Astros Minor League Recaps

Tuesday's Games

Clinton over Quad Cities 6-3 in 7 innings (Game 1)
Lance McCullers would probably just as soon forget this start as he allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out one in two and a third innings of work. A Joe Sclafani error came back to hurt McCullers, but so did a bases-loaded hit batter. Mitch Lambson came on to put out the fire with one out in the third and pitched three and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts and Cameron Lamb finished it off with a scoreless frame, but the damage was already done by that point. Quad Cities only had one hit (a Chase Davidson double in the first) through the first six innings and didn't manage to get on the board until that frame. That the River Bandits managed to score at all was pretty impressive considering they only had two hits in the game, the second being a Terrell Joyce RBI double in the seventh. They were, however, helped out by their nine walks (Sclafani with three of them) which allowed runs to score on a Jesse Wierzbicki sac fly and a Carlos Correa ground out. Davidson got his first stolen base of the season and Joyce was credited with an outfield assist.

Quad Cities over Clinton 3-2 in 7 innings (Game 2)
Daniel Minor got the start and gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings pitched before giving way to Michael Dimock who shut the door beautifully with three perfect frames in which he struck out four. The Bandits did all their scoring in the fifth inning on an RBI single from the just promoted Austin Elkins and a two-run double from Ryan Dineen. Quad Cities was held to five hits -- two of them belonged to Jesse Wierzbicki.

High Desert over Lancaster 6-5 in 11 innings
Aaron West cruised through his first four innings very effectively before giving up two solo jacks in the fifth inning. Luis Cruz then turned a 5-2 lead into a 5-5 tie in his three innings of work. Cruz was followed by a phenomenal performance from Travis Ballew who proceeded to collect six straight swinging strikeouts in the ninth and 10th innings. The 'Hawks were unable to convert a bases loaded situation in the top of the 11th, and Tommy Shirley's one pitch exited stage right for a walk-off. Preston Tucker was 3-for-5 with a home run, and Drew Muren was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI single. Andrew Aplin, Zach Johnson and Matt Duffy also doubled in the game.

Tulsa over Corpus Christi 9-3
A double, triple, single, wild pitch and throwing error was all it took to put the Hooks in a 3-0 hole in the first inning as R.J. Alaniz ultimately allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out three in five innings. But that line looked great compared to the five runs allowed by Matt Heidenreich on three home runs in only one and a third innings. Lefties Pat Urckfitz and Alex Sogard took it the rest of the way with scoreless outings. Corpus finally hit the run column in the seventh inning courtesy of a two-run home run from Rene Garcia, his first of the season. George Springer followed with a solo home run in the eighth. Austin Wates was 2-for-5 with a triple.

Round Rock over Oklahoma City 8-6
If Brett Oberholtzer could just erase the third inning, he would have had a terrific outing, as he allowed only one hit and one walk in the other four innings he pitched. Unfortunately, he allowed four hits and a walk and all five of those runners scored on a Jurickson Profar three-run home run and a Joey Butler two-run shot. No tandem pitching for OKC last night, though, as five relievers took their turns. Kevin Chapman was charged with three runs (one earned) as Josh Zeid allowed two inherited runners to score. Eric Berger saw his first action as an Astro, facing three batters and walking one. The RedHawks took an early lead scoring four in the second, but the lead was shortlived. Two additional runs scored on a Marc Krauss double in the eighth (the only extra base hit) that brought OKC within striking distance. Jake Elmore was running wild on the bases, stealing two and getting caught once. Che-Hsuan Lin and Jimmy Paredes each stole a base as well.

Player of the Day: Ryan Dineen's two-run RBI for Quad Cities was the ultimate game winner.

Pitchers of the Day: It's another tie as two relievers deserve acknowledgment. Travis Ballew simply dominated the High Desert crew with his six strike outs swinging and gave them the chance to win, a chance which was unfortunately not cashed in. And Michael Dimock's three perfect frames for Quad Cities preserved their tenuous 3-2 lead.