
- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 40.0 (165 of 412)
- 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, 8-25 with 5 walks, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 runs and 5 RBIs
- Has 10 RBIs in the last 14 games
- 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 .220(24-109) vs. RHP; .375(15-40) vs. LHP; .333(13-39) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
- Went 3-12 in Midland series with 4 walks, 2 runs and 3 RBIs
- Was 3-19 on road trip
- Batting .258(16-62) at home; .167(10-60) on the road
- Batting .193(17-88) vs. RHP; .265(9-34) vs. LHP; .154(6-39) w/RISP
- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)
Jordan Kreke
- Is 2-9 in his last 3 games with 2 runs and 1 RBI
- Batting .258(8-31) at home; .148(4-27) on road
- Batting .234(11-47) vs. RHP; .091(1-11) vs. LHP; 0-15 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
- Has 7-game hit streak, 11-30 with 1 walk, 1 double, 1 triple, 5 runs and 2 RBIs
- Has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games, .413 OBP, .343 avg. - longest such streak by a Hook this season
- CC's defensive player of the month in April (47 PO, 56 A, 0 E)
- Batting .303(33-109) vs. RHP; .326(14-43) vs. LHP; .395(17-43) w/RISP
- Played just 6 games in the three-year period 2009-11
Ryan McCurdy
- Went 1-9 in Midland series with 1 walk, 1 run and 1 RBI
- Was 5-19 on road trip with 3 walks, 1 double, 2 runs and 4 RBIs
- Batting .314(11-35) vs. RHP; 0-9 vs. LHP; .267(4-15) w/RISP
- Had played just 2 games w/ Lancaster this season, was 2-3 with 1 HBP
Andy Simunic
- Has 4-game hit streak, 5-16 with 1 walk and 1 run
- Hits in 8 of the last 9 games, 12-35 with 2 walks, 1 HBP and 6 runs
- His 6 assists at 3B last night tied his season high at that position
- Batting .326(30-92) vs. RHP; .154(4-26) vs. LHP; .212(7-33) w/RISP
- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 11 DPs in 1,369 plate appearances
Jon Singleton
- Has 7-game hit streak, 10-28 with 3 walks, 2 doubles, 5 runs and 4 RBIs
- Is 12-37 in the last 10 games with 7 walks, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 7 runs and 9 RBIs
- Batting .347(34-98) vs. RHP; .204(10-49) vs. LHP; .317(13-41) w/RISP
- Has started 29 games at 1B; 11 games in LF
- Ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros system
T.J. Steele
- Clubbed CC's first pinch-hit HR of the season April 29 at Frisco
- Went 2-10 on road trip with 1 run
- Batting .167(7-42) vs. RHP; .111(3-27) vs. LHP; .190(4-21) w/RISP
- Fifth on the Hooks all-time stolen base chart with 31
J.C. Thompson
- Pinch-hit, RBI double in the 9th last Thursday night a first for the Hooks this season
- Is 2-15(.133) in May with 1 double, 1 run and 1 RBI
- Hit .273-10-46 in 87 games last year with Lancaster and CC
Jonathan Villar
- Has 4-game hit streak, 7-18 with 1 HR, 4 runs and 4 RBIs
- Hits in 9 of his last 10 games, 14-40 with 3 walks, 1 double, 1 HR, 8 runs and 7 RBIs
- Tied for the league lead with 18 stolen bases
- Batting .243(26-107) vs. RHP; .255(13-51) vs. LHP; .289(13-45) w/RISP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Austin Wates
- Has 4-game hit streak, 5-18 with 1 double, 4 runs and 2 RBIs
- Has reached base safely in 9 straight games, 11-36 with 2 walks, 2 HBPs, 8 runs and 4 RBIs
- Tied for the league lead with 53 hits
- Batting .320(41-128) vs. RHP; .245(12-49) vs. LHP; .359(14-39) w/RISP
- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories
BULLPEN REPORT
Starters: 11-19, 4.93 ERA, 231.2 IP, 271 H, 30 HR, 88 BB, 183 K, .288 AVG
Relievers: 9-6, 4.52 ERA, 163.1 IP, 164 H, 18 HR, 81 BB, 149 K, .262 AVG
Erick Abreu
- Earned first save Monday at Midland, setting down all 4 batters faced - 2 on Ks
- Has not yielded a run or a hit over last 5 appearances (5.1 IP)
- Is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 starts / 4-0 with a 4.97 ERA in 13 G out of the pen
- His 9 HR allowed rank second 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 strikeouts (259)...ranks 2nd in IP (291.1) & G (106)
Kevin Chapman
- Touched for 2 R on 1 H and 1 BB over 1.2 IP Monday at Midland
- Has yielded 4 R (3 ER) over last 2 appearances (3.0 IP)
- 12 of his 18 outings have been of the scoreless variety
- Holding lefties to a .206 batting average (7x34), 2 RBIs, 8 BB, 15 K
- K/9 IP ratio of 11.22 ranks second 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
- Allowed inherited runners to score and a bases-loaded walk and HBP Monday at MID
- Has yielded an ER in 5 of last 7 appearances (7 ER / 12.1 IP)
- 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
- Tossed 2 shutout frames Sunday at Midland
- Had surrendered a run in each of his 6 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
- Notched 5th save in as many chances on Saturday at Midland
- Has not allowed a run in last 7 app (8.2 IP)...13 of his 16 outings overall
- Ranks 3rd among TL relievers in average (.164) & fewest runners per 9 (7.91)
- 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
- Fashioned a perfect 5th Sunday at Midland...first appearance since April 27
- Activated Saturday after spending the bulk of the month on the disabled list
- 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 4.50 ERA in 5 appearances: 10 H, 3 HR, 3 BB, 4 K, 12.0 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
- Walked 1 & hurled 2 WP before recording the final 2 outs last night (2 of 3 IR scored)
- Tagged for 5 R on 4 H in a 1/3 of a frame Sunday at Midland
- Surrendered a grand slam to Ali Solis last Wednesday at SA
- 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 May 24, 2012
- Cardinals Fall in 12 to San Antonio 3-2 - Springfield Cardinals
- Missions Walk Off Winners 3-2 - San Antonio Missions
- RockHounds Walk on Bye - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers Blanked by Frisco's Grimm - Tulsa Drillers
- Grimm Wins Seventh Game - Frisco RoughRiders
- Nine-Run Third Inning Lifts Hooks to 13-4 Win - Arkansas Travelers
- Game Notes, May 24 vs. Arkansas - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Betancourt To Begin Rehab Assignment - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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