Game Notes, May 28 - CC at Springfield

May 28, 2010

Corpus Christi (23-23) @ Springfield (25-21)

The drought is over. For Corpus Christi second baseman German Duran, that is. The former Texas Ranger went 73 games and 249 at-bats without a home run - until his final two plate appearances last night. His poke over the wall in left-center in the sixth tied the score at 2, then his blast to the top of the back wall in the Hooks' bullpen in left in the eighth gave Corpus Christi the lead and ultimately a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.

Duran's crown of glory nearly melted on his head, though, after he allowed a fairly routine grounder off the bat of Steven Hill to deflect off his glove and through his legs into right-center with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Henry Villar, though, in an epic final at-bat, struck out Andrew Brown on 11 pitches to preserve the win with runners at second and third.

Tonight's Matchup:
LHP Tyler Lumsden (3-1, 3.02) vs. RHP Gary Daley (3-4, 5.08)
Lumsden, acquired by the Astros in a November, 2008 trade with Kansas City for outfielder Jordan Parraz, makes his 11th appearance and eighth start for the Hooks. Last Saturday at home against Midland, Lumsden had his roughest start since being moved to the rotation. Charged with four earned runs on five hits and three walks over four innings, Lumsden suffered his first loss of the year, 5-3. That snapped a string of three quality starts and five consecutive starts allowing two or fewer runs. Still, since joining the rotation full-time on April 26, Lumsden has gone 3-1 in six starts with a 2.45 ERA. That's nine earned runs allowed over 33.0 innings. At the plate, Lumsden is 1-for-3 with 2 strikeouts and 2 sacrifice bunts.

Was 2-4 with a 5.15 ERA in 16 games and 4 starts for the Hooks last season
Also appeared in 14 games in relief for Round Rock last year, going 0-0 with a 4.42 ERA
Originally a first-round pick (34th pick overall) of the White Sox in the 2004 draft out of Clemson

Daley, selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2006 draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, makes his 10th start for Springfield. Last Sunday at Tulsa, Daley got rocked by the Drillers, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on seven hits and a walk over five innings in a 9-4 loss. Daley also hit two batters and has passed Frisco's Kasey Kiker to now lead the Texas League with 10 hit batsmen this season. Bolting to a 2-0 start with a 2.04 ERA after his first three appearances of the year, Daley has gone 1-4 with a 7.09 ERA over his last six outings. Daley tossed two innings of shutout relief in his one appearance against the Hooks last year on August 24 here at Hammons Field. As a hitter, Daley is 1-for-6 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 3 strikeouts.

Split his time last year between Quad Cities (4-3, 6.93, 32 games, 10 starts) and S'field (0-2, 4.76, 9 games)
Ranked sixth in the Cardinals' system in ERA (3.28) in 2006 with State College (NY-P League)
A former college teammate of Jimmy VanOstrand and Bud Norris

More on Duran
Duran became the second Hook to have a multi-homer game this season. Koby Clemens was the first to belt two in one game, doing so April 13 at Northwest Arkansas in a 4-3 Corpus Christi win in 13 innings.

The multi-homer effort was the first for Duran since July 27, 2007, when he crunched a couple of solo shots to help Frisco edge...drum roll please...the Hooks 6-5 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Both of those home runs came off Josh Muecke.

Last night's performance marked the third time in his pro career that Duran has hit two home runs in one game. He first accomplished the feat with Bakersfield in the California League on August 20, 2006, in a game at Stockton, clubbing both of those long balls off current Midland hurler Jared Lansford.

Close ones
Last night's result gives the Hooks a 7-4 record in games decided by one run; 4-2 in one-run games on the road. Adding in Corpus Christi's record in two-run games, the Hooks are now 11-10 this season in "close" games.

The entertaining Villar
Henry Villar was not this entertaining during the first month of the season. Selected as Corpus Christi's pitcher of the month in April, Villar was 0-1 with 1 save and a 0.48 ERA in 11 appearances through May 8. He has been anything but "lights out" since.

Like a sparkler in a room filled with gunpowder, Villar loaded the bases with one out in the eighth last night and escaped the jam, leaving three on. He earned his third save with a gritty effort against Brown with the tying and winning runs in scoring position. In his two innings, he left five men on board.

In his last five appearances, Villar is 0-1 with 2 saves and a 6.30 ERA.

Hey, how 'bout some love for Dougie?!
Duran and Villar pushed starting pitcher Douglas Arguello off center stage last night. The lefty turned in yet another strong effort last night, winning his fourth straight start with his fourth consecutive quality start. In this four-game stretch, Arguello is 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA.

Arguello ranks first in the league in strikeouts (53), second in wins (6), fifth in ERA (2.47) and first in innings pitched (65.2).

Pitching Rotation at Arkansas
Saturday: RHP Jordan Lyles (4-3, 3.00) vs. LHP Manuel Flores (1-3, 5.40)
Sunday: RHP Jeremy Johnson (1-3, 4.37) vs. RHP Jeremy Thorne (1-1, 4.78)
Monday: RHP Jared Wells (2-1, 3.12) vs. LHP Michael Anton (2-4, 4.34)

HOOKS PLAYER NOTES

Barry Butera

Went 2-for-4 yesterday in his first start for the Hooks
Was batting .267(12-45) with 1 double, 1 HR and 6 RBIs in 13 games with Lancaster
Went 4-for-5 with a homer and 3 RBIs May 5 at High Desert
Batted .267-0-11 in 61 games last year for Tri-City in the NY-Penn League
Selected by the Astros in the 21st round of last year's draft out of Boston College, where he hit .326 his junior season

Koby Clemens

Hits in 3 of his last 4 games, 4-16 with 1 double, 2 runs and 1 RBI
Has 15 Ks in his last 8 games
CC's offensive player of the month in April (.263-7-18 in 21 games)
Batting .359(14-39) with RSP
Led all minor leaguers with 123 RBIs last season

David Cook

Is 4-12 in his last 3 games with 1 double, 3 runs and 3 RBIs
Equaled franchise record with 4 walks May 10 vs. San Antonio
Batting .127(7-55) vs. RHP; .311(19-61) vs. LHP; .267(8-30) with RSP
Played 7 seasons in the White Sox system, batted .260-125-399 in 753 games

German Duran

Is 3-15 in the last 4 games with 2 HRs, 2 runs and 5 RBIs
Hit his first 2 HRs of the season in his final two at-bats last night
Batting .232(19-82) vs. RHP; .304(17-56) vs. LHP
Hit .231-3-16 in 60 games with the Rangers in 2008

Jonathon Fixler

Was batting .203(12-59) with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 6 runs and 8 RBIs with Lexington
In 37 games with the Hooks over portions of the '08 and '09 seasons had a .191 average (22-115) with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 9 HRs and 23 RBIs
First 10 hits with the Hooks last year all went for extra bases (4 doubles, 6 HRs)
Selected by the Astros in the 19th round of the 2007 draft out of the University of Indiana

Jhon Florentino

Hits in 3 of his last 4 games, 4-13 with 2 walks, 2 runs and 2 RBIs
Went 2-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI Opening Night at Tulsa
Batting .162(12-74) vs. RHP; .279(12-43) vs. LHP; .188(6-32) with RSP
Hit .266-5-43 in 112 games last season with the Hooks

Jon Gaston

Hits in 12 of his last 14 games, 17-48(.354) with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HRs, 8 runs and 8 RBIs
Is 4-7 this series with 1 double, 1 HR, 1 run and 1 RBI
Batting .301(25-83) vs. RHP; .151(8-53) vs. LHP; .208(5-24) with RSP
Hit .278-35-100 in 139 games last season with Lancaster; tied for the minor league lead in HRs

Lou Santangelo

Is 11-40 in his last 13 games with 2 doubles, 4 runs and 1 RBI
Does not have an RBI in his last 12 games; just 1 RBI in his last 22 games
Batting .220(11-50) vs. RHP; .314(11-35) vs. LHP; .111(2-18) with RSP
CS% = 28.6% (6-21)
Hit .212-5-26 in 84 games last season for AAA Round Rock

J.B. Shuck

Has 3-game hit streak, 6-11 with 1 double, 2 runs and 2 RBIs
Posted 11-game hit streak (19-46) May 8-19
Named Texas League's Batter of the Week (May 10-16)
Batting .300(30-100) vs. RHP; .268(19-71) vs. LHP; .308(12-39) with RSP
Hit .315-1-36 with 18 steals in 133 games last year with Lancaster

T.J. Steele

Hits in 3 of the last 4 games, 5-14 with 1 double, 1 triple, 3 runs and 2 RBIs
Has 17 Ks in his last 10 games
Batting .204(20-98) vs. RHP; .275(19-69) vs. LHP; .283(15-53) with RSP
Hit .345-5-40 in 50 games last year with Lancaster

Wladimir Sutil

Is 0-8 this series on the heels of a 4-game hit streak (5-16)
Has gone 15 games without an extra-base hit
CC's defensive player of the month in April (22 PO, 44 A, 2 E)
Batting .243(18-74) vs. RHP; .289(13-45) vs. LHP; .375(12-32) with RSP
Hit .273-1-37 with 19 SBs in 125 games last season with the Hooks

Jimmy VanOstrand

Grounded into a DP as a PH in the 7th Wednesday night; leads club with 6 GIDPs
Has RBIs in 5 of his last 8 games (5 RBIs)
Had back-to-back 2-hit games at Midland May 4 & 5
Batting .128(6-47) vs. RHP; .275(11-40) vs. LHP; .148(4-27) with RSP
Hit .283-16-71 in 113 games last season for the Hooks