Corpus Christi (27-34, 58-73) @ San Antonio (26-35, 65-66)

Douglas Arguello picked up his first win for the Hooks since June 1 and Drew Locke posted his 109th RBI of the season as Corpus Christi edged San Antonio 4-3 last night in the opener of this three-game series.  Arguello (3-4) carried a four-hit shutout into the seventh and finished with two runs allowed on six hits over 6.1 innings.  He struck out six and did not issue a walk, this after walking eight in his two prior starts. 

Locke gave the Hooks a 1-0 lead with his RBI single in the first.  With every RBI, Locke establishes a new single-season franchise record.  Ray Sadler’s RBI double later in the first made it 2-0 Hooks, and in the sixth, Jhon Florentino provided a big lift with a two-run double to the gap in left-center for a 4-0 bulge.                

Tonight’s Matchup:  RHP Kenny Baugh (4-3, 4.26) vs. LHP Cory Luebke (3-2, 2.58)

Baugh, signed by the Astros as a free agent July 4, makes his 11th start for the Hooks and his second against the Missions.  Tuesday at Whataburger Field, Baugh issued a season-high six walks in an 11-6 loss to Midland.  He allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits over five innings.  Baugh had not doled out more than three walks in any of his eight prior starts.  In his lone start against the Missions July 29 at Whataburger Field, Baugh gave up just one unearned run over six innings to beat San Antonio 8-1.  Originally a first-round pick of the Tigers in the 2001 draft out of Rice, Baugh opened this season pitching for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League.  In 13 starts, Baugh was 6-3 with a 4.52 ERA.  At the plate, Baugh is 0-for-2 with 1 strikeout.          

·        In 2008 pitched for both Albuquerque (3-1, 5.65) and Southern Maryland (2-1, 2.92)

·        Had his best season in 2005 with Toledo, going 12-8 with a 3.38 ERA (ranked 5th in the IL)

·        Played for Luis Pujols in Erie in 2001 (1-3, 2.97 in 5 starts)

Luebke, a supplemental first-round pick of the Padres in the 2007 draft out of Ohio State, makes his ninth start for the Missions and his first against the Hooks.  Tuesday here at Wolff Municipal, Luebke allowed just two runs on six hits over six innings while striking out nine (his Texas League high), but suffered the loss as the Missions fell to Frisco 5-1.  Following a rough year in 2008 in the California League, Luebke returned to Lake Elsinore with a vengeance this season, going 8-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 14 starts.  Luebke is 1-for-8 as a hitter with 4 strikeouts and 1 sacrifice bunt.    

·        Is 0-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 4 starts at Wolff Municipal Stadium

·        Fanned 11 over 8.0 innings in a no-decision vs. Bakersfield June 15

·        Went 6-9 with a 5.12 ERA last year between Lake Elsinore (3-6, 6.84) and Fort Wayne

Chasing Josh

Locke, who has already established personal career bests in at-bats (501), hits (169), home runs (20), RBI’s (109) and walks (46), is within reach of Josh Anderson’s franchise record for most hits (173) in a single season, set in 2006. 

Locke’s two hits last night give him a team-leading 48 multi-hit games this season.

Abreu returns

Right-handed pitcher Erick Abreu returned to the Hooks last night from AAA Round Rock, where in six appearances and five starts he was 2-2 with a 7.90 ERA.  His best performance for the Express came in his second outing and first start August 4 at Oklahoma City.  He blanked the RedHawks over 5.2 innings to get his first AAA win (4-0). 

Last night, Abreu tossed an inning of shutout relief, giving up two hits.  In 24 games and one start for the Hooks, Abreu is 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA.

Mixin’ it up at the “Wolff”

In a ballpark that has provided more than its fair share of nightmares for the Hooks, Corpus Christi is even with San Antonio this year at Wolff Municipal Stadium.  The Hooks improved to 6-6 at this facility this season, with two games left in the series.

During the first four years in this rivalry, the Hooks were just 19-35 at Wolff Municipal.

Success vs. southpaws

The Hooks have fared much better against left-handed starters (18-15) compared to right-handed starters (40-58) this season.  The batting averages also bear out the fact that the Hooks do better against lefties (.280) than they do against righties (.260).       

Hitters update

Jhon Florentino has hits in 5 of the last 6 games, 6-for-24 with 2 doubles, 1 run and 2 RBI’s.

Drew Locke has hits in 8 of his last 10 games, 19-for-40 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 6 runs and 6 RBI’s.  The games in which he has hits are all multi-hit games.   

Felix Molina has hits in 6 of his last 7 games, 6-for-22 with 1 double, 2 HR’s, 3 runs and 5 RBI’s.

Jimmy Van Ostrand has hits in 14 of his last 16 games, 17-for-54 with 1 double, 3 HR’s, 5 runs and 10 RBI’s.

Pitching Rotation at San Antonio