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Houston Astros: Hooks Coming Into Form Down the Stretch

By Matthew Bartlett |
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After an up and down second half for the Houston Astros Double-A affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks, they look to use a 5-1 week as a catalyst with the playoffs looming.

The Hooks are 16-8 in their last 24 games. With eight games remaining in the second half, the second half title seems to be out of reach as they trail Midland by seven games. On the season Midland holds an 18-14 advantage against Corpus Christi. The teams are not scheduled to meet again in the regular season.

Ryan Deemes and Dean Deetz were assigned to Corpus Christi from Lancaster on Tuesday. Preston Tucker joined the Hooks midweek on a rehab assignment. He is expected to rejoin Fresno sometime this coming week. Albert Minnis continues to bounce back and forth between AA and AAA, rejoining the Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Game Results

Monday: off

Tuesday: Midland W 7-2

Wednesday: Midland W 4-1

Thursday: Midland L 2-5

Friday: Midland W 7-0

Saturday: San Antonio W 5-1

Sunday: San Antonio W 6-0

Second Half Record: 33-29, 3rd in the South Division, seven games behind Midland

Next: Offense

Offense

Drew Ferguson continued his tremendous Double A start with an eight hit week with four RBI. In eight games with Corpus Christi the young outfielder is hitting .310 with a .851 OPS. Ferguson has reached safely in his first six AA games and has tallied multiple hits three times.

This week Antonio Nunez lead the team in OBP, drawing four walks and hitting for a .286 average in three games. Nunez is a part of the recent surge of youth that has joined the Corpus Christi club this month. Five of the 10 starters on Saturday weren’t a part of the club in March: Garrett Stubbs, Ramon Laureano, Drew Ferguson, Antonio Nunez, and Rogelio Armenteros.

Related Story: Corpus Christi Player Spotlight: Antonio Nunez

And in what has become the weekly “J.D. Davis” spotlight, the Corpus Christi offense was again led by Davis who posted an unreal slash line: .455/.520/1.045 with three home runs and six RBI on seven extra base hits. Also worhty of mention is Chase Mcdonald who had three dingers this week himself.

Next: Defense and Pitching

Pitching and Defense

In his Double A debut, 23 year old right hander Ryan Deemes struck out three batters and allowed one hit in 1 2/3rds innings of work on Tuesday and picked up another pair of strikeouts Sunday night in two innings of scoreless relief. Deemes has a 3.13 ERA in 38 appearances between Quad Cities, Lancaster, and now Corpus Christi, but he’s been even more impressive of late. Since June 30th (15 games), Deemes has a 1.71 ERA and opposing batters are hitting .242 against him with a measly .347 slugging percentage. In that time frame he has allowed just four extra base hits, all doubles.

Deemes wasn’t along in his pitching dominance this week. In six games, 13 different pitchers combined to allow just eight runs with a 1.29 ERA. Every starter produced a quality start and Francis Martes pitched a seven inning shutout, allowing just three hits. Martes has not allowed more than seven hits in any start this season and has a 1.172 WHIP.

Related Story: Alex Bregman and the Astros Dilemma

The relief corps was only called upon to pitch 17 innings this week because of the tremendous starting pitching. Kyle Smith was charged with loss in extra innings on Thursday night against Midland after allowing the go-ahead run on three consecutive hits in the top of the 11th. He was charged with a pair of additional runs when Jacob Dorris allowed two of those runners to score on a double.

**Statistics from MiLB.com and Baseball Reference**

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Schedule