Meanwhile, Hooks starter Jimmy Barthmaier (2-7), who hasn't won since June 3 at Springfield, continued to struggle. He is winless in seven consecutive starts and has only won twice in 13 starts this year, with his earned-run average ballooning to 6.08.Barthmaier -- a member of Houston's 40-man roster -- lasted only four innings against Frisco, laboring through a 94-pitch outing. He issued a season-high six walks, with three of those runners coming around to score.
"If he continues at this rate, we're going to have to look at the possibility of putting him in the bullpen or sending him down a level," Bennett said. "He's really at a crossroads. We expressed that to him, and he understands that...."He doesn't have a lot of confidence, but I don't think at this point we need to take him and send him to A ball," Bennett said. "He still has some confidence, not a whole lot.
