Astros Minor League Recaps

Saturday's Games

Greeneville Astros 3, Bristol White Sox 4 
Greeneville scored three runs before Bristol answered back Saturday and once they did Greeneville fell behind. Troy Scribner took the start for the Astros and threw four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks as he struck out four. Krishawn Holley (3-1) tossed the final six outs and earned his second blown save and the loss. Holley gave up two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out one. Chase McDonald (1X4 R HR RBI SO) scored Greeneville's last run of the game when he hit a solo knock in the sixth inning. Tanner Mathis went nothing-for-one at the plate but scored a run in the fifth after drawing a walk, one of three he drew in the game.

GCL Astros 7, GCL Phillies 8

The Astros held a seven to two lead entering the ninth inning and allowed six runs to score in the bottom of the ninth, resulting in a loss. Jorge Perez and Joe Musgrove both pitched in the ninth inning and only Perez (.1 IP 2H 4ER 2BB) recorded an out. Together they allowed six runs on six hits and two walks. Musgrove (0-3), who allowed the final two runs, picked up the loss and his first blown save. Yonathan Mejia (2X5 R 2B HR 2RBI SO) began the scoring in the first inning with a two-run shot that scored Javaris Reynolds (2X3 2R 2BB SO). Jose Solano and Joel Silfa both went two-for-four in the game with a run scored. Solano also picked up his 21^st RBI of the season.

DSL Astros 7, DSL Indians 2

The DSL Astros nearly shut out their opponent on Saturday before giving up a pair of runs in the ninth inning. Joselo Pinales (2-0) picked up the win, going the first five innings on the mound and giving up just a hit and walk while he was there. Pinales struck out six. Luis Payano closed out at one-for-four batting with a couple walks, a strike out and a pair of RBI and run scored. Payano hit a triple in the fourth that plated the first two runs for Astros. Kristian Trompiz also hit one-for-four, but collected three RBI and a walk in the game. Payano and Trompiz accounted for six of their team’s seven runs on the day.

Tri-City Valley Cats 2, Aberdeen IronBirds 6

The Valley Cats scored first and last, but at one run an installment it was not enough for the win. It might have been had Tri-City not committed three errors which led to four unearned runs in the game. Chris Cotton strode to the hill first and worked four and a third, recording five runs (2ER) on seven hits (HR) and four Ks. Cotton (3-3) would take the loss.  Brett Booth and James Ramsay split four of Tri-City’s seven hits, both going two-for-four. Ramsay scored a run and hit a triple while Booth hit a two-bagger and struck out once.

Quad Cities River Bandits 5, Cedar Rapids Kernels 2

Starting pitcher Joe Bircher went seven innings on Saturday allowing just a run on a pair of hits and essentially slowed the Kernels offense down to just a trickle. Bircher (3-1) also struck out two on route to the win. While Bircher was working his magic the Quad Cities bats were busy. The River Bandits had 11 hits in the game and Carlos Correa and Austin "Catfish" Elkins were responsible for seven of them. Correa finished at four-for-five batting with a pair of RBIs and a strikeout while Elkins went three-for-four with two runs scored and an RBI, ending up a double short of cycling. Saturday's win is Quad Cities' seventh consecutive and moves them to half a game back in the second half standings (behind the Kernels).

High Desert Mavericks 9, Lancaster JetHawks 12

The JetHawks were down nine to three headed into the fifth inning. Through the fifth and sixth Lancaster scored nine uncontested runs and rode that rally to the win, marking their sixth double-digit score in a row. MP Cokinos (1X2 R HR 2RBI 2BB) and Luis Alvarez (2X3 2R 3B HR 2RBI BB) helped with the comeback, both hitting two-run homers in the sixth inning. Andrew Aplin (2X3 3R 2B 3RBI 2BB) also helped, batting in a run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Aplin stole a base too. Delino DeShields didn't have any RBIs but managed to keep himself in scoring position, hitting four-for-five in the game with three doubles and a triple, scoring three runs and striking out once. Kyle Smith, in his debut with the Houston organization, made it only two outs into the game, allowing four runs on four hits (HR) and walking a trio. Tyson Perez, who pitched the fifth through eighth, picked up the win, tallying three hits and a walk in his four innings of work. Travis Ballew earned his 18th save after completing the ninth with one hit, a walk and a K.

Midland RockHounds 8, Corpus Christi Hooks 1

The Hooks had two hits and one run in their loss at home on Saturday. The run came by way of a two out, Preston Tucker (1X2 R HR RBI BB) solo shot in the fourth inning. Ronald Torreyes (1X4) singled in the sixth inning for the only other hit of the game. Tucker also drew the only Hooks walk of the game. Kyle Hallock, who took the loss, (0-1) pitched the first four and a third, recording five runs, four hits (HR), four walks and four Ks.

Colorado Springs Sky Sox 5, Oklahoma City RedHawks 24

Sometimes the best offense is not a good defense. Sometimes the best offense is simply having tons of offense. The latter is certainly the strategy the RedHawks employed on Saturday at home as they won their ninth game in a row. Bobby Doran started on the mound and worked four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, a pair of walks, while striking out three. Eric Berger (4-3) clocked in for the next one and a third, keeping it scoreless, allowing a hit, walking one and striking out three to pick up the win. Jon Singleton hit a grand slam in the first inning and Brandon Laird followed in the second with a three-run knock. Seven players had multiple hits for Oklahoma City and three had more than four RBI. There were 20 hits all told and they scored no less than three runs in five separate innings. Only one RedHawk struck out the game. Here's a look at the box score chronicling the RedHawks Saturday slug fest:

Player of the Day: The baseball gods shone on the Astros farm Saturday and so WTHB will shine as well. There were several outstanding performances yesterday and that means five guys are going to have to share the honor today.

First, Jon Singleton for his Grand Salami—a guarantee of the honors any day.

Next there is Brandon Laird who hit a three run homer and collected seven RBI on the day. That is rare and slightly intimidating.

Third, we have Carlos Correa, who was on fire, batting four-for-five Saturday to bring his RBI total to 63—pretty sweet.

Fourth is Mr. Delino DeShields. DeShields hit three doubles and a triple Saturday! How is that not honor worthy?

Last, but certainly not least, is "Catfish" Elkins who came up a double short of hitting for the cycle—another solid game.

So, in summation, if you think any of these guys doesn't deserve the honors today take it up with him. Just remember, they all know how to swing a bat.

Pitcher of the Day: Joe Bircher personified the expression "to be in the driver's seat" Saturday. For seven innings he slowed Cedar Rapids to a crawl and allowed his team get out ahead for the win. Nicely done.