Game Notes, May 27 vs. Springfield
Published on May 27, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Springfield (22-26) @ Corpus Christi (23-25)
Jonathan Villar has a flair for the dramatic. And maybe a little "thing" for the Cardinals. Villar stepped to the plate with one out in the ninth last night and crushed a pitch to the berm in right-center for a walk-off home run and a 6-5 Hooks victory in the opening game of this series. Corpus Christi's second walk-off win this season was eerily reminiscent of the first meeting between these two clubs at Whataburger Field last year, which also happened to be Villar's AA debut with the Hooks. On June 1 last year, Villar clubbed a walk-off homer into the Hooks' pen to give Corpus Christi a 6-5 win over the Cardinals.
Jon Singleton and Jose Martinez both extended their hitting streak to 10 games while catcher Chris Wallace returned from the disabled list to go 3-for-3 with a double. Singleton has homered in each of the last three games and has knocked in 12 runs so far this home stand. Last night's result gives the Hooks five wins in a row - equaling the club's longest winning streak this season.
Today's Matchup:
RHP Trevor Rosenthal (3-4, 2.81) vs. LHP Brett Oberholtzer (2-2, 5.36)
Rosenthal, a 21st-round selection of the Cardinals in 2009 out of Cowley County (KS) Community College, makes his 10th start this season and his first against the Hooks. In his most recent outing last Sunday at home against Tulsa, Rosenthal tossed seven shutout innings for naught, as the Drillers rallied for three in the eighth to nip the Cards 3-2. Rosenthal limited the Drillers to four hits and a pair of walks while striking out four. Currently fifth in the league in ERA, Rosenthal has not allowed more than three runs in any of his last seven starts, going 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in that stretch. He also ranks second in the loop in opponents' batting average (.194).
- Has a 1.23 GO/AO ratio and has not allowed a HR in his last 7 starts
- Dominant at Hammons Field (2-1, 1.23 ERA in 4 starts) but average on the road (1-3, 4.15 ERA in 5 starts)
- Spent all last season with Quad Cities in the Midwest League, going 7-7 with a 4.11 ERA in 22 starts
Oberholtzer, acquired by the Astros last July in the Michael Bourn deal with Atlanta, makes his ninth start for the Hooks and his first against the Cardinals. This past Monday at Midland, Oberholtzer recorded a season-high nine strikeouts over six shutout innings to get a 5-2 win over the RockHounds. He scattered eight hits and a walk during his 112-pitch performance - the most pitches he's thrown in a start this year. The lefty has been fairly dependable in four May starts (1-1, 4.07 ERA). 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 1.69 GO/AO ratio in 8 starts with the Hooks
- Made his AAA debut for OKC at Albuquerque April 30 (5.1-7-4-4-1-3, L)
- Has allowed 8 HRs in 45.1 innings with the Hooks (just 19 HRs allowed in 395.0 IP in first 4 yrs. as a pro)
Barnes to AAA
In the wake of the Justin Ruggiano trade to Miami, outfielder Brandon Barnes has been reassigned to Oklahoma City to fill the void created by Ruggiano's departure. Barnes, who hit his seventh homer of the season here last night and has hit safely in six straight games, leaves after playing 44 games with the Hooks this season. In those 44 games, Barnes batted .317 (52x164) with a league-best 20 doubles, 7 HRs and 31 RBIs. He also had 7 stolen bases.
In portions of three seasons with the Hooks, Barnes hit .289 (112x388) with 33 doubles, 15 HRs, 59 RBIs and 13 SBs.
Barnes' promotion leaves the Hooks at 24 on the active roster for today's game.
Five-game winning streak
The Hooks have equaled their longest winning streak of the season and in so doing have posted some solid numbers both on offense and on the hill. The Hooks are batting .348 (63x181) during the streak with 9 doubles and 11 HRs, scoring 40 runs (8 runs per game). The Hooks have hit 3 HRs in each of the last three games (a first this year) and have homered in four straight for the second time this year (April 23-26). The Hooks, by the way, have clubbed 31 of their 40 home runs this season here at Whataburger Field.
Corpus Christi pitchers have posted a 3.00 ERA during the streak, limiting the opposition to 44 hits and 9 walks in 45.0 innings while recording 40 strikeouts. The team's ERA has dropped from 4.87 to 4.67 in the last five games. Starters (2.97 ERA) and relievers (3.09 ERA) are contributing equally to the club's success.
With two five-game winning streaks this season, it's natural to ask when the club's last six-game winning streak occurred. You have to turn the clock back to the 2007 campaign to find the last time the Hooks won six games in a row. From July 16-21 that season, the Hooks won six straight against Midland. That's right, all six came against the RockHounds, as the two clubs played a back-to-back, home-and-road series. That streak began with three wins here at home against the Hounds, followed by three wins to start the return series at Midland.
No walks
Last night's game was a first. It was the first game this season involving the Hooks in which there were no walks. None. For either side.
It's the fourth time this season that Hooks pitchers have not issued a walk. The Hooks are 3-1 in games where they do not walk an opposing batter. Likewise, the Hooks are 3-1 when their hitters fail to draw a walk.
Martinez OB streak hits 21
Hooks second baseman Jose Martinez has stretched his consecutive games on-base streak to 21. During the streak, which began May 4 in Midland, Martinez is batting .346 and has an on-base percentage of .404.
His streak is the longest this season for a member of the club and is currently the second-longest active streak in the Texas League. Frisco shortstop Jurickson Profar has reached base safely in 44 straight games. Martinez has also tied a couple of former Hooks for the eighth-longest consecutive games on-base streak in team history. His 21-gamer equals those of former infielder Drew Meyer (May 28-June 19, 2009) and catcher Hector Gimenez (June 23-July 19, 2005).
Pitching Rotation vs. Springfield
Monday: RHP Richard Castillo (1-0, 1.93) vs. RHP Jake Buchanan (2-3, 5.40)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
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 9 of the last 10 games, 13-36 with 6 walks, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 8 runs and 6 RBIs
- Has 3-game hit streak, 5-11 with 1 double, 3 runs and 1 RBI
- 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 .244(29-119) vs. RHP; .366(15-41) vs. LHP; .325(13-40) w/RISP
Kody Hinze
- Is 0-14 in his last 5 games with 3 walks and 8 Ks
- Hitting .102(6-59) in May with 9 walks and 5 RBIs
- Batting .225(16-71) at home; .167(10-60) on the road
- Batting .177(17-96) vs. RHP; .257(9-35) vs. LHP; .143(6-42) w/RISP
- Ranked 4th last year in the minors in walks (94) and 15th in OPS (.961)
Jordan Kreke
- Is 2-10 in his last 4 games with 2 runs and 1 RBI
- Batting .250(8-32) at home; .148(4-27) on road
- Batting .229(11-48) 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 10-game hit streak, 16-44 with 1 walk, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 9 runs and 5 RBIs
- Has reached base safely in 21 consecutive games, .404 OBP, .346 avg. - longest such streak by a Hook this season and tied for eighth-longest in franchise history
- CC's defensive player of the month in April (47 PO, 56 A, 0 E)
- Batting .311(38-122) vs. RHP; .318(14-44) vs. LHP; .360(18-50) w/RISP
- Played just 6 games in the three-year period 2009-11
Ryan McCurdy
- Is 7-24 in his last 8 games with 2 walks, 1 HBP, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 3 runs and 8 RBIs
- Grand slam Friday night his first pro HR (in portions of 3 seasons has played in 72 games and has 181 at-bats)
- Batting .310(13-42) 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 6 of the last 7 games, 7-27 with 2 walks, 3 runs and 1 RBI
- In his last 21 games, all at 3B and SS, has 16 POs, 46 assists and 0 errors
- Batting .311(32-103) vs. RHP; .154(4-26) vs. LHP; .211(8-38) w/RISP
- In five pro seasons has bounced into just 11 DPs in 1,381 plate appearances
Jon Singleton
- Has 10-game hit streak, 18-41 with 3 walks, 2 doubles, 4 HRs, 11 runs and 15 RBIs
- Is 20-50 in the last 13 games with 7 walks, 2 doubles, 5 HRs, 13 runs and 20 RBIs
- Is 10-17 this home stand with 1 double, 4 HRs, 8 runs and 12 RBIs
- In his last 5 games at home is 12-20 with 5 HRs and 16 RBIs
- Ranks second in the league in hitting (.325), RBIs (35) and OBP (.426) while leading the circuit in runs (34)
- Batting .382(42-110) vs. RHP; .200(10-50) vs. LHP; .375(18-48) w/RISP
- Has started 32 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
Jonathan Villar
- Has 7-game hit streak, 14-33 with 2 HRs, 9 runs and 6 RBIs
- Hits in 12 of his last 13 games, 21-55 w/3 walks, 1 double, 2 HRs, 13 runs and 9 RBIs
- Second in the league with 19 stolen bases
- Batting .264(32-121) vs. RHP; .269(14-52) vs. LHP; .292(14-48) w/RISP
- Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Astros system
Chris Wallace
- Returned from DL last night to go 3-for-3, his first 3-hit game this season
- Batting .250(11-44) vs. RHP; .190(4-21) vs. LHP; .227(5-22) w/RISP
- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year
- Only Hook to club two grand slams last season (July 3 and July 12)
Austin Wates
- Is 5-16 this home stand with 2 doubles, 2 HBPs and 3 runs
- Tied for second in the league with 56 hits
- Batting .314(44-140) vs. RHP; .245(12-49) vs. LHP; .350(14-40) w/RISP
- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories
BULLPEN REPORT
Starters: 13-19, 4.85 ERA, 250.2 IP, 32 HR, 92 BB, 199 K, .288 AVG
Relievers: 10-6, 4.41 ERA, 171.1 IP, 18 HR, 81 BB, 154 K, .259 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 third 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
- Worked a scoreless 9th last night to pick up third victory of the season
- Struck out 2 in a perfect 8th Thursday night
- 14 of his 20 outings have been of the scoreless variety
- Holding lefties to a .184 batting average (7x38), 2 RBIs, 8 BB, 16 K
- K/9 IP ratio of 11.03 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
- Faced the minimum thanks to a double play in the 8th Friday night
- Allowed inherited runners to score and a bases-loaded walk and HBP Monday at MID
- Has yielded an ER in 5 of last 8 appearances (7 ER / 13.1 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
- Charged with 3 R, 2 coming on Shaffer's 2B, in the 6th last night, part of a 5-run frame
- Tossed 2 shutout innings Sunday at Midland
- Has surrendered a run in 7 of his 8 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
- Worked a scoreless ninth Friday night
- Notched 5th save in as many chances on Saturday at Midland
- Has not allowed a run in last 8 app (9.2 IP)...14 of his 17 outings overall
- Stands 2nd among TL relievers in average (.169) & 3rd in fewest runners per 9 (7.97)
- 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 Thursday night
- Worked a perfect 5th Sunday at Midland...first appearance since April 27
- Activated last 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
- Yielded just 1 hit and struck out a batter over two frames last night
- Walked 1 & hurled 2 WP before recording the final 2 outs Thursday (2 of 3 IR scored)
- Tagged for 5 R on 4 H in a 1/3 of a frame last 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 27, 2012
- Testa Forces Memorial Day Rubber Match - Frisco RoughRiders
- Testa, Naturals Top Roughriders - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Fourth Inning Dooms Missions, Lose 5-3 to Travs - San Antonio Missions
- Cardinals Blast Hooks 10-1 - Springfield Cardinals
- Game Notes, May 27 vs. Springfield - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Rally in Fourth, Hold on for Win - Arkansas Travelers
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