Corpus Christi (25-28, 56-67) @ Springfield (23-29, 61-61)

Collin DeLome and Jason Castro each homered and knocked in three runs while Drew Locke added four hits in Corpus Christi’s 7-5 getaway-night win over Arkansas last night at Dickey-Stephens Park.  DeLome clubbed a three-run home run in the fifth to give the Hooks a 5-1 lead, then two batters later Castro slugged a two-run shot to make it 7-1.  Locke doubled twice and scored a pair of runs for the Hooks, who have won six of their last eight.

Sergio Perez (10-10) earned the win, with four runs allowed, three earned, on six hits and four walks over 5.2 innings.  Perez became the fourth pitcher in Hooks history to reach double figures in wins in a single season.  Chia-Jen Lo and Evan Englebrook combined for 3.1 innings of one-run relief (unearned run) to nail down the victory.  Englebrook picked up his sixth save in as many chances.

The Hooks now trail first-place Midland by seven games in the Texas League South with 17 left to play.              

Tonight’s Matchup:  LHP Tyler Lumsden (1-1, 6.08) vs. RHP Brandon Dickson (7-9, 3.68)

Lumsden, acquired by the Astros from the Royals in November of 2008 for a player-to-be-named-later (outfielder Jordan Parraz named in December, 2008), makes his 13th appearance and first start for the Hooks.  Lumsden fills the rotation spot that had been occupied by Andy Van Hekken, who received the call to AAA and starts tonight for Round Rock in its home game against Memphis.  In his last two outings, both at home, Lumsden has allowed one earned run on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings (1.93 ERA).  Tonight Lumsden faces Springfield for the first time and will also bat for the first time as a Hook (and this season).  Lumsden opened the year with Round Rock, where he was 0-0 with a 4.42 ERA in 14 relief appearances.                       

·        With AAA Omaha in 2008 went 3-13 with 1 save and a 7.21 ERA

·        His last start was for Omaha on August 28, 2008 in a home game against New Orleans (loss)

·        Originally drafted by the White Sox in the first round (sandwich pick) of the 2004 draft out of Clemson

Dickson, signed by the Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent in August of 2006, makes his 26th appearance and 18th start for Springfield.  Last Saturday at Whataburger Field, Dickson allowed five earned runs on 11 hits in 6.2 innings in a 5-2 loss to the Hooks.  DeLome went 2-for-3 against Dickson with a double, triple and three RBI’s.  Since his return to the rotation on July 24, Dickson is 1-3 in five starts with a 4.41 ERA.  In two outings and one start against the Hooks, Dickson is 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA.  At the plate, Dickson is 0-for-10 with 1 sacrifice bunt and 2 strikeouts.

·        Has had 3 shutout efforts of six or more innings (2 vs. Northwest Arkansas)

·        Ranks 10th in the Texas League in ERA (3.68) and fifth in innings pitched (129.2)

·        In 2007 went 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA for Quad Cities and was a Midwest League All-Star

10-win seasons

Perez made not have been at his best last night, but he survived to get the win, joining Jason Hirsh, Josh Miller and Matt Albers as the only pitchers in the five-year history of the franchise to earn at least 10 wins in a single season.

Hirsh won 13 games in 2005, while Miller (11) and Albers (10) racked up their totals during the 2006 championship season.  Perez now has 12 wins over two seasons with the Hooks, a total that ranks him sixth on the club’s all-time wins’ list.

Locke’s 4-hit night

In a season filled with offensive superlatives, Locke added to his resume last night with his sixth 4-hit game of the season and his seventh game with 4 or more hits.  Both are club records for a single season and on the Hooks’ career charts.  Josh Anderson had five games with 4 or more hits in his two seasons with the Hooks.  Locke raised his batting average for the season to .333, just two points behind league-leader Chris Carter of Midland.

Locke and the RBI race

Locke does not have an RBI in the last five games, which equals his longest RBI drought of the year, and has just 1 RBI in the last eight games.  His 103 RBI’s continue to lead the Texas League, with Frisco’s Chad Tracy at 98 and Midland’s Chris Carter at 96.

Locke remains third in the minors in RBI’s.  The top three players in the minor leagues in RBI’s are:

-         Koby Clemens (Lancaster) – 111

-         Randy Ruiz (Las Vegas) – 106

-         Drew Locke (Corpus Christi) – 103

Hitters update

Jason Castro has a 3-game hitting streak, 5-for-13 with 1 HR, 1 run and 4 RBI’s.

Collin DeLome has a 4-game hitting streak, 7-for-18 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 3 runs and 7 RBI’s.

Drew Locke has hits in 15 of the last 18 games, 29-for-75 with 7 doubles, 3 HR’s, 14 runs and 8 RBI’s.

Drew Meyer has hits in 4 of his last 5 games, 7-for-17 with 4 runs and 1 RBI.

Jimmy Van Ostrand has a 10-game hitting streak, 13-for-35 with 1 double, 2 HR’s, 4 runs and 7 RBI’s.

Pitching Rotation at Springfield

Sunday:  RHP Wilton Lopez (4-4, 4.79) vs. LHP Nick Additon (1-2, 3.68)

Monday:  LHP Douglas Arguello (2-4, 3.30) vs. RHP Trey Hearne (10-3, 3.06)