Game Notes, May 25 vs. Arkansas
Published on May 25, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Arkansas (19-27) @ Corpus Christi (21-25)
The Hooks equaled a franchise record for most runs in an inning en route to a 13-4 thumping of Arkansas here last night. Corpus Christi's nine-run bottom half of the third was highlighted by catcher Ryan McCurdy's grand slam home run - the first slam for the Hooks this season and the first home run of any kind for McCurdy in the pro ranks. Jose Martinez provided a two-run double in the frame while Jon Singleton produced runs in two separate at-bats, with an RBI single his first time up and a two-run home run to cap the stanza.
Jarred Cosart battled his way through a 12-hit barrage over seven innings to get his third win. He was charged with four earned runs and struck out six. The Hooks have won three in a row and four of their last five. The three-game winning streak is the longest in the Texas League right now.
Tonight's Matchup:
RHP A.J. Schugel (2-4, 3.04) vs. RHP Ross Seaton (3-3, 3.48)
Schugel, a 25th-round pick of the Angels in 2010 out of Central Arizona College, makes his 10th start this season and his first against the Hooks. Last Saturday at home against Northwest Arkansas, Schugel held the Naturals to a run on four hits over five innings in a 7-3 win. He managed to navigate his way through a season-high five walks while striking out three. Schugel has been very consistent for the Travelers in this his first year at the AA level. He has not given up more than four runs in any start and has rounded into form over four outings this month, going 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA. Last year, Schugel split his time between Cedar Rapids of the Midwest League and Inland Empire of the California League, going a combined 5-5 with 1 save and a 3.03 ERA.
- Holding TL hitters to a .233 average
- Has worked a minimum of 5.0 innings in all 9 of his starts
- His 3.04 ERA ranks ninth in the Texas League
Seaton, a third-round selection of the Astros in the 2008 draft, makes his ninth start for the Hooks and his first against the Travelers. Saturday at Midland, Seaton finished strong, retiring the last eight men he faced to earn a 5-4 win over the Hounds. He gave up four runs, two earned, on seven hits and four walks over seven innings. The effort marked the third time this season Seaton has gone as deep as seven innings. In five starts since returning from AAA Oklahoma City, Seaton is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA. Seaton led the Hooks and the Texas League with 28 starts last season, posting the second-highest single-season total in team history. A valedictorian at Houston's Second Baptist High School his senior year, Seaton has not missed a turn in the rotation since July of 2009 when he pitched for Lexington - a span of 72 starts.
- Has not allowed more than 4 earned runs in any of his 8 starts with the Hooks
- Is making just his third start at home (1-1, 2.25 ERA) compared to six on the road (2-2, 3.94)
- Made AAA debut with OKC April 22 vs. Albuquerque (4.2-7-6-5-2-1, ND)
Slammin' it
McCurdy's first professional home run - his first HR since high school - was also Corpus Christi's first grand slam this season. The last Hook to hit a grand slam was Brandon Barnes, who socked one off Springfield's Scott Schneider here at Whataburger Field last August 20. McCurdy's blast to the berm in left was the 10th grand slam in the league this year and leaves two clubs in the loop still searching for their first (Arkansas and Springfield). The Travs, by the way, have been victimized by four of those 10 slams.
McCurdy is the 18th player in franchise history to hit a grand slam. It's the 23rd slam in club history and the 14th hit here at Whataburger Field.
Nine is enough
The Hooks have had their fair share of big offensive innings this season. Prior to last night, the Hooks had tallied seven runs in an inning on three occasions. But the nine-run outburst in the third last night is now something that has happened just twice in the eight-year history of the franchise.
Last night's accomplishment equaled that of the 2007 club, which scored nine runs in the top of the fifth on April 22 that year at Frisco. Jonny Ash, Neil Sellers, Noochie Varner, Ray Sadler, Kevin Davidson, Tim Raines, Jr. and Drew Sutton all had RBI hits in the frame, with Sellers bringing in two with a double. The Hooks had eight hits in the inning - four singles and four doubles. Corpus Christi won that game 14-11 as the nine-run fifth erased Frisco's 8-1 lead. The big inning followed manager Dave Clark's ejection after a disputed call in the top of the fourth.
Martinez and Singleton each had two hits in the third last night. Martinez doubled twice while Singleton singled and homered. Five years ago, Raines was the only player to muster two hits (a single and a double) in the nine-run stanza.
Wates back in lineup
Hooks outfielder Austin Wates was removed from last night's game shortly after being hit by a pitch near his left knee in the bottom of the third. He was replaced later in the frame by pinch runner T.J. Steele.
Wates, who had not been hit by a pitch in his first 38 games this season, spanning 159 at-bats, has now been hit three times in his last six games, including both games of this series. Two of the three plunkings have resulted in his removal from the game.
Martinez OB streak hits 19
Hooks second baseman Jose Martinez has stretched his consecutive games on-base streak to 19. During the streak, which began May 4 in Midland, Martinez is batting .361 and has an on-base percentage of .425.
His streak is the longest this season for a member of the club and is currently the third-longest active streak in the Texas League. Frisco shortstop Jurickson Profar (42 games) and Midland outfielder Conner Crumbliss (22) also carry streaks into tonight's action.
Pitching Rotation vs. Springfield
Saturday: RHP Trevor Rosenthal (3-4, 2.81) vs. RHP Jose Cisnero (2-5, 5.59)
Sunday: RHP Seth Maness (1-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Brett Oberholtzer (2-2, 5.36)
Monday: RHP Richard Castillo (1-0, 1.93) vs. RHP Jake Buchanan (2-3, 5.40)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Brandon Barnes
- Has 4-game hit streak, 6-16 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 runs and 4 RBIs
- Hits in 9 of his last 10 games, 14-39 with 5 doubles, 1 HR, 6 runs and 6 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 .313(35-112) 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 7 of the last 8 games, 9-28 with 6 walks, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 6 runs and 6 RBIs
- Has 11 RBIs in the last 15 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 .223(25-112) vs. RHP; .375(15-40) vs. LHP; .333(13-39) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
- Is 0-9 in his last 3 games with 3 walks and 7 Ks
- Hitting .111(6-54) in May with 9 walks and 5 RBIs
- Batting .242(16-66) at home; .167(10-60) on the road
- Batting .185(17-92) vs. RHP; .265(9-34) vs. LHP; .146(6-41) 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 8-game hit streak, 14-35 with 1 walk, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 runs and 5 RBIs
- Has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games, .425 OBP, .361 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 .316(36-114) vs. RHP; .326(14-43) vs. LHP; .400(18-45) w/RISP
- Played just 6 games in the three-year period 2009-11
Ryan McCurdy
- Is 7-21 in his last 7 games with 2 walks, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 8 RBIs
- Grand slam last night his first pro HR (in portions of 3 seasons has played in 72 games and has 181 at-bats)
- Batting .333(13-39) 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 4 of the last 5 games, 5-20 with 1 walk and 1 run
- In his last 19 games, all at 3B and SS, has 15 POs, 43 assists and 0 errors
- Batting .313(30-96) vs. RHP; .154(4-26) vs. LHP; .206(7-34) w/RISP
- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 11 DPs in 1,373 plate appearances
Jon Singleton
- Has 8-game hit streak, 14-33 with 3 walks, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 8 runs and 8 RBIs
- Is 16-42 in the last 11 games with 7 walks, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 10 runs and 13 RBIs
- Batting .369(38-103) vs. RHP; .204(10-49) vs. LHP; .364(16-44) w/RISP
- Has started 30 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
- Batting .159(7-44) 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 May 17 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 5-game hit streak, 9-23 with 1 HR, 6 runs and 4 RBIs
- Hits in 10 of his last 11 games, 16-45 w/3 walks, 1 double, 1 HR, 10 runs and 7 RBIs
- Second in the league with 18 stolen bases
- Batting .250(28-112) vs. RHP; .255(13-51) vs. LHP; .283(13-46) w/RISP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Austin Wates
- Has 5-game hit streak, 6-20 with 2 doubles, 5 runs and 2 RBIs
- Has reached base safely in 10 straight games, 12-38 with 2 walks, 3 HBPs, 9 runs and 4 RBIs
- Tied for the league lead with 54 hits
- Batting .323(42-130) 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: 12-19, 4.94 ERA, 238.2 IP, 30 HR, 90 BB, 189 K, .292 AVG
Relievers: 9-6, 4.46 ERA, 165.1 IP, 18 HR, 81 BB, 151 K, .260 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
- Struck out 2 in a perfect 8th last night
- 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 3 appearances (4.0 IP)
- 13 of his 19 outings have been of the scoreless variety
- Holding lefties to a .200 batting average (7x35), 2 RBIs, 8 BB, 15 K
- K/9 IP ratio of 11.51 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 2nd among TL relievers in average (.164) & 3rd in 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
- Retired the Travs in 1-2-3 fashion in the 9th last night
- 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 4.15 ERA in 6 appearances: 10 H, 3 HR, 3 BB, 4 K, 13.0 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 25, 2012
- Hooks Finish Sweep over Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Beat Missions 3-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Cards Top Missions 3-1, Take Series - San Antonio Missions
- Naturals Stop Skid - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Game Notes, May 25 vs. Arkansas - Corpus Christi Hooks
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