Astros Minor League Recaps

Tuesday's Games

Albuquerque over Oklahoma City 12-2
Jordan Lyles did his best impression of a recent Houston start as he allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk and only lasted one inning. Things didn't go much better for the rest of the pitching crew as C.J. Fick, Eric Berger and Lance Day combined to allow seven runs in the final seven innings. The RedHawks only managed to put up a couple of singletons on the scoreboard, one on a Jimmy Paredes home run. Paredes was two-for-four and scored two runs. Jake Elmore (3x5) and the newly promoted Robbie Grossman (2x5 2B) had good outings as well. Grossman was hitting .324/.452/.353 at the time of his call up.

Corpus Christi over Midland 7-6 in 10 innings
Starter Nick Tropeano dug an early hole for the team allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks in three innings while striking out three. That was followed with two very strong innings from Alex Sogard who has yet to allow a run this season. The Hooks scratched out a tenuous lead for Bobby Doran (2.1IP 3H 1R 2BB 4SO 1HR), but Jason Stoffel (1.1IP 2H 2R/0ER 2SO) couldn't hang on to it and the game went to extras. Pat Urckfitz (0H 0R 1BB 4SO) pitched the final one and a third and was rewarded with the win as Michael Burgess came home on a Ben Orloff sac fly in the 10th to take the lead once and for all. Orloff was one-for-four with two sac fly RBI and Eric Castro went two-for-three as he is starting to heat up at the plate. But it was pretty much the George Springer show as his two dingers of the night drove in three runs. Castro, Springer and Drew Muren each stole a base as well.

Lancaster over Lake Elsinore 5-4
Brady Rodgers provided solid starting pitching over five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts, and was followed by three innings from Chris Devenski. Devenski allowed two additional runs to come across which cut Lake Elsinore's deficit to one going into the ninth inning. Devenski pitched to one batter in the ninth before giving way to Kenny Long who had just been activated from the DL and promptly recorded his first save of the season. There were no extra base hits in this one, but Nolan Fontana collected three singles, a walk and a stolen base, and M.P. Cokinos had two hits, including a two-RBI single in the second. Telvin Nash was one-for-three with an RBI single and a walk in his first appearance since being activated from the DL.

Wisconsin over Quad Cities 9-1
Mike Hauschild had an excellent outing in his fourth appearance of the season. In five innings, he allowed one unearned run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. But things quickly started to unravel as Colton Cain and Gera Sanchez combined to allow eight runs on ten hits in the final three frames. The Bandits only mustered five hits with two of those belonging to Chase Davidson, whose solo homer in the sixth made up the entirety of the QC scoring output. Terrell Joyce was one-for-three with a double and stole two bases.

Pitchers of the Day: Relief pitchers are the unsung heroes of tight games, and lefty relievers Alex Sogard, Pat Urckfitz and Kenny Long were pivotal in getting W's for Corpus Christi and Lancaster on Tuesday.

Player of the Day: In the words of Morgan Ensberg, George Springer is a really good player, and his three-for-four, walk, two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base make for a really good night.