Astros Minor League Recaps

Saturday's Games

Bristol White Sox 1, Greeneville Astros 3
Greeneville shut out their opponents after the third inning to be able to pull ahead and win this game to take the series at home. Starting pitcher Frederick Tiburcio went five innings on the mound and allowed one run on five hits, walked two and struck out six. Jordan Mills (1-1) tallied his first win of the season after pitching the next three and a third, allowing three hits and striking out a trio. Brain Holberton was the only Greeneville player with multiple hits, going two-for-three with a run scored, walk and a strikeout.

GCL Blue Jays 8, GCL Astros 3 –completion from 7/6/13

This GCL Astros scored a run in each of the first three innings and after that point were shutout, collecting just three singles and a walk. Zachary Dando (0-1) entered in the fourth and pitched two outs into the fifth to record his first loss and blown save. Dando faced four batters in the fourth, walking one before being charged with five runs on four hits and a walk in the fifth. Yonathan Mejia went two-for-four at the plate with a double and a strikeout. Jean Batista went one-for-four, hitting his first triple of the season while striking out twice.

GCL Astros 2, GCL Blue Jays 7 (7)

The GCL Astros tried to creep back into this one, but ultimately fell for the second time on Saturday. Samil De Los Santos (1-2) took the loss after working the first three innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out a pair. The Astros had just one extra-base hit in this game and it was recorded by the same player who knocked in both runs, Yonathan Mejia (1X2 2B 2RBI). Mejia hit a sac’ fly in the fourth for his team’s first run of the game and doubled in the sixth to score another.

DSL Astros 1, DSL Red Sox 0 
The DSL Astros were out hit 4-7 in this game and it didn’t matter. They shut out their opponents after missing their last two games due to weather. Rayderson Chevalier (3-1) took the mound first and after five innings of work, was in line for the win, allowing just two hits and a walk as he struck out three over that time.  Marlon Avea collected half of the Astros hits, going two-for three at the plate. Randy Cesar (1X4 RBI SO) knocked in the game’s only run in the fourth with a single, scoring Alexander Melendez (0X3 R), who reached on a throwing error earlier in the inning.

Lowell Spinners 4, Tri-City Valley Cats 3

The Valley Cats were shutting out their opponents Saturday before allowing four runs via a grand slam in the ninth inning to turn the table. Andrew Thurman pitched the first four innings and retired the first nine batters he faced in order before allowing a hit, the only hit of his shift. Thurman also walked one and struck out the same. The ninth inning saw three different pitchers for Tri-City and they combined to load the bases before the last, Patrick Christensen (1-1), gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced. Christensen ended up with the blown save (1) and the loss, striking out the last two batters he faced. Anthony Kemp (3X5 RBI) and Ryan Dineen (3X4 RBI SO) both had three hit games. Michael Martinez went two-for-four, walked once, struck out twice and clubbed a two-out solo shot in the fifth inning.

Quad Cities River Bandits 5, Kane County Cougars 0
The River Bandits three-hit shut out their opponents to end their losing streak in style on Saturday. Starting pitcher Mike Hauschild (6-1) picked up the win after going seven innings, allowing all three hits and striking out two to face just two over the minimum. Austin “Catfish” Elkins didn’t have any hits in the game (0X1), but scored a couple of runs and stole a pair of bases thanks to drawing three walks. Dan Gulbransen (2X4 R 3B) Teoscar Hernandez (2X5 R RBI 2SO), and Jobduan Moralez (2X3 2B RBI BB) all had two hit performances.

Lancaster JetHawks 8, Inland Empire 66ers 10
The JetHawks were behind eight runs before they scored one of their own, Saturday and it proved too steep of a hill to climb. Aaron West (6-5) had a rough outing, making it two outs into the first before leaving the game, recording five runs (2ER) on five hits and striking out one. West was charged with the loss. Joe Sclafani (2X5 2R HR RBI) put Lancaster on the board in the fourth with a solo-homer to lead off the inning. Matt Duffy (1X5 R HR 3BI 2SO) closed the gap in the seventh with a three-run shot of his own. M.P. Cokinos (3X4 2R RBI BB SO) and Carlos Perdomo (3X4 R 2B RBI) added three hits apiece to the JetHawks effort.

Corpus Christi Hooks 4, Tulsa Drillers 2
A three-run rally in the ninth brought the Hooks back to take this win on the road. The ninth-inning rally started when birthday boy, Preston Tucker knocked in two runs with a big-time, two-out triple. Tucker scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch two batters later. Tucker also put the Hooks first run on the board in the second with a two-out, solo home run. Preston Tucker finished two-for four at the plate with two runs scored, a triple, homer and three RBI. David Martinez started on the mound and pitched five and two thirds innings, allowing a run on eight hits, walked one and struck out two. Pat Urckfitz (4-3) picked up the win after working the eighth and keeping it perfect. Jorge De Leon did the same in the ninth and earned his second save.

Oklahoma City RedHawks 6, New Orleans Zephyrs 5
The RedHawks mounted a comeback of their own Saturday to win this game in the ninth frame on a home run by Carlos Perez (1X4 R HR RBI). George Springer (2X4 2R 2HR 3BI SO) hit two homers in the game, a two-run shot in the first and a solo shot in the fourth. Springer was the only RedHawk with multiple hits in the game. Jarred Cosart threw the first five and a third innings allowing all five opposing runs on seven hits (HR), walking one and striking out three. Oklahoma City’s pitchers kept it scoreless and hitless after Cosart left the game and Jason Stoffel (3-0) picked up the win after facing two batters and retiring them both (SO) to finish the eighth. Josh Zeid recorded his 10^th save after working the ninth, facing four batters, walking one and K-ing two.

Player of the Day: Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Preston Tucker certainly did on Saturday. On his 23^rd birthday he helped the Hooks to a win by either scoring or knocking in every run they tallied.

Pitcher of the Day: Mike Hauschild was on the mound for seven of Quad Cities’ shutout innings Saturday and earns a nod today.