San Antonio (29-39, 68-70) @ Corpus Christi (30-38, 61-77)

Chad Spann’s pinch-hit, RBI single in the bottom of the seventh snapped a 1-all tie and spurred the Hooks to a 3-1 win over the Missions in last night’s series opener.  The RBI was Spann’s first this season for the Hooks in 58 at-bats.  Wladimir Sutil followed with a run-scoring single to left to make it a 3-1 game. 

Sergio Perez earned his 11th win of the season by limiting the Missions to a run on three hits over seven innings.  He also contributed on offense with a leadoff double in the sixth, coming around to score Corpus Christi’s first run.

The Hooks leveled the season series with the Missions at 13 games apiece.  San Antonio won 10 of 14 in the first half, but the Hooks have taken 9 of 12 this half.

Tonight’s Matchup:  LHP Nathan Culp (7-9, 4.23) vs. LHP Tyler Lumsden (2-3, 4.31)

Culp, selected by the Padres in the fourth round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Missouri, makes his 28th start for the Missions and his sixth against the Hooks.  Tuesday at Midland, Culp was charged with five earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings in an 8-4 loss to the RockHounds.  Culp has had a bumpy road of late, going 1-2 with a 7.98 ERA in his last three starts.  He has also had a much more difficult time on the road (2-6, 6.44, 11 starts) this season compared to his pitching at Wolff Municipal Stadium (5-4, 2.91, 16 starts).  In his five starts against the Hooks, Culp is 2-2 with a 6.00 ERA.  As a hitter, Culp is 3-for-10 with 1 walk, 1 strikeout and 1 sacrifice bunt.   

·        Last year with Lake Elsinore was 14-8 with a 3.83 ERA

·        Was second in the Cal League and tops among Padres farmhands in wins in 2008

·        In 2007, was a combined 13-7 with a 3.89 ERA with Fort Wayne and Lake Elsinore

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 16th appearance and fourth start for the Hooks.  Tuesday at Frisco, Lumsden allowed just one unearned run over five innings and picked up the win in Corpus Christi’s 6-1 triumph.  He was touched for five hits and four walks while striking out two.  Since his move into the rotation, Lumsden is 1-2 with a 1.69 ERA (3 starts), though he has allowed 17 hits and 12 walks in 16.0 innings.  In his lone appearance against the Missions July 30 here at Whataburger Field, Lumsden tossed 1.2 innings of shutout relief to get the win in a 5-3 decision.  The lefty opened the year with AAA Round Rock, where he was 0-0 with a 4.42 ERA in 14 relief appearances.  At the plate, Lumsden is 0-for-2 with 1 strikeout.                       

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

·        In five seasons of pro ball is 28-28 with 1 save and a 4.83 ERA (483.0 IP)

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

Perez gets Baker’s Dozen

Last night’s victory was the 11th this season and the 13th for Perez in his two years with the Hooks.  That ties him with Jason Hirsh, Polin Trinidad and Andy Van Hekken for third on the Hooks all-time wins’ list.  His 11 wins this year ties him with Josh Miller (2006) for the second highest single-season win total in the club’s five-year history.

His double in the sixth last night was his third hit this season, giving him a batting average of .250.  Perez is the only pitcher on staff with at least three hits this year. 

McKeller to AAA

Following last night’s game, reliever Ryan McKeller was called to AAA Round Rock.  In 28 relief appearances with the Hooks, McKeller was 2-4 with a 3.81 ERA.  He had three outings for the Hooks in which he worked three innings of shutout relief.  He rejoins the Express, where he spent the first two months of the season (0-2, 7.48), for their final two home games against Omaha tonight and tomorrow.  McKeller’s spot on the Hooks’ roster remains vacant.

Pitchers lookin’ good

Perez, Danny Meszaros and Evan Englebrook, who earned his ninth save, combined to allow just one earned run over nine innings last night.  Over the last five games, Hooks’ pitchers have given up just nine earned runs, for an ERA of 1.83.  The Hooks are 2-3 in the last five games.

The bullpen has been especially sharp of late.  Over the last six games, relievers have posted a 1.69 ERA, allowing just four earned runs in 21.1 innings.  Over the last 11 games, the bullpen’s ERA stands at 2.18.

Pinch hitters

Spann’s game-winning RBI last night gives Hooks’ pinch hitters seven RBI’s this season.  As a unit, Corpus Christi’s pinch hitters are batting .250 (17x68) this year with 3 doubles, 1 HR and 7 RBI’s.

Attendance

Last night’s attendance of 7,784 marked the third largest crowd at Whataburger Field this season.  It was eclipsed only by the crowds of July 4 (7,860) and June 13 (7,839).

Hitters update

Collin DeLome has hits in 5 of the last 6 games, 8-for-24 with 1 double, 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 runs and 3 RBI’s.

Felix Molina is 2-for-7 in the last 2 games with 1 double and 2 RBI’s.

Mark Ori has hits in 5 of the last 7 games, 7-for-26 with 1 double and 1 run.

Wladimir Sutil has hits in 3 of the last 4 games, 4-for-16 with 1 RBI and 2 stolen bases.

Pitching Rotation vs. San Antonio