Astros Minor League Recaps

Tuesday's Games

Oklahoma City over Nashville 4-2
Jarred Cosart got the start for Oklahoma City, squashing any rumors that he might be the Thursday starter for Houston. In five and a third innings pitched, he allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six. He was followed by scoreless outings from C.J. Fick and Kevin Chapman. Josh Zeid finished things off in the ninth allowing the second Nashville run on a solo home run. The RedHawks got on the board early with a three-run second that was highlighted by a Marc Krauss (2x3 BB) solo home run and Jonathan Villar's steal of home. Jimmy Paredes scored the final 'Hawks run in the sixth, scoring on a passed ball after leading off the inning with a double. Brett Wallace was one-for-three with a double and a walk and Trevor Crowe was one-for-three with a triple and a walk. The RedHawks are now on a five-game winning streak.

Corpus Christi over Midland 1-0
Corpus Christi prevailed in a nail biter at home as Jake Buchanan earned his second win of the season with five scoreless innings allowing only three singles and no walks. He was followed by scoreless outings from Carlos Quevedo and Alex Sogard (S, 2). The only Hooks run came courtesy of a Rene Garcia single in the third. Ben Orloff went two-for-four. J.D. Martinez was hitless in his first rehab start.

Inland Empire over Lancaster 3-2
Luis Cruz bounced back after a tough start his last go around by allowing only two hits in five scoreless innings and striking out five. The JetHawks drew first blood scoring two on a Preston Tucker (1x3 BB) double in the top of the sixth, but Tommy Shirley gave those back and more in the bottom of the frame as two lead-off walks were parlayed into three runs from Inland Empire. T.J. Geith pitched the next two innings without incident, but the 'Hawks never got anything going offensively the rest of the game. Nolan Fontana was two-for-four with a double and a run scored. Andrew Aplin also doubled and walked. Matt Duffy's hitting streak ended at 15.

Quad Cities over Great Lakes 17-6
Starter Joe Bircher kept the Loons at bay until the fourth inning when a lead-off hit batter was followed by a RBI double, the only extra base hit allowed by Bircher. Michael Dimock bailed Bircher out of a bases-loaded situation to get the final out of the fifth and to ensure that fourth inning run was the only run that Bircher would allow. Vincent Velasquez had a rare hiccup, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Two of Velasquez' runners came across under Gera Sanchez' watch. But by the time Velasquez gave up the first of those runs in the seventh, Quad Cities was already leading 12-1. Roberto Pena (2x5 4RBI) got the party started with an RBI double in the first. Three more came across in the second by way of a Terrell Joyce (2x4 2B BB) single, Teoscar Hernandez (2x5 BB 3R SB) double and a Carlos Correa (2x3 BB 3R) single. Jesse Wierzbicki (3x6 2B 2RBI 3R) added one in the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch. It was the seven-run sixth inning that put an exclamation point on the night with runs scoring on a Wierzbicki single, a Pena sac fly and a Jobduan Morales (2x5 5RBI) grand slam. But the Quad Cities crew weren't quite finished yet. Joe Sclafani (2x3 3BB 2RBI 2R) and Morales drove in three more runs in the seventh. And Roberto Pena capped things off with a two-run home run in the eighth. Ryan Dineen was one of only two starters to go hitless, but since he drew four walks, we'll let it go. Carlos Correa was hit on the hand and will be checked out further today.

Player of the Day: When you hit a grand slam, you are pretty much assured of getting Player of the Day honors. Jobduan Morales is the man for his five RBI night.

Pitcher of the Day: Jake Buchanan has simply been locked in on the mound so far this season. Not only did he only allow three singles in his outing last night, he didn't walk a batter. As a matter of fact, he's only walked two batters so far this season while striking out 16. He is now 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA and a 0.717 WHIP. He should definitely be a front runner to fill any vacancies that arise at Oklahoma City.