Astros Minor League Recaps

Sunday's Games

Albuquerque over Oklahoma City 4-2
Starter Ross Seaton got touched for four runs on seven hits and three walks in five and two-thirds innings before giving way to a scoreless inning from Kevin Chapman and a perfect one and a third from Jason Stoffel. All of the 'Hawks scoring came in the first on a Brandon Laird two-run home run. Brett Wallace and Fernando Martinez both doubled and Jonathan Villar was two-for-four with a stolen base.

Corpus Christi over Arkansas 5-3 in 8 innings (Game 1)
Mike Foltynewicz got the start in Game 1 and pitched four and a third innings allowing one run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Sergio Escalona allowed the two tying runs to score in the sixth. Pat Urckfitz pitched a very strong final two innings and was rewarded with the win. The Hooks scoring got started with a Domingo Santana (2x4 3R) solo home run and a Michael Burgess RBI single in the second and continued with a Jonathan Meyer RBI single in the third. The tie was broken in the eighth on a Santana triple scoring Jose Martinez (3x4 2B) and a George Springer sac fly scoring Santana.

Corpus Christi over Arkansas 13-9 in 7 innings (Game 2)
Despite Corpus getting a 10-0 lead in the first inning, Arkansas actually made it little too close for comfort as David Martinez had an uncharacteristic and probably overdue tough start in which he allowed seven runs (five earned) in only two and a third innings. Jorge de Leon pitched two-thirds innings, allowing one of Martinez' inherited runs to score before shutting the door. Matt Heidenreich pitched four innings allowing two  runs and earning his third win of the season. The wild first inning featured five RBI from George Springer on a two-RBI double and a three-run home run. Domingo Santana also homered in the first driving in Springer. Max Stassi had an RBI single and Jose Martinez (4x5 3R) drove in two on a RBI single. It didn't look as though the Hooks would need any more runs, but the two scored in the fourth on a two-RBI double from Erik Castro (2x5) and Ben Orloff's steal of home in the fifth gave the Hooks a good cushion.

Lancaster over Visalia 16-1
The JetHawks offense currently represents as big a menace as the area wildfires do. Well, maybe not, but you get the idea. Terrific outings from David Rollins (5IP 3H 0R 3BB 5SO) and Tyson Perez (4IP 2H 1R 1BB 2SO 1HR) ensured that Lancaster's crazy five-run first inning would be all the offense they would need. And it was a crazy inning as the 'Hawks scored five runs on only one hit, a grand slam from Chris Epps. The first three batters walked and were followed by a bases-loaded Preston Tucker hit-by-pitch before Epps unloaded and cleared the bases. Lancaster added on two more in the third on an M.P. Cokinos (3x4 2-2B BB 5RBI 2R) home run, two in the fifth on a Cokinos RBI double and Matt Duffy RBI single, and another two in the sixth on Brandon Meredith's (2x4 BB 3R) sixth home run of the season. The 'Hawks continued to punish Visalia with five more runs in the eighth on a Tucker bases-loaded walk and back-to-back two-run doubles from Epps and Cokinos. Joe Sclafani reached base in all five plate appearances, going two-for-two with a double, stolen base and three more walks; he has walked nine times in his last four games. Preston Tucker extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a double in the third and scored three times. Delino DeShields swiped two bags for the day, bringing his total to 14.

Quad Cities over Beloit 3-2
Lance McCullers wasted no time in getting his second win of the season as he pitched five shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out six. Daniel Minor followed up with three and a third innings in which he allowed a two-run home run in the ninth and was relieved by Cameron Lamb who converted his third save of the season. The River Bandits didn't put on much of an offensive show, but they gave McCullers and company enough to work with. Teoscar Hernandez was two-for-four with a double and an RBI. Carlos Correa and Ariel Ovando each drove in a run as well. Jordan Scott was also two-for-four at the plate.

Player of the Day: It's not everyday that guys with five RBI games don't earn Player of the Day honors, but that is the case today as, despite great outings from George Springer and M.P. Cokinos, I have to go with Chris Epps' six-RBI game. Epps is simply locked in as of late, hitting .442/.478/.930 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and 19 RBI over his last 10 games.

Pitcher of the Day: Lance McCullers gets today's honors. It took a long time to get that first win, but he wasted no time getting the second on a very strong outing. Honorable mention goes to David Rollins for his five shutout innings.