Corpus Christi (29-36, 60-75) @ Frisco (36-29, 69-66)

Fernando Abad and Erick Abreu combined for 10 innings of shutout pitching last night – and it wasn’t good enough.  Chad Tracy clubbed a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th to give Frisco a 1-0 win in the second game of this series.  Tracy’s heroics came two innings after he belted an apparent two-run walk-off homer near the left field foul pole.  The initial ruling of “fair ball” was reversed after the umpiring crew discussed the call at the behest of Hooks manager Luis Pujols.

Abad, in just his second start at the AA level, carried a no-hitter into the sixth.  He allowed one hit and one walk over six innings while striking out five.  Abreu struck out seven in his four innings on the hill, scattering four hits and a walk. 

The result was essentially vital for Frisco, moving the RoughRiders to within two games of first-place Midland in the Texas League South with five games remaining in the second half.

Tonight’s Matchup:  LHP Douglas Arguello (3-4, 3.38) vs. RHP Blake Beavan (4-4, 4.07)

Arguello, signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in December of 2001, makes his 14th and final start for the Hooks and his second against the RoughRiders.  Saturday in San Antonio, Arguello carried a shutout into the seventh and was the winning pitcher in Corpus Christi’s 4-3 triumph.  He allowed two runs on six hits over 6.1 innings while striking out six.  He threw 93 pitches in his longest outing since his return from the disabled list (strained left elbow).  In four starts since his return from the DL and a brief stint with Tri-City (1-1, 5.63, 3 starts) of the New York-Penn League, Arguello is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA.  In his lone start against Frisco at Whataburger Field April 24, Arguello held the Riders to a run over five innings but still suffered the loss in a 5-1 decision.        

·        Texas League Pitcher of the Week May 4-10 (complete-game win over Midland May 6)

·        Is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 6 road starts, with 29 hits and 16 walks in 28.1 innings

·        Was 10-6 with a 3.30 ERA for the Avalanche last season – his ERA ranked 3rd in the Carolina League

Beavan, selected by the Rangers in the first round (17th pick overall) of the 2007 draft out of Irving HS (Texas), makes his 15th start for the RoughRiders and his fourth against the Hooks.  Last Friday at San Antonio, Beavan blanked the Missions over seven innings to get his third win in his last four starts.  In fact, Beavan has put together back-to-back starts comprised of seven shutout frames, giving him 14 consecutive innings without allowing a run entering play tonight.  In his five August starts, Beavan went 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA.  In three starts against the Hooks, Beavan is 0-1 with a 3.44 ERA.  He started the season with Bakersfield in the California League, where in 12 starts he went 5-4 with a 4.30 ERA. 

·        Last year, went 10-6 with a 2.37 ERA in 23 starts for Clinton (as a 19-yr-old)

·        His 2.37 ERA ranked fourth in the Midwest League

·        Rated by Baseball America as the No. 12 prospect in the Rangers system

One-nothing

The Hooks have played five 1-0 games this season, winning three and losing two.  Last night’s game and the May 18 loss at home to San Antonio in 12 innings are two of the three longest 1-0 games played in Hooks history.  The longest was the 13-inning triumph over Midland on May 16, 2006 – the only 1-0 game played during the championship season.

The Hooks have played a total of 18 1-0 games in the club’s five-year history.  Corpus Christi played six 1-0 games in 2007, which stands as the most in any season.  Lifetime, the Hooks are 9-9 in 1-0 games.

Bonus baseball

Extra innings have not been kind to the Hooks this season.  The Hooks are 2-8 in extra-innings games; 0-4 on the road.  Last night, the Hooks were 1-for-7 at the plate in extra innings, with Collin DeLome’s two-out single in the 11th the only hit.

Getting’ guys out

Corpus Christi’s pitchers have posted an ERA of 0.47 in the first two games of this series.  The only earned run allowed over 19.1 innings was Tracy’s walk-off home run.

The bullpen has been especially sharp on this road trip.  In five games covering 22.0 innings, Corpus Christi’s pen has posted a 1.64 ERA, giving up just four earned runs.  Here’s a look at some recent numbers for some in the relief corps:

Abreu – has not allowed a run in his last 6 appearances (16.0 IP), with 10 hits, 5 walks and 15 K’s

Englebrook – in the month of August was 1-0 with 5 saves and a 1.59 ERA

Lo – has not allowed a run in his last 6 appearances (13.0 IP), with 8 hits, 5 walks and 16 K’s

Meszaros – has a 0.69 ERA in his last 6 appearances (1 ER in 13.0 IP)

Hitters update

Collin DeLome has a 3-game hitting streak, 4-for-13 with 1 triple, 1 run and 2 RBI’s.

Jonathan Fixler has hits in 3 of his last 5 games, 5-for-15 with 1 triple, 3 HR’s, 3 runs and 5 RBI’s.

Felix Molina has hits in 8 of his last 11 games, 8-for-36 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR’s, 5 runs and 7 RBI’s.

Nick Moresi has hits in 3 of the last 4 games, 3-for-14 with 2 doubles, 2 runs and 3 RBI’s.

Pitching Rotation at Frisco