San Antonio (30-39, 69-70) @ Corpus Christi (30-39, 61-78)

The Missions erupted for five runs in the top of the fourth on the way to last night’s 6-3 win over the Hooks.  Mitch Canham’s RBI single was followed by Cedric Hunter’s two-run triple over the bag at first.  Even the pitcher, Nathan Culp, got involved in the act with a line-drive sacrifice fly to left to bring in the final run in the frame.

The Hooks scored all of their runs in the fourth, stringing together five singles to begin the inning.  Jonathan Fixler, Mark Ori and Chad Spann all had RBI’s in the stanza. 

The Hooks, who have dropped five of seven since Drew Locke suffered a broken bone in his left hand, can gain a split in the season series against the Missions with a win here tonight – the final night of the 2009 season.

Tonight’s Matchup:  LHP Steve Garrison (1-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Fernando Abad (0-1, 1.80)

Garrison, acquired by the Padres along with pitchers Joe Thatcher and Will Inman in the July, 2007 deal that sent pitcher Scott Linebrink to Milwaukee, makes just his second start since joining the Missions this season.  The southpaw is on the mend from rotator cuff surgery, after having made 24 starts last year for San Antonio.  Garrison had Corpus Christi’s number last year, going 2-0 with a 1.75 ERA in six starts against the Hooks.  This year, Garrison began his comeback with the Padres’ affiliate in the Arizona Summer League on June 25, making nine controlled starts (0-2, 6.20).  He then appeared in two games for Lake Elsinore in late August (0-0, 1.17), picking up a four-inning save on August 22.  His 2009 Missions’ debut came last Wednesday at Midland, when he held the RockHounds to a run on four hits over five innings in San Antonio’s 9-5 victory.     

·        Was 7-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 24 starts last year for San Antonio

·        His 3.82 ERA ranked 7th in the Texas League in 2008

·        Was a combined 10-7 with a 3.25 between Brevard County (FSL) and Lake Elsinore (CaL) in 2007

Abad, signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in December of 2002, makes his third start for the Hooks since his arrival from the California League.  Abad is coming off an eye-popping performance last Wednesday at Frisco.  He blanked the RoughRiders on one hit and one walk over six innings and 63 pitches and did not get a decision in a game the Hooks lost 1-0 in 11 innings.  Abad was perfect through 3.2 innings and carried a no-hitter into the sixth.  Guilder Rodriguez opened the sixth with a single, the only hit he allowed.  The lefty joined the team August 27 to take the roster spot vacated by Wilton Lopez, who was promoted directly to Houston.  Abad comes to Corpus Christi from Lancaster, where in 41 games for the JetHawks, all in relief, he went 4-6 with 6 saves and a 4.14 ERA.                             

·        Last year was 2-7 with 3 saves and a 3.30 ERA in 45 relief appearances for Lexington

·        Has 433 career strikeouts in 406.2 innings

·        Spent his first four pro seasons pitching for the Dominican Summer League Astros

Final Record?

The Hooks enter tonight’s final game of the season with an overall record of 61-78, which means the club will be at least six games better than the 2008 Hooks, who finished 55-85.  This year’s club ranks fourth among the five versions of the Hooks, besting only last year’s team.

Last year’s squad finished last in the league’s composite standings – the only Hooks team to do so.  Entering tonight’s game, the Hooks are a half-game better than Arkansas, which finished its season at 61-79 this afternoon with a 3-2 loss at Springfield.  Pete Kozma’s sacrifice fly to left plated Tyler Henley with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.    

Missing Locke

The Hooks have had a difficult time scoring runs with Drew Locke out of the lineup, and the absence of Jason Castro and Jimmy Van Ostrand since September 1 hasn’t helped, either.  In the seven games without Locke (and the last 6 of those 7 without Castro and Van Ostrand), the Hooks are 2-5 and have averaged just 2.4 runs per game, scoring more than three only once (6-1 win at Frisco Sept 1).

In the last seven games, the Hooks are batting .183 (42x230) as a team.  For the year, the Hooks are batting .261, which ranks sixth among the eight league clubs.

Abreu, Lo finish on high note

Erick Abreu tossed three innings of shutout relief last night, and Chia-Jen Lo followed that with two frames of shutout ball.  Assuming that these two relievers do not see action tonight, they both finish the 2009 season with a scoreless-innings streak.

Abreu has not given up a run in his last seven appearances, covering a span of 19.0 innings.  Lo has also kept the opposition off the scoreboard in his last seven outings, spanning 15.0 innings. 

Overall, the bullpen has done its job down the stretch.  Over the last seven games, relievers have posted a 1.37 ERA, allowing just four earned runs in 26.1 innings. 

Heeding the call

The Astros announced today that two former Hooks have been added to their active roster.  The club purchased the contract of third baseman Chris Johnson and recalled shortstop Tommy Manzella.  Johnson played at third this afternoon and Manzella did not play as AAA Round Rock finished its season with a 3-2 win at home over Omaha.

Johnson finished the year batting .281-13-42 in 104 games for the Express, while Manzella checked in at .289-9-56 with a team-best 31 doubles to go along with 12 stolen bases in 133 games.

If they enter into a game, Johnson and Manzella will become the 28th and 29th ex-Hooks to play a regular-season game in the Major Leagues.  Drew Sutton (Cincinnati), Bud Norris, Sammy Gervacio and Wilton Lopez all made their big league debuts this season.

Attendance

Last night’s attendance of 8,005 marked the largest crowd this season at Whataburger Field.  Two of the four largest crowds this season have turned out for the first two games of this series.  Saturday’s crowd of 7,784 is the fourth largest crowd to attend a game this year.

Did You Know...

…that tonight’s starting pitcher for the Hooks, Fernando Abad, would be listed second alphabetically among the roughly 6,000 or so men who are playing organized professional baseball this season?  Can you name the player who would be listed first alphabetically?  Here’s a clue…he ranks among the Major League leaders in saves.^

Can you tell it’s the end of the season?  Gettin’ a little punchy here in the office… 

Hitters update

Collin DeLome has hits in 6 of the last 7 games, 9-for-26 with 1 double, 1 triple, 1 HR, 4 runs and 3 RBI’s.

Jonathan Fixler is 5-for-24 in the last 6 games with 2 HR’s, 3 runs and 5 RBI’s.

Felix Molina has a 3-game hitting streak, 3-for-11 with 1 double, 1 run and 2 RBI’s.

Mark Ori has hits in 6 of the last 8 games, 9-for-30 with 1 double, 1 run and 1 RBI.

Looking ahead to 2010

The Hooks begin their sixth season of play on April 8, 2010, when they help to christen Tulsa’s new downtown ballpark, ONEOK Field.  Corpus Christi’s next regular-season home game will take place the following Thursday, April 15, when they host the same Tulsa Drillers.