Astros Minor League Recaps

Thursday's Games

Oklahoma City over Iowa 9-8 in 12 innings
The RedHawks re-took first place in this extra inning affair as seven pitchers took the mound for the team despite starter Brad Peacock (2H 0BB 4SO) gifting the 'Hawks with a 6-1 lead when he left after six innings. The next three innings were a little dicey as Kevin Chapman, Josh Zeid, Alex Sogard and Rhiner Cruz gave up seven runs before Jose Valdez (2.2IP 1H 1BB 2SO) came in with one out and bases loaded in the ninth to stop the bleeding. Eric Berger pitched a scoreless 12th for the win. OKC put up one run in the second on a Brandon Laird (3x4 2BB 3R) home run and then added on five in the fourth with a Marc Krauss (2x4 BB R) RBI double, a Carlos Perez bases clearing double and a Robbie Grossman sac bunt scoring Perez. A Brett Wallace RBI triple and Justin Maxwell (2x5 R) RBI single in the seventh pushed two more across. Carlos Perez was the man of the hour with a walk-off RBI single in the 12th to give the 'Hawks the "W." Jake Elmore was two-for-five with a walk, stolen base and run scored. Andy Simunic and Jonathan Villar swiped bags as well with Villar pilfering two.

Corpus Christi over Frisco 7-1
Nick Tropeano (5IP 5H 0BB 3SO) got the start and the win as he allowed the only Frisco run on a solo home run before giving way to Bobby Doran (1H 0BB 3SO) for four scoreless frames. Kiké Hernandez' (2x4 BB) RBI single in the fifth is the only run that didn't score via the long ball on Thursday. Michael Burgess (2x5 2B) got the party started with a two-run homer in the second; Jon Singleton and Erik Castro (2x4 2B BB 2R) added solo shots in the third; and Singleton tacked on a two-run blast in the fourth for good measure. Jonathan Meyer was two-for-five with a double and a run scored.

Lake Elsinore over Lancaster 12-3
With three games left to play, Lancaster's magic number to win the first half is down to two thanks to an Inland Empire loss. Brady Rodgers struggled mightily, allowing seven runs on six hits in only one and two-thirds innings and Chris Devenski didn't fare any better, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in only a third of an inning. The good news is that Tommy Shirley (2IP 4SO) and Cameron Lamb (2.2IP 3SO) both had perfect outings out of the 'pen. Lamb inherited bases loaded with one out in the sixth and induced a double play to get Devenski off the hook for any more runs. The 'Hawks were down 12-0 going into the seventh before getting a two-RBI double from Chris Epps and an RBI single from Preston Tucker (2x4) in the eighth. Matt Duffy was three-for-three with a walk and scored a run.

Quad Cities over Cedar Rapids 9-8
What a comeback to win out over first place Cedar Rapids! Starter Jordan Jankowski's (2H 1BB 5SO) only run allowed through four innings came via a solo home run. Juan Minaya was charged with three runs in three and a third innings with two of those coming across under John Neely's watch. Neely had a very tough outing, allowing four runs (two earned) of his own in only one third of an inning. Mitch Lambson ended the pain and suffering and was rewarded with the win. Despite giving up seven runs in the eighth inning to turn a 4-1 lead into an 8-4 deficit, the River Bandits managed to put up five runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to get the comeback win. Carlos Correa (2x5 R), Jesse Wierzbicki (2x5 2B 2RBI R), Brian Blasik (3x4 BB RBI R SB) and Jobduan Morales (1x4 2B BB 2RBI) all had productive nights.

DSL Astros over DSL Indians 8-4
Elieser Hernandez (4H 1R 1BB 5SO) pitched a very strong five innings for the win and was followed by one inning of perfect relief from lefty Cristhofer Santamaria. Rayderson Chevalier (one of my other favorite names) got the save despite allowing three earned runs in his three innings. Kristian Trompiz was a home run short of the cycle and drove in three runs. Hector Roa and Jesus Bermejo also doubled in the game.

Player of the Day: Three-for-three, two walks, two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored? Yeah, Jon Homerton ... you da man!

Pitcher of the Day: I really need to give the relief corps more credit, particularly those who can serve as stoppers when things start getting out of control. Jose Valdez did a terrific job extricating the RedHawks from a bases loaded jam and giving them the opportunity to regain not only the lead, but first place in their division.