Astros Minor League Recaps

Saturday's Games

-Jayne's update of the playoff situation for each of these teams as of this morning can be found here.

Greeneville Astros 1, Danville Braves 3
Greeneville scored in the first inning and was nearly shutdown for the rest of the game. After the first frame, the Astros had two hits and six men on base the rest of the game. Chris Lee (2-2) was on the mound for the first five innings and picked up the loss. Lee allowed three runs on three hits, walked three and K-ed a pair. Greeneville pitchers kept Danville hitless after the second inning. Tanner Mathis had two of his team's three hits, going two-for-four at the plate and scored their only run of the day.

GCL Braves 8, GCL Astros 9 (15) -Game 1

The Astros came back to finish this game on Saturday and it was an eight-to-eight stalemate until the 15th inning when the Astros led off with three consecutive singles to push across the winning, walkoff run. Six of the eight runs scored against the Astros in this match were unearned— a result of the six errors committed. Matt Heidenreich started the game on the mound and through four innings gave up two hits, a unearned run and struck out four. Five pitchers and nine innings later, Samil De Los Santos (3-2) recorded the win. De Los Santos gave up a hit and walked three in the final two frames, Saturday. Jose Fernandez (3X7 R 2-2B RBI SO) and Yonathan Mejia (3X7 2B 2RBI 2SO) had three hits apiece while Hector Roa (2X5 R 3B RBI BB) and Jean Batista (2X7 R 3B RBI SO) added two each.  

GCL Braves 5, GCL Astros 1 -Game 2

In the second game of the day, the Astros offense was quiet. After scoring a run in the third they would only have one more hit all day. Yonathan Mejia (1X4 RBI SO) drove the run in with an RBI single, his only hit in the second scoop of this double dip. Luis Reynoso went two-for-four with a strikeout and was the only Astro with a multi-hit performance. Agapito Barrios (3-6) worked the first four and two-thirds, allowing four runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out the same to pick up the loss.

DSL Mariners 2, DSL Astros 6  

The DSL Astros won their last game, ending their season on a four game streak. Edwin Villarroel (5-5) started on the hill and through five frames gave up two hits (HR), one run, walked two and K-ed four, collecting the last win of the season. Alexander Melendez (3X4 2R 2B RBI) and Jean Carlos Cortorreal (2X3 3RBI) combined for five hits and four RBI in the game. Luis Payano, Arturo Michelena and Kristian Trompiz each stole two bases on Saturday.

Staten Island Yankees 2, Tri-City ValleyCats 4

The Valley Cats scored first and held their opponents scoreless until the fifth inning in route to their fourth win in a row on Saturday. Tri-City started the game off with four consecutive singles that resulted in two runs. When all was said and done at the plate, Jon Kemmer (3X4 2R 2B 3B SO) ended up a homer short of the cycle. Evan Grills (6-0) was the Valley Cats starter and through five frames he tallied five hits and an unearned run, walked one and struck out six, picking up the win. Gonzalo Sanudo recorded his fourth save for Tri-City, and 15th all year, after tossing a perfect ninth inning.  

Quad Cities River Bandits 4, Burlington Bees 1

The River Bandits allowed a run to the Bees in the first and nothing more as they won their third in a row and improved their playoff hopes. Austin "Catfish" Elkins (3X5 R 2B 3B SO) nearly cycled in this game too, ending up a homer shy of the feat. Danry Vasquez (3X4 R BB) collected three hits of his own in the game while Bobby Borchering (2X4 R RBI SO) hit two. Brian Holmes (5-3) started and pitched through the sixth inning, allowing a run on six hits (HR) as he struck out five and tallied the win. Mitchell Lambson was nearly perfect as he earned the save, hurling the final three innings. Lambson retired seven in order before hitting the second batter of the ninth; he finished with six strikeouts.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2, Lancaster JetHawks 10

The JetHawks scored eight runs through the fourth inning and Lancaster pitching kept the Quakes scoreless outside of the third as they picked up their third win in as many games. Starting pitcher Brady Rodgers (10-8) worked six frames and took the win, giving up two runs on five hits and walking two as he struck out eight. Delino DeShields (3X5 2R) and Andrew Aplin (3X5 R 2SO) both had three hits on Saturday. MP Cokinos (2X5 3RBI 2SO) had two hits and tacked on three RBI. Brandon Meredith (1X2 R HR 2RBI 3BB SO) padded Lancaster's lead in the sixth inning with a two-run shot, his 15th homer of the season.

Corpus Christi Hooks 2, San Antonio Missions 10

The Hooks had 12 hits but only scored two runs on Saturday. Erik Castro (3X5 2R 2B HR RBI) led off the second inning with a solo home run to get Corpus Christi on the board and he scored in the sixth on a Michael Burgess groundout for the final Hooks run of the day. Ruben Alaniz (7-9) took the loss after clocking in for the first three and two-thirds. Alaniz was charged with all ten runs (6 ER) on 11 hits, two walks as he struck out four. After Alaniz left the game, Kyle Hallock and T.J. Geith combined to keep it scoreless thereafter, allowing just two hits. Preston Tucker (2X5) and Leonardo Heras (2X4 BB) also had multi-hit games.

Oklahoma City RedHawks 6, Round Rock Express 3

The RedHawks put up four runs in the fifth inning and they all came with two outs in the inning. Taking a page from the Tri-City playbook, Oklahoma City strung together five consecutive singles to break the game open.

Okla. City Top of the 5th

• Raoul Torrez doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Chris McGuiness.
• Trevor Crowe grounds out, second baseman Yangervis Solarte to first baseman Jim Adduci. Raoul Torrez to 3rd.
• Jose Martinez strikes out swinging.
• George Springer singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Engel Beltre. Raoul Torrez scores.
• Brandon Laird singles on a ground ball to center fielder Engel Beltre. George Springer to 3rd.
• Jonathan Singleton singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Engel Beltre. George Springer scores. Brandon Laird to 2nd.
• Japhet Amador singles on a line drive to center fielder Engel Beltre. Brandon Laird scores. Jonathan Singleton to 2nd.
• Marc Krauss singles on a ground ball to center fielder Engel Beltre. Jonathan Singleton scores. Japhet Amador to 2nd.
• Rene Garcia grounds into a force out, third baseman Alex Buchholz to second baseman Yangervis Solarte. Marc Krauss out at 2nd.

Starter Bobby Doran (3-0) notched the win after pitching through the sixth inning. Doran allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out three. Hector Ambriz entered in the ninth and left with his third save after giving up a hit and walking a batter. George Springer didn't homer but did steal second base in the third inning leaving him at 37/42 in the hunt for 40/40. Six RedHawks had multiple hit games and rather than list them, here is a look at the box (a picture is worth a thousand words, after all):

Player of the Day: Jon Kemmer, Catfish Elkins and Erik Castro all share the honor today for ending up one blank column short of hitting for the cycle. These guys all played tremendous games.

Pitcher of the Day: Evan Grills and Mitchell Lambson, please stand up. One guy started and the other finished and both put in the effort yesterday.