Corpus Christi finishes first half with a win

The AA Corpus Christi Hooks finished the first half of the Texas League season with a 4-0 win over the San Antonio Missions. Jonathan Singleton started a 12th inning rally that plated four runs against the defending champs. Jared Cosart pitched seven shutout innings, striking out a season-high eight, and Arcenio Leon picked up the win with two scoreless frames. The Hooks are now 4-1 in extra-inning contests and finish the first half with a record of 37-33, quite an improvement over last year’s cellar-dwelling squad.

Newcomers Singleton and Cosart are two big reasons for the Hooks’ new found success. Singleton has been named to the Texas League All-Star team and will start the game at designated hitter. Teammate Jose Martinez (2B) joins Singleton in the starting lineup for the south division All-Stars. Outfielder Austin Wates was also voted in as a starter but will miss the game with a quad injury. The Texas League All-Star Game will be played Thursday, June 28 in Tulsa. The Hooks will also be represented by SS Jonathan Villar and pitchers Kevin Chapman, Brett Oberholtzer, and Jason Stoffel.

Singleton, Oberholtzer, and Stoffel were all acquired at last year’s trade deadline. Stoffel has taken over as the Hooks’ closer, racking up nine saves and sporting some impressive numbers including a 0.97 WHIP and a 1.86 ERA. Chapman was acquired prior to the 2012 season in a trade that sent Jason Bourgeois and Humberto Quintero to Kansas City. The 24 year-old lefty has posted 34 strikeouts in just 29 & 1/3 innings.

The Hooks send Ross Seaton to the mound tonight against the Missions to start the second half of the season. Can they make a run at the playoffs this year? I wouldn’t be surprised.