Astros Minor League Recaps

Thursday's Games

Omaha over Oklahoma City 2-1
This one was a heartbreaker as Asher Wojciechowski pitched a beauty, but wasn't awarded the win. Wojo put up seven shutout innings allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five and Jason Stoffel pitched a scoreless eighth, but Jose Valdez couldn't hang on to the razor-thin margin. Valdez allowed two runs in the ninth and was charged with the blown save and the loss as the runs came across on an error and a balk. It didn't help that the RedHawks only managed one run in the first inning as Robbie Grossman, walked, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. The 'Hawks only scraped together three singles and four walks in the game and fell into second place with the loss.

Midland over Corpus Christi 14-4
Can we just forget this one happened? I think all of the pitchers involved except Andrew Robinson would probably just as soon put this one behind them. Robinson was the only pitcher out of five who didn't allow any runs in the game.

The Hooks scored two in the first via a Jon Singleton sac fly RBI and on a Jonathan Meyer RBI single, and two more in the fourth on Jio Mier and Jose Martinez bases-loaded walks. The Hooks were held to five hits, with a George Springer double being the only extra-base hit.

San Jose over Lancaster 8-3
Lancaster has now dropped four in a row and I'm considering going all Cher on them again. Be forewarned, lads, I will be returning to Lancaster sooner rather than later so get it together or we will be having words. And believe me, you don't want that. Starter Tyson Perez just simply had a really bad night starting off by allowing four runs in the first and capping off his night by pitching to four batters in the fifth without recording an out. He was subsequently charged with another three runs for a total of seven runs (six earned). Michael Dimock allowed the final run across in the seventh and was followed with a perfect ninth from Travis Ballew. Ballew has only allowed one earned run in his last 10 outings. The JetHawks got one run across in the sixth as Nolan Fontana hit a lead-off triple and scored on a ground out. The final two runs in the ninth came on a Chris Epps two-run home run. The 'Hawks were held to five hits in the game.

Quad Cities over Cedar Rapids 9-5
Finally, a game I can recap without getting totally depressed! Vincent Velasquez pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out three. He was followed by Jamaine Cotton who allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk in three and a third. Gera Sanchez allowed the final run to come across in the ninth. Quad Cities took an early lead with one run in the first on a Carlos Correa home run, his fourth of the season, and added on another four in the second in less conventional fashion with runs scoring on a Jordan Scott bases-loaded walk, a force out, an Ariel Ovando steal of home and a Carlos Correa RBI single that he tried unsuccessfully to stretch to a double. Correa was more successful in his second try for a double in the fourth inning, driving in three runs in the process. Correa later scored on a force out to complete the four-run frame.

DSL Royals over DSL Astros 3-1
Geronimo Franzua got the start and the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits and five walks. Carlos Vasquez (1.1IP 2H 1R/0ER 2BB 1SO) and Yonquelys Martinez (2.2IP 1H 2SO) took it the rest of the way. The Astros offense consisted of a Brauly Mejia solo home run and two singles, but they did walk nine times, including three walks from Luis Payano.

Player of the Day: On Draft Day, Carlos Correa reminded us all as to why exactly Jeff Luhnow made him the number one pick in 2012 as he went three-for-four with a double, home run, walk, five RBI and two runs scored.

Pitcher of the Day: Since Asher Wojciechowski didn't get the win, the least I can do is give him the WTHB prize to honor him for his seven shutout innings.