Astros Minor League Recaps

Wednesday's Games

Oklahoma City - Off Day

Corpus Christi over Springfield 13-1
R.J. Alaniz got his first "post-piggyback" win, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing only five hits and two walks. Kenny Long allowed the sole Springfield run in his two innings of work, and Carlos Quevedo pitched the final frame, allowing only one hit. Every Hooks starter got at least one hit as the team banged out 17 of them in this lopsided victory. Jonathan Meyer (HR 2RBI BB), Zach Johnson, Michael Burgess (2B HR), Jio Mier and Drew Muren had two hits a piece, but it was Max Stassi who went crazy in this one, going four-for-five with a double, two home runs (including a grand slam) and EIGHT RBI. Preston Tucker was one-for-five in his AA debut.

Lancaster over Bakersfield 11-7
Tommy Shirley got the start and pitched four scoreless, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out five. Cameron Lamb was touched for two runs in the fifth without recording an out before being bailed out with a perfect frame from T.J. Geith. Aaron West gave up five runs, including a three-run home run in the ninth, an inning in which he was unable to record an out. Michael Dimock replaced West in the ninth to end the threat. Lancaster held a thin margin until they broke things open with a five-run eighth, powered in large part by a two-RBI double from Joe Sclafani and a two-RBI single from Tyler Heineman. In addition to the big single from Heineman, he also hit two home runs in the game and drove in a total of five runs. Andrew Aplin was two-for-four with a walk and scored a run; Telvin Nash was two-for-three with a double, a solo home run and three runs scored; and Chris Epps was two-for-four with a home run and two RBI. Epps replaced Tucker in right field and M.P. Cokinos was pressed into service to play left field in the game as Brandon Meredith is still on the DL.

Peoria over Quad Cities 3-1
All good things must come to an end and such is the case with the Quad Cities' six-game win streak. Only one of the three runs allowed by Jordan Jankowski (5IP 3H 2R/1ER 5SO) and Mike Hauschild (2IP 3H 1R/0ER 1BB 3SO) was earned as two of the three Quad Cities' errors took their toll. Gera Sanchez pitched a perfect eighth. The lone River Bandit's run came in the sixth as Jordan Scott scored on a Teoscar Hernandez ground out. The team only managed six singles in the game; no player had more than one.

Tri-City over Lowell 9-4
Randall Fant allowed one run on five hits over four innings and Zach Morton allowed three in his one and a third innings. Although Richard Rodriguez allowed one of Morton's runs to score, he settled in for two and two-thirds scoreless with three strikeouts. Chia-Jen Lo pitched the ninth and has not allowed a run in five outings thus far this season. The two-run home run from Dan Gulbransen (2x4 2B) in the third, the two RBI double from Ronnie Mitchell (2x4) in the fifth, and the three-run bomb from James Ramsay (2x4 BB 3R) in the eighth accounted for most of the offense.

Greeneville over Kingsport 5-3
Christopher Lee gave up all three Kingsport runs in his four and two-thirds innings before giving way to scoreless outings from Krishawn Holley, Tyler Brunneman and Gonzalo Sanudo. Greeneville got on the board in the third on Jack Mayfield's first home run of the season and then tied it up in the bottom of the eighth. An Ariel Ovando two-run walk-off home run in the ninth kept the game from extras. Alfredo Gonzalez went two-for-three with a stolen base, and Juan Santana was one-for-four with an RBI double.

GCL Astros over GCL Yankees 5-4 in 10 innings
Joe Bircher got his first rehab start and allowed two runs on four hits in one and two-thirds innings and was followed by Ambiorix de Leon who allowed another the remaining two runs in his four and a third innings. Raul Rivera and Jose Montero each pitched two scoreless innings and Montero earned his first win of the season. The Astros were behind the entire game until a three-run inning in the eighth tied things up. Javaris Reynolds (1x5 2RBI) drove in the winning run in the 10th with an RBI single. Jason Martin was two-for-five with an RBI; Tyler White was two-for-five with a double; Yonathan Mejia was two-for-five and scored two runs; and Jacob Nottingham was two-for-four with a double, walk, stolen base and two runs scored.

DSL Dodgers over DSL Astros 9-2
Starter Junior Garcia only lasted two and two-thirds innings in which he allowed five runs on six hits. Juan Hernandez (2H 3BB 5SO) fared better in his five and a third innings, but let two more runs across (one earned). The final two runs (both unearned) came in the ninth off Robert Corniel. The lone Astros runs scored in the sixth on a passed ball and a Brauly Mejia (2x3 2B) sac fly. Jean Estrella went three-for-four and scored a run.

Player of the Day: Is there any doubt? Max Stassi was in beast mode last night. A single, a grand slam, a two-run double and a two-run home run ... four hits and eight RBI in the first five innings. Honorable mention goes to Tyler Heineman for his two homer, five RBI night.

Pitcher of the Day: It was R.J. Alaniz' first chance to get stretched out and he did it in style with six scoreless innings.