Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

The complete playoff schedule, results and probable starters can be found here.

Thursday's Games

Quad Cities over South Bend 5-0
Quad Cities took a 2-0 lead in the Midwest League Championship Series with a dominating shutout pitching performances from Joe Bircher (5IP 6H 2BB 2SO), Jamaine Cotton (3IP 0H 0BB 6SO) and J.D. Osborne (1IP 0H 0BB). The River Bandits got the only run they would need in the second inning on a Bobby Borchering (1x3 BB 2R) solo home run, but added on three more in the fourth as Danry Vasquez scored from third on a wild pitch, and Rio Ruiz (2x4 2-2B SB) doubled in a run and scored on a Jordan Scott sac fly. The final run came in the sixth on a Roberto Peña (2x3 BB SB) single driving in Ruiz. Teoscar Hernandez and Brian Blasik each doubled in the game. Scott was credited with an outfield assist. Game 3 of the best-of-five Championship Series will be on Saturday night at home.

Tri-City over State College 4-3
With Thursday's win, the ValleyCats are officially the New York-Penn League Champions. Kyle Westwood got the start and allowed one run on six hits (all singles) and a walk while striking out four over his six innings. The first run of the game was scored by State College in the fourth inning. Tri-City didn't hit the run column until the sixth, but then scored all of their runs in the frame. Jack Mayfield (2x4) drove in Ronnie Mitchell with a single; Chan Moon scored from third on a wild pitch; and Mayfield and Tyler White came home on a force out/throwing error. With the score at 4-1, Chris Munnelly came in to pitch the seventh inning without incident, but after walking the first batter of the eighth inning, Manager Ed Romero went to closer Gonzalo Sanudo to convert his second two-inning save in as many days. Sanudo made it through the eighth inning, stranding runners at the corners, but gave up a single and a home run to start the ninth. With the deficit cut to one run with no outs, State College's Luis Perez singled and reach second on a sac bunt. With the tying run in scoring position and the winning run at the plate, Sanudo then proceeded to strike out the final two batters of the frame. Brett Booth went two-for-four (as did Mayfield). The only other hits in the game belonged to Ronnie Mitchell and Jon Kemmer.

Player of the Day: Rio Ruiz has been all over these playoff games and last night was no different. Two doubles, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored. Nice!

Pitcher of the Day: All three of the Quad Cities pitchers are deserving, but I'm going to single out Jamaine Cotton. Cotton pitched three innings of relief, retired all nine batters in a row and struck out the last six. Fantastic job!