Astros Minor League Recaps

Saturday’s Games

DSL Astros 0, DSL Athletics 2

The DSL Astros were one-hit shutout on Saturday. Edwin Villarroel (1-1) took the loss after pitching the first five innings, allowing one run on seven hits and striking out two. Joselo Pinales followed to finish out the final three and during his time he gave up no hits, walked one and struck out a pair as another, un-earned, run scored in the seventh-the result of consecutive errors to lead off the bottom of that frame. The DSL Astros had four errors on the day and three in the seventh inning. Kristian Trompiz went one-for-four with the only hit of the day, a single in the first inning.

Burlington Bees 5, Quad Cities River Bandits 6 (9) Game 1

The River Bandits won their first match in the double dip at home Saturday. Quad Cities was behind five runs after the second inning, but steady pitching after that and Brian Blasik’s (2X4 R HR 4RBI) grand slam helped them get back to tie the game and eventually win. Daniel Minor was the first on the mound for the River Bandits and after the five runs (2ER) scored in the first two frames, he settled in to allow just one more hit in his remaining two and two thirds, finishing with six hits, a walk and a K. Juri Perez pitched next and gave up a single hit in his three-inning long shift while walking two and striking out a trio. Mitchell Lambson (4-3) closed out the final one and a third to pick up the win, striking out one with two hits allowed. In the bottom of the ninth, Teoscar Hernandez (2X5 2R HR RBI 2SO) led off with single and scored the winning run after he was followed by Carlos Correa’s (3X5 R 2B RBI SO) walk- off single. Hernandez also hit a solo-homer in the third to get Quad Cities on the board.

Burlington Bees 2, Quad Cities River Bandits 1 (8) Game 2

The second game of the day in Modern Woodmen Park went into extras too, but did not see a win for the home team. The River Bandits recorded three hits all game and scored their only run in the third, utilizing two of those hits-a Brett Phillips double and a Ruben Sosa RBI-single. The only other hit was a single by Carlos Correa to lead off the home half of the seventh frame. Lance McCullers threw the first five innings and tallied a run on six hits as he struck out six. John Neely (1-4) worked the last inning and picked up the loss, allowing the winning run on two hits. Gera Sanchez pitched the sixth and seventh, and aside from giving up two walks and a hit, struck out every other batter he faced, tying his career high of six.

Lancaster JetHawks 5, Lake Elsinore Storm 1

The JetHawks clinched the first half Saturday and secured a return to the post season with their second consecutive win on the road in Lake Elsinore. Kyle Hallock started on the mound and even though he gave up five hits and five walks through his four and two thirds, he kept them scoreless. Theron Geith entered for one out in the fifth to resolve a bases loaded situation and struck out the batter he faced to end the inning. Luis Cruz (3-4) took the hill for the next three innings, allowing the only run on two hits and a walk while striking out five and earning the win. Matt Duffy went wild at the plate on Saturday, batting three-for-four with a run scored, two doubles, two RBI and a walk. Preston Tucker (2X5 R 2SO) and Andrew Aplin (2X5 R) also had multi-hit games as well and Delino DeShields, who batted one-for-three, scored a run, walked twice and hit his sixth triple of the season.

Corpus Christi Hooks 0, Frisco Rough Riders 3

The Hooks were three-hit shutout on Saturday after winning their last four games in a row. David Martinez picked up his first loss of the season, moving his record to nine wins and one loss. Martinez tossed the first five frames for Corpus, allowing one run, three hits and struck out four. Aside from a single in the second, Martinez retired every batter he faced in order before reaching the fifth. Mike Foltynewicz followed on the hill for the next two and a third and allowed another pair of runs on three hits, walked three and K-ed two. Jonathan Singleton went nothing-for-two with a couple of walks and a strikeout and Max Stassi hit one-for-two with a walk and a double in the fifth inning.

Round Rock Express 4, Oklahoma City RedHawks 6

Oklahoma City didn’t score after the fourth inning, but by then they had already recorded a big enough crooked number for the win at home. Jarred Cosart (6-3) picked up the win after hurling the first six innings. Cosart gave up two runs on four hits (HR), walked four and struck out three. Kevin Chapman (2IP H ER 2SO) and Rhiner Cruz (.1 IP 2H ER BB HR) followed Cosart on the hill and each added another run before Josh Zeid stepped in to record the last two outs of the game and his third save of the season. Zeid faced two batters: the first lined out and the second was whiffed. Half of the RedHawks’ runs were the products of the longballs hit by Brett Wallace (1X4 R RBI HR 2SO) and Jake Elmore (2X3 2R HR 2RBI). Wallace hit a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the third and Elmore clubbed his in the fourth, scoring Robbie Grossman (1X4 R 2SO). Marc Krauss hit an RBI single in the first inning to draw first blood, scoring Elmore. Krauss finished at two-for-four with a double, RBI and a strikeout.

Player of the Day: Brian Blasik hit a big one Saturday and a grand slam always takes the honors here. Not only that, it was Blasik’s first homer of the season and the second of his minor league career. Way to make it count.

Pitcher of the Day: Two guys are splitting the honors today, Theron Geith and Josh Zeid. These two combined for just three outs of work all told on Saturday, but they stepped in and helped their teams when they needed them the most. Geith faced just one batter, but it was to end a two-out, bases-loaded jam and Zeid entered to record the last two outs of the game and secure the win for his team when things started to get too close for comfort. A very honorable mention goes out to Gera Sanchez and his six Ks in two innings as well.