Astros Minor League Recaps

Thursday's Games

Fresno over Oklahoma City 4-1
Jarred Cosart was charged with the loss despite pitching a strong six innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, striking out six and allowed only his second home run of the season, a solo shot. Phillip Humber hit a batter and walked two in a third of an inning before giving way to Kevin Chapman who finished off the seventh with two bases loaded strikeouts. Rhiner Cruz gave up the final two runs in the eighth. The only RedHawks score came via an Austin Wates (2x4 2-2B) RBI double in the seventh. Wates is hitting .298/.327/.340 in his last 14 games after getting promoted to OKC. Brett Wallace was two-for-two with two walks.

Corpus Christi over Northwest Arkansas 10-4
Bobby Doran (W, 6-1) and Nick Tropeano (S, 5) each allowed two runs and each struck out five. The duo, arguably the most effective of the tandems, combined for nine hits. The Hooks put up three in the second on a Jonathan Meyer (3x5 4RBI 3R) two-run home run and a Kiké Hernandez RBI single and added on another in the fourth on a Max Stassi (3x4 2-2B 3RBI) RBI double. But they really took control in the fifth as they scored four after Northwest Arkansas walked three of the first four batters, setting things up for Meyer and Stassi to drive in two each. The final two came in the eighth on a Domingo Santana (2x4 2B R) bases-loaded walk and a Erik Castro RBI single. Michael Burgess was two-for-four with a double and scored a run. George Springer was one-for-three with two walks and stole a base. Stassi is hitting .342/.381/.474 in his last 10 games.

Lancaster over Inland Empire 8-7
Despite a rough start for Blair Walters (3.1IP 7H 5R/3ER 1BB 4SO) in which he was the victim of three errors committed by his team, the JetHawks held on to win in a wild way, literally. Jonas Dufek pitched the next three and two-thirds and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out five, but it was T.J. Geith who earned his fifth win of the season in relief as he pitched a perfect eighth. The 'Hawks put up four runs in the second as Brandon Meredith drove in one with an RBI single and subsequently scored on a wild pitch, and Carlos Perdomo drove in two with his single. Three more runs came across in the fifth as Preston Tucker (3x4 R) drove in two and Matt Duffy scored on a fielding error. The final and deciding run scored in the eighth as Tyler Heineman reached on the first triple of his professional career and scored on a wild pitch, one of three Inland Empire wild pitches. Travis Ballew then converted his eighth save of the season in the ninth. Andrew Aplin was two-for-four with a double and scored a run. Delino DeShields came in as a defensive substitution in the eighth and walked in his only plate appearance. He then promptly stole second and then third on a double steal with Joe Sclafani. Lancaster regained first place in the division with the win.

Wisconsin over Quad Cities 7-4
Jamaine Cotton had a rough outing in his first loss of the season, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out three in only three innings. Gera Sanchez allowed the final run across in the fifth via a solo home run before giving way to Vincent Velasquez who had an excellent outing, allowing only one hit and one walk in four innings. He struck out eight batters. The River Bandits did not get into the run column until the seventh when Terrell Joyce hit his second home run of the season followed by an Ariel Ovando double driving in Rio Ruiz. They put up another two in the eighth on a Roberto Peña two-run double. Teoscar Hernandez wore a golden sombrero for the night as he went 0-for-five with four K's. Carlos Correa and Rio Ruiz also put up 0-fers, but each walked twice. Jordan Scott stole his 11th base of the season. The Quad Cities team has now dropped six games in a row and have fallen to a tie for fourth place in their division.

Player of the Day: I've got to go with Johnny Meyer for his 4-RBI night in which he was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

Pitcher of the Day: I don't give nearly enough love to relievers, so I want to acknowledge Travis Ballew for nailing down his eighth save of the season in a tenuous Lancaster lead, a save that allowed Lancaster to reclaim first place in their division.