Astros Minor League Recaps

Sunday's Games

Oklahoma City over Iowa 4-3
Asher Wojciechowski got the start and the win as he pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Philip Humber and Jorge de Leon each pitched an inning of scoreless relief, and Josh Zeid got his 13th save despite adding one to the run column in the ninth. The RedHawks got one across in the second on a Marwin Gonzalez (2x3) RBI double, but the rest came via the long ball ... a solo shot from Jon Singleton in the fifth and a two-run bomb from the bombardier himself, George Springer (2x4), in the sixth. It was Springer's 29th of the season. Jimmy Paredes was two-for-three and stole a base.

Corpus Christi over Midland 5-2
R.J. Alaniz (6H 4BB 2SO) allowed the only two Midland runs in his six innings before he gave way to two scoreless frames from Carlos Quevedo. Andrew Robinson got his second save of the season with a perfect ninth. Robinson is quietly going about having a nice stretch; in his last 10 games, he has a 1.64 ERA and a 0.818 WHIP. The Hooks scored three in the first inning, starting with Drew Muren scoring from third on a wild pitch and the other two coming on an Erik Castro double and a Jonathan Meyer (2x4) single. The fourth run came in the third on Domingo Santana's 17th home run of the season, and Rene Garcia (2x4) singled in Jio Mier for the final run of the game.

Rancho Cucamonga over Lancaster 11-10
This was one that got away. Luis Cruz (7H 5R 1BB 6SO) got hit hard, giving up two doubles and two home runs in his five frames. Tyson Perez and Kenny Long followed, allowing two runs each in their outings and were followed by a perfect three-strikeout eighth from Blair Walters. In the top of the ninth, the JetHawks re-took the lead. Unfortunately, Travis Ballew couldn't hang on to it in the bottom of the frame and allowed two runs, only to be charged with a blown save and a loss. Matt Duffy (1x3 BB 2R) drew first blood, scoring on a wild pitch in the third. Two more came across in the fifth on a Delino DeShields (3x4 3B HR 5RBI R) triple, one more in the sixth and three in the seventh on a three-run DeShields home run. Two more scored in the eighth on a Joe Sclafani (2x4 2B 3B 2RBI 2R) triple and a Chris Epps (3x3 RBI 2R) sac fly, and one more in the ninth on a M.P. Cokinos single.

Quad Cities over Beloit 9-1
Joe Bircher had a terrific outing in only his second start with Quad Cities after coming back from a rehab assignment. In seven scoreless innings, he only gave up three hits and two walks while striking out a pair. Mitch Lambson kept the shutout going through the eighth, but ultimately allowed one run in the ninth. Quad Cities roughed up the Beloit starting pitcher early, collecting five runs in the first inning. Teoscar Hernandez (3x5 2B HR RBI 3R) got it started with a solo homer and was followed by two-run doubles from both Rio Ruiz (3x5 2B 3RBI R) and Terrell Joyce (2x5 2-2B 2RBI). Two more came across on a Carlos Correa (2x4 2B 2RBI R) sac fly and a Dan Gulbransen (2x4 2B BB RBI R) single in the second. Correa doubled in another run in the fourth and Ruiz drove in the final run in the ninth.

Connecticut over Tri-City 3-0
Andrew Thurman (5IP 6H 2R 1BB 4SO HR) took the loss and was followed by by one inning from Richard Rodriguez who allowed the final run across in the sixth. Michael Feliz pitched the final three scoreless innings with four hits and four strikeouts. The ValleyCats only collected four hits in the shutout with Tony Kemp and Brett Booth each collecting two hits with a double. Booth also collected the only 'Cats walk of the game. Jon Kemmer was credited with an outfield assist.

Greeneville over Pulaski 10-1
See Appy Astros Eyewitness Account here.

GCL Astros and DSL Astros - Day Off

Pitcher of the Day: Joe Bircher appears to be back from his rehab with a vengeance. It is my honor to honor him for his seven shutout innings.

Players of the Day: Delino DeShields was a double shy of the cycle and drove in five runs. Teoscar Hernandez was a triple shy of the cycle, scored three runs and contributed an outfield assist to the mix. (He is hitting .317/.370/.610 over his last 10 games.) Rio Ruiz deserves acknowledgement for his three RBI day as well.