Astros Minor League Recaps

Sunday's Games

Nashville over Oklahoma City 5-3
Philip Humber got the start and allowed three runs on 10 hits in his five innings before giving way to two innings from Eric Berger (2H 2R/1ER 1BB 1SO HR) who was pegged with the loss. Rhiner Cruz walked two batters and struck out two in the eighth. Jonathan Villar led off the game with a triple and scored on a Marwin Gonzalez sac fly in the first. Jose Martinez (2x4) added on another run in the fourth on a solo home run. The final RedHawks run scored in the fifth on a Jon Singleton (2x4) RBI single scoring Brandon Laird. George Springer was two-for-three.

Tulsa over Corpus Christi 1-0
It was a definite pitchers' duel in Corpus Christi as the two teams combined for only seven hits on the night. Starter David Martinez allowed one run on four hits and struck out five in his seven innings and earned a hard luck loss. Lefty Kyle Hallock pitched a perfect eighth and ninth, striking out one. Kike Hernandez, Rene Garcia (2B) and Zach Johnson had the only Hooks hits. Domingo Santana and Drew Muren each walked twice.

Lancaster over Rancho Cucamonga 17-3
It's hard to believe that this was actually a close game at one point with Lancaster taking a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning. Aaron West took the mound for the 'Hawks and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out eight in his five innings of work. He was followed by four innings from Tommy Shirley whose one hit allowed happened to be a solo home run. Shirley walked one and struck out three. The offense scored four runs off a rehabbing Ted Lilly, including a Chris Epps (2x5 3B HR 3R HBP) solo homer. The good guys then put up a four-spot in the sixth which was followed by a two-run home run from Brandon Meredith (4x6 2B HR 4R) in the seventh which was followed by this ....

Lancaster Top of the 8th

• Pitching Change: Pedro Guerrero replaces Lindsey Caughel.
• Telvin Nash walks.
• With MP Cokinos batting, wild pitch by Pedro Guerrero, Telvin Nash to 2nd.
• MP Cokinos walks.
• Matt Duffy flies out to right fielder Scott Schebler.
• Chris Epps flies out to left fielder O'Koyea Dickson.
• Brandon Meredith singles on a ground ball to left fielder O'Koyea Dickson. Telvin Nash to 3rd. MP Cokinos to 2nd.
• Ryan McCurdy singles on a pop up to second baseman Scott Wingo. Telvin Nash scores. MP Cokinos to 3rd. Brandon Meredith to 2nd.
• With Delino DeShields batting, wild pitch by Pedro Guerrero, MP Cokinos scores. Brandon Meredith to 3rd. Ryan McCurdy to 2nd.
• Delino DeShields walks.
• Nolan Fontana singles on a ground ball to right fielder Scott Schebler. Brandon Meredith scores. Ryan McCurdy to 3rd. Delino DeShields to 2nd.
• Pitching Change: Scott Wingo replaces Pedro Guerrero, batting 8th.
• Defensive Substitution: Pedro Guerrero replaces designated hitter Carl Crawford, batting 1st, playing second base.
• Andrew Aplin hits a grand slam (6) to center field. Ryan McCurdy scores. Delino DeShields scores. Nolan Fontana scores.
• Telvin Nash flies out to center fielder Casio Grider.

Yeah, those two Rancho pitchers? They are both infielders. And they pitched like infielders, allowing seven runs combined including an Andrew Aplin (1x5 5RBI) grand slam to cap it all off. Nolan Fontana (4x6 2-2B 4RBI R), Matt Duffy (2x6 2B 2R) and Ryan McCurdy (3x4 2RBI 2R 2HBP) all had good afternoons.

Quad Cities over Clinton 4-1

Mike Hauschild (5IP 3H 10SO) and Jordan Jankowski (3IP 4H 4SO) combined for eight shutout innings. Neither pitcher allowed a free pass. Gera Sanchez gave up the only Clinton run on a solo home run in the ninth. The Bandits put up two in the second, one more in the third as Rio Ruiz (2x4 RBI) drove in Carlos Correa (1x4 2B R) and the final run in the fourth on Austin Elkins' fourth home run of the season. After a slow start, Rio Ruiz is now heating up, hitting .325/.372/.500 over his last 10 games. Carlos Correa is hitting .425/.452/.600 in his last 10.

Tri-City over Connecticut 6-2

Starter Michael Feliz (3H 6SO) allowed one run via a solo home run in his six innings and was awarded the win. He was followed by three innings from Andrew Thurman (3H 1R 1BB 6SO). Tri-City got on the board early with a two-run homer from Dan Gulbransen (2x3 BB) in the first inning. They added four more in the third as Conrad Gregor (1x3 BB RBI 2R) and Jake Rodriguez (2x2 2RBI 2BB) drove in three with RBI singles and Ronnie Mitchell scored on a wild pitch. Tony Kemp was three-for-four with a double, walk, two stolen bases and a run scored.

Greeneville at Burlingon - Postponed

Player of the Day: Normally a grand slam would get you Player of the Day honors, but when the salami comes off a second baseman? Not so much. Sorry, Andrew. Nolan Fontana had a breakout game with two RBI doubles and a RBI single solidifying his recent progress at the plate.

Pitcher of the Day: Mike Hauschild has settled in beautifully and he pitched a gem on Sunday, allowing only three hits while striking out 10 batters. In his last ten games, he is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.038 WHIP. He has walked six and struck out 38 during that time frame.