Corpus Christi (24-28, 55-67) @ Arkansas (23-28, 51-70)

Mark Trumbo’s looping single to right-center scored Nate Sutton from second with the game-winning run as Arkansas topped Corpus Christi 2-1 in 12 innings last night, giving the Travelers the first two games in this series.  Sutton opened the bottom of the 12th with a ground-rule double to right.  Trumbo’s hit sailed softly past second baseman German Duran, and right fielder Ray Sadler’s throw home pulled catcher Jason Castro up the line towards third.

Trumbo’s single made a winner out of reliever Barret Browning (1-9), who tossed three innings of shutout ball to get his first victory this year.  Charlie Weatherby (0-2), who escaped a first-and-third, nobody-out jam in the 10th, was charged with a run on four hits in two-plus innings to get tagged with the loss. 

Tonight’s game is the final meeting between these two clubs this season.  The Travelers own an 8-3 lead in the season series.              

Tonight’s Matchup:  RHP Sergio Perez (9-10, 4.69) vs. RHP Tim Kiely (4-1, 4.56)

Perez, selected by the Astros in the second round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Tampa, makes his 24th start and his second against the Travelers.  Last Saturday at Whataburger Field, Perez held the Cardinals to two runs, one earned, on six hits over six innings in a 5-2 win over Springfield.  Steven Hill went 2-for-2 against Perez with two RBI’s on a home run and a sacrifice fly.  In three starts this month, Perez is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA.  Saturday’s win was the ninth this season for Perez and his 11th in a Hooks uniform.  Perez ranks sixth on the Hooks all-time wins’ list.                       

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

·        Has held opponents to three or fewer runs in 16 of his 23 starts

·        Held the Travs to a run on five hits in 6.0 innings in a ND here at D-S Park June 5 (Hooks won 4-2)

Kiely, selected by the Angels in the 27th round of the 2008 draft out of Trinity College (Hartford), makes his 12th start for the Travelers and his first against the Hooks.  Sunday at San Antonio, Kiely allowed three runs, two earned, on eight hits over five frames in a 9-3 loss to the Missions.  Kiely took his second straight no-decision.  In his last seven starts, Kiely is 3-0 with a 4.00 ERA.  In just his second year of pro ball, Kiely opened the season with Rancho Cucamonga in the California League, where he was 5-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 12 starts.  

·        Notched a complete-game win over Springfield with 13 K’s in his AA debut here June 15

·        Hurled complete-game win for Rancho at Lake Elsinore May 23

·        Went 5-1 with 2 saves and a 2.00 ERA in 21 relief appearances last year for Cedar Rapids

10-win seasons

Perez has a chance to make some franchise history tonight.  Should he collect the win, Perez would become just the fourth pitcher in Hooks history to reach double figures in wins in a single season.  The others who have accomplished the feat are Jason Hirsh, who won 13 games in the inaugural 2005 campaign, along with Josh Miller and Matt Albers.  Miller won 11 and Albers won 10 during the 2006 championship season.

Locke and the record book

Outfielder Drew Locke has already established a new season high for RBI’s by a Hook (103), shattering the previous record of 95 set by Hunter Pence in 2006.  Locke has an opportunity to set many more single-season offensive records for the Hooks, including but not limited to the following:

·        Batting average (.328) – record held by Ben Zobrist (.327 in 2006)

·        Hits (154) – record held by Josh Anderson (173 in 2006)

·        Slugging percentage (.518) – record held by Hunter Pence (.533 in 2006)

·        Games (120) – record held by Ray Sadler (138 in 2007)

Locke and the RBI race

Locke does not have an RBI in the last four games and has just 1 RBI in the last seven games.  His 103 RBI’s continue to lead the Texas League, with Frisco’s Chad Tracy at 98 and Midland’s Chris Carter at 96.

Locke is now third in the minors in RBI’s.  The top three players in the minor leagues in RBI’s are:

-         Koby Clemens (Lancaster) – 110

-         Randy Ruiz (Las Vegas) – 106

-         Drew Locke (Corpus Christi) – 103

Hitters update

Jason Castro is 3-for-9 this series with 1 RBI.

Collin DeLome has a 3-game hitting streak, 5-for-13 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 run and 4 RBI’s.

Drew Locke has hits in 14 of the last 17 games, 25-for-70 with 5 doubles, 3 HR’s, 12 runs and 8 RBI’s.

Drew Meyer has hits in 4 of his last 5 games, 7-for-17 with 4 runs and 1 RBI.

Nick Moresi is batting .288-3-9 with 6 doubles in 16 games and 59 at-bats in August. 

Wladimir Sutil has hits in 7 of the last 10 games, 12-for-39 with 1 double, 4 runs, and 3 RBI’s.

Jimmy Van Ostrand has a 9-game hitting streak, 12-for-31 with 1 double, 2 HR’s, 4 runs and 6 RBI’s.

Pitching Rotation at Springfield

Saturday:  TBA vs. RHP Brandon Dickson (7-9, 3.68)

Sunday:  RHP Wilton Lopez (4-4, 4.79) vs. LHP Nick Additon (1-2, 3.68)