Astros Minor League Recaps

Sunday's Games

Oklahoma City over Memphis 5-4 in 11 innings
Blair Walters got the spot start and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over four and a third innings. He struck out four. Pat Urckfitz (2.1IP 2H 2SO) and Jose Cisnero (1.1IP 1H 1BB 2SO) followed with scoreless relief. Hector Ambriz gave up the final two Memphis runs in the ninth inning, but benefited from the RedHawks scoring four in the bottom of the frame to tie it and earned the win after pitching the 10th and 11th. Down 4-0 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the RedHawks got to work. Che-Hsuan Lin (2x3 BB) doubled, Carlos Perez singled and then Jimmy Paredes (3x5 BB) doubled in Lin. Paredes was followed by a three-run Jose Martinez (3x6) home run to tie it up. Martinez was once again the hero in the bottom of the 11th as he drove in the winning run, walk-off style. Marc Krauss was two-for-five with a double and Carlos Perez went three-for-five and scored a run.

San Antonio over Corpus Christi 13-9
David Rollins got roughed up in this one to the tune of eight runs on 10 hits (including two home runs) over four and a third. T.J. Geith didn't fare much better as he allowed another five runs across on five hits in his two and two-thirds innings. Cameron Lamb and Carlos Quevedo each pitched a perfect frame. Down 13-3 at one point, the Hooks battled back but ultimately came up short. Luis Alvarez and Michael Burgess (2x3 3RBI) both provided a little fireworks with two-run shots while Preston Tucker (2x5 2B HR 3RBI) contributed a solo dinger. Domingo Santana went two-for-four with a double, walk and two runs scored, and Ronald Torreyes was two-for-four with a double and scored once.

Rancho Cucamonga over Lancaster 2-1 in 10 innings
Starter Vince Velasquez didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and then allowed only two singles. His final line for the night was 6IP 2H 1R 1BB 8SO. He was followed by one and a third scoreless innings from Kenny Long. Travis Ballew then took it the rest of the way, allowing the game-winning run from the Quakes in the 10th. The 'Hawks sole run came in the fourth on a Brandon Meredith home run. Delino DeShields had the only other extra-base hit, a triple, and he stole his 51st base of the season. Dan Gulbransen collected two of the 'Hawks six hits.

Quad Cities over Beloit 8-7
The River Bandits took control early, with a six-run third inning featuring a two-RBI single from Carlos Correa and a two-run home run from Danry Vasquez. They added on two in the fifth on another Danry Vasquez home run and a Bobby Borchering (2x3) triple scoring Rio Ruiz (2x3 2-2B BB 2R). Leading 8-2 behind the start from Josh Hader (4.1IP 2H 2R 6BB 4SO) and some excellent relief pitching from Patrick Christensen, it looked like this was Quad Cities all the way. But Jorge Perez struggled to get out of the seventh and ultimately allowed five runs while only recording two outs. Andrew Walter came to the rescue converting a two and a third inning save opportunity.

Tri-City over Lowell 7-4
I cannot emphasize exactly how much Tri-City needed this win. They had not been able to put a dent in their magic number for five straight games. Now they have a chance, but it will likely come down to their final game on Wednesday. Michael Feliz got the start and things got squirrely early, as he allowed four runs across in the first inning, but he righted the ship and the next six innings were scoreless. Feliz' final line was 7IP 5H 4R 2BB 10SO. He was followed by Gonzalo Sanudo who struck out four in the final two innings to earn his seventh save in only eight games for Tri-City. The 'Cats answered the four-run first with a four-run third of their own, featuring a James Ramsay (2x5 BB 2R) RBI single, a Ryan Dineen sac fly RBI and a two-run single from Conrad Gregor (2x3 2B BB 3RBI). Tri-City added on one more in the seventh for the go ahead run and two more insurance runs in the eighth. Ronnie Mitchell went two-for-five with an RBI, and Chan Moon went three-for-four with a double, walk and scored twice.

Kingsport over Greeneville 3-1 (Playoff Game #1)
Jandel Gustave got the start and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings and was followed by four perfect innings from Joe Musgrove. The Astros only managed one run in the seventh as Brian Holberton doubled in Brett Phillips (3x4). Juan Santana also doubled in the game.

Player of the Day: Jose Martinez' four RBI day would put him in the running for Player of the Day anyway, but getting both the game tying and game winning runs in seals the deal. Honorable mention goes to Danry Vasquez.

Pitcher of the Day: Michael Feliz gets the honors. After getting hurt in the first inning, he bore down and only gave up one single and one walk the rest of the way. He gave his team a chance to come back in a crucial game and they did.