Midland (34-24, 71-57) @ Corpus Christi (26-32, 57-71)

Collin DeLome’s line-drive home run to the berm in left gave the Hooks a dramatic 6-5 win over the RockHounds last night, snapping Corpus Christi’s four-game skid.  DeLome’s blast, his 19th this year, came with one out in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Hooks their fourth walk-off win this season.  DeLome finished the evening 2-for-4 with two RBI’s.  Jonathan Fixler socked a solo homer in the third and Jimmy Van Ostrand clubbed a two-run shot in the sixth.

Evan Englebrook picked up his second win despite surrendering an unearned run in the top of the ninth.  Starter Sergio Perez allowed four runs, but only one earned run, in his 6.2 innings of work.  Ryan McKeller retired the four batters he faced as the bridge between Perez and Englebrook.

The Hooks had lost five in a row to Midland before DeLome’s heroics.              

Tonight’s Matchup:  RHP Kyle Middleton (3-1, 2.63) vs. LHP Tyler Lumsden (1-2, 5.65)

Middleton, whose independent league contract was purchased in July by the Oakland A’s, makes his seventh start since joining the RockHounds and his third against the Hooks.  Saturday at Citibank Ballpark against Tulsa, Middleton had his first rough outing with the Hounds, charged with six earned runs on eight hits over five innings in a 6-1 loss.  In his first five starts for the Hounds, Middleton went 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA.  In his two starts against the Hooks, Middleton is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA, working eight innings in each outing.  The former Hook, who owns the club’s single-season saves record (23 in 2007), had been pitching in his hometown for the Pensacola (Fla.) Pelicans of the American Association, where he was 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA in 13 starts.                         

·        Appeared in 50 games in relief for the Hooks in 2007 and 2008, going 3-2 with 26 saves and a 3.47 ERA

·        Tied with Jailen Peguero for the Hooks’ career saves record (26)

·        In 10 seasons of organized ball (Royals, Astros, A’s) is 58-54 with 29 saves and a 4.39 ERA (1,007.2 IP)

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 14th appearance and second start for the Hooks.  Saturday at Springfield, Lumsden’s first start was good, but not quite good enough.  He allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks over five innings in a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals.  In his last three appearances, Lumsden is 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA.  In four relief outings against the Hounds, Lumsden is 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA.  Lumsden opened the year with AAA 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

·        In five seasons of pro ball is 27-27 with 1 save and a 4.92 ERA (472.0 IP)

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

Burton to DL, Abad arrives

Hooks reliever T.J. Burton, who continues to undergo tests in the hospital, has been placed on the disabled list.  Burton was taken to the hospital yesterday afternoon after experiencing numbness in his arms and legs.  Hooks manager Luis Pujols did not know how much longer Burton would remain hospitalized, but teammates who visited him earlier in the day stated that Burton planned to listen to tonight’s game on the radio. 

Taking Burton’s spot on the roster is left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad, who comes to Corpus Christi from Lancaster of the California League.  In 41 games for the JetHawks, all in relief, Abad was 4-6 with 6 saves and a 4.14 ERA.  In 82.2 innings Abad had allowed 78 hits while issuing just 8 walks and notching 79 strikeouts.  Abad did not allow a run over his last four appearances, covering 9.2 innings.  In those four games he gave up six hits and a walk while striking out 14.

Everyone has a Storey

Well, at least the RockHounds do.  Right-handed pitcher Mickey Storey joins the Midland roster today, taking the spot left vacant when first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter received the call to AAA Sacramento. 

Storey’s season began in mid-May with Kane County in the Midwest League, where he was 0-0 with 9 saves and a 0.52 ERA in 13 relief appearances.  Called up to Stockton of the California League in late June, Storey was 1-1 with 9 saves for the Ports, posting a 2.28 ERA in 22 appearances.  He also made two appearances for AAA Sacramento earlier this month, not allowing a run or a hit over 3.0 innings while striking out four.

Overall this season with three clubs, Storey is 1-1 with 18 saves and a 1.43 ERA, with 7 walks and 62 strikeouts in 44.0 innings.

And speaking of Carter…he made his AAA debut last night with Sacramento, and went 3-for-5 with a double and 4 RBI’s to help the RiverCats smash Fresno 11-3.  Sacramento improved to a PCL-best 82-49 with the win.    

20 HR’s

DeLome’s homer last night gives him 19 for the season, one behind team leader Drew Locke.  If DeLome hits one more home run this season, it would mark just the second time in club history that the Hooks have had two players with 20 or more home runs in a season. 

The only occurrence to date came back in 2006, when Hunter Pence clubbed a team-high 28 HR’s and Mark Saccomanno added 20, despite missing the first two months of the season.  Josh Bonifay just missed the 20-HR club that year, checking in with 19.

Jimmy “Van Ruth” at it again

Jimmy Van Ostrand, or Jimmy “Van Ruth” as he is referred to by Midland broadcaster Bob Hards, clubbed his 15th homer of the year last night – his 10th against Midland. 

In 27 games this season against the RockHounds, Van Ostrand is batting .346 with 6 doubles, 10 HR’s and 34 RBI’s.  Put another way, 67% of his home runs and 51% of his RBI’s this season have come against Midland.

In 16 games at Citibank Ballpark this year, Van Ostrand batted .400(26x65) with 5 doubles, 8 HR’s, 14 runs and 25 RBI’s.  

Hitters update

Jason Castro has hits in 5 of his last 7 games, 9-for-29 with 1 double, 1 HR, 1 run and 6 RBI’s.

Jhon Florentino has a 3-game hitting streak, 4-for-13 with 1 run.

Drew Locke has a 7-game hitting streak, 17-for-30 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 6 runs and 5 RBI’s.  He also has hits in 13 of his last 14 games, 26-for-57 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR’s, 10 runs and 7 RBI’s.  Locke leads the Hooks with 47 multi-hit games, including each of the last seven.

Felix Molina has a 5-game hitting streak, 5-for-18 with 1 double, 2 HR’s, 3 runs and 5 RBI’s.

Wladimir Sutil is 3-for-9 with 1 double and 3 runs.

Jimmy Van Ostrand has hits in 12 of his last 14 games, 15-for-47 with 1 double, 3 HR’s, 5 runs and 10 RBI’s.

Pitching Rotation vs. Midland