Corpus Christi (28-34, 59-73) @ San Antonio (26-36, 65-67)

In one of the wildest games played between these two clubs in five years, the Hooks rallied from a 5-0, first-inning deficit to edge the Missions 11-10 last night at Wolff Municipal Stadium.  The result represented the second highest-scoring game between these two teams at the “Wolff” and the highest-scoring game played within the regulation nine innings.  Jimmy Van Ostrand paced Corpus Christi’s offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI’s.

Nick Moresi added a two-run double and Felix Molina tossed in a two-run triple for the Hooks, who scored in double figures for the 17th time this season.  Last night’s game also marked the 17th time this year the Hooks have given up 10 or more runs in a game, but the first time the Hooks have allowed that many runs and won the game.  Corpus Christi is now 14-3 when it scores in double digits; 1-16 when allowing at least 10 runs.                  

Tonight’s Matchup:  RHP Sergio Perez (10-10, 4.52) vs. RHP Will Inman (5-4, 3.42)

Perez, selected by the Astros in the second round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Tampa, makes his 26th start and his sixth against the Missions.  Last Wednesday at home against Midland, Perez allowed four runs, but only one earned run, over 6.2 innings, in Corpus Christi’s lone win in the series, 6-5.  Perez took just his fifth no-decision of the year, as the Hooks prevailed in walk-off fashion on a Collin DeLome home run.  Perez has for the most part pitched well down the stretch, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five August starts.  In five starts against the Missions, Perez is 2-2 with a 5.87 ERA.  As a hitter, Perez is 1-for-9 with 3 walks, 4 strikeouts and 2 sacrifice bunts.                       

·        Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 13 prospect in the Houston system

·        Has given up three or fewer earned runs in each of his last 7 starts

·        Is one of four pitchers in franchise history with at least 10 wins in a season (Hirsh, Albers, Miller)

·        Ranks sixth on the club’s all-time wins’ list with 12 (Hirsh, Trinidad, Van Hekken each with 13)

Inman, obtained by the Padres along with left-handed pitchers Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher in the July, 2007 deal that sent reliever Scott Linebrink to Milwaukee, makes his 14th start this season for the Missions and his third against the Hooks.  Inman pitched here Wednesday against Frisco and gave up just two runs over six innings and took a no-decision in San Antonio’s 4-3 loss.  In his last four starts, Inman is 0-3 with a 5.01 ERA.  Inman opened the year with the Missions and made eight starts before receiving a mid-May call to AAA Portland, where he went 1-4 with a 6.71 ERA in 12 starts for the Beavers.  At the plate, Inman is 1-for-8 with 3 strikeouts and 1 sacrifice bunt. 

·        In two starts against the Hooks (both at Whataburger Field) is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA

·        In 28 starts for San Antonio last year was 9-8 with a 3.52 ERA and led the TL with 140 K’s

·        Originally selected by the Brewers in the third round of the 2005 draft out of high school in Virginia, is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 18 prospect in the San Diego organization

Locke out for the season

The “for the season” refers to just eight games, but still the news is bad for a man who has had an incredible year here in Corpus Christi.  Hooks manager Luis Pujols reports that Drew Locke will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in the fourth inning of last night’s game.

With runners at first and third and nobody out in the top of the fourth, Missions reliever Stephen Faris threw a 2-2 pitch that hit Locke on his left hand.  Locke took his base, and later in the frame scored on Molina’s triple.  Locke played in right field in the bottom of the fourth, but when his turn to bat rolled around in the fifth, swelling in the hand forced him out of the lineup and he was replaced by pinch hitter Mark Ori.

Locke currently leads the Texas League with his .338 batting average and 109 RBI’s.  It is likely that Locke will win the league batting crown, since Midland’s Chris Carter (.337) was promoted to AAA Sacramento last Wednesday, and the next closest challengers are San Antonio’s Craig Cooper (.308) and Springfield’s Tyler Henley (.307).  Frisco’s Mitch Moreland (.326) is within striking distance, but enters play today 51 plate appearances shy of the minimum required to be considered among the league leaders.

Locke could finish first in RBI’s, where he has been for most of this season.  But Frisco’s Chad Tracy, the only player with a chance to catch Locke, now has 105 RBI’s and eight games left to play.

Locke this year set new Hooks single-season records for batting average (.338) and RBI’s (109).  He finishes the year three shy of Josh Anderson’s club record (173) for most hits in a single season.

In the unbelievably ironic stat of the year, Locke’s final act at the plate marked the first time – that is correct – the first time all year that Locke was hit by a pitch.  Almost equally hard to believe is the fact that for Faris, who has thrown 111.2 innings for the Missions, the plunking was just his second this season.

Locke, Sutil named to TL Post Season All-Star Team

Locke’s broken hand unfortunately overshadows the news that Locke and teammate Wladimir Sutil were selected to the Texas League’s 2009 Post Season All-Star Team in voting by league managers, broadcasters and beat writers.  The news was announced today by league president Tom Kayser.

Locke was one of three outfielders on the honor squad, along with Frisco’s Craig Gentry and Springfield’s Tyler Henley.  Sutil was selected as the league’s All-Star shortstop.

Locke becomes the fourth Hooks outfielder to receive such recognition, joining the history books with Hunter Pence (06), Josh Anderson (06) and Ray Sadler (07).  Sutil is the first shortstop in the club’s five-year history to be so honored.  Ben Zobrist was voted onto the 2006 squad as the utility infielder.

Voters selected Midland’s Chris Carter as the circuit’s Player of the Year and Tulsa’s Samuel Deduno as the loop’s Pitcher of the Year.  Darren Bush of Midland was chosen as the league’s Manager of the Year.

Sweep in San Antone?

In the club’s five-year history, the Hooks have swept the Missions just once at Wolff Municipal Stadium.  That four-game sweep took place June 9-12, 2007.  The Hooks won those games by scores of 5-0, 4-2, 2-1 (11) and 4-2.  Lifetime, the Hooks are 26-41 at Wolff Municipal.

Last hurrah for Castro, Van Ostrand

Losing Locke for the final week is bad enough, but after tonight, the Hooks will also be without the services of catcher Jason Castro and first baseman/designated hitter Jimmy Van Ostrand.  Castro and Van Ostrand both depart tomorrow for Cary, North Carolina, to join their respective teams for the upcoming IBAF Baseball World Cup.  Castro will play for Team USA, while Van Ostrand will play for Canada.

In 62 games for the Hooks, Castro is batting .294-3-29.  Van Ostrand has played 112 games and is hitting .283-16-70.  Castro, who spent the first two months of the season playing for Lancaster in the California League, finishes his regular season with overall numbers of .301-10-73.       

Hitters update

Jhon Florentino has hits in 6 of the last 7 games, 9-for-29 with 2 doubles, 3 runs and 2 RBI’s.

Felix Molina has hits in 7 of his last 8 games, 7-for-26 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR’s, 4 runs and 7 RBI’s.

Jimmy Van Ostrand has hits in 15 of his last 17 games, 19-for-58 with 1 double, 4 HR’s, 6 runs and 13 RBI’s.

Pitching Rotation at Frisco

Tuesday:  LHP Tyler Lumsden (1-3, 4.93) vs. TBA

Wednesday:  LHP Fernando Abad (0-1, 4.50) vs. LHP Michael Kirkman (5-7, 4.52)

Thursday:  LHP Douglas Arguello (3-4, 3.38) vs. RHP Blake Beavan (4-4, 4.07)