Astros Fall and Winter League Recaps

Saturday's Games

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Salt River over Peoria 7-2

Peoria Javelinas
CF Delino DeShields - 2x4 3B SO
1B Japhet Amador - 0x2 SO
3B Jonathan Meyer - 2x2 2B RBI

RHP Matt Heidenreich (L, 1-1) - 7H 3R/2ER 2BB 3SO
RHP Andrew Robinson - 1.0IP 3H 3R 1BB 1SO
LHP Alex Sogard - 1.0IP 0H 0R 0BB 1SO

Not only was the game televised on the MLB Network last night, one of my intrepid roving reporters was in attendance for the game as well. Some of his thoughts, with my editorial comments interjected, follow. It was an interesting broadcast because MLB has been experimenting with expanded play review. In order to fully test it in the field, the coaches were actually encouraged to ask for review with no limits as to the type of play for which it was being used.

I went to see the Astros prospects tonight and a major league test broke out. This evening they were trying out the new major league appeal/review process with two cameras capturing the action and the opposing managers apparently able to challenge all forms of calls. The first challenge, that of a hit batsman by Astros prospect Matt Heidenreich, was met by silence as most of us were caught unawares by the stoppage of play. An attendant ran out on the field with a set of microphone/earphones and the Home Plate Umpire communicated with whomever it is in the booth that actually performs the review. [WTHB: I believe that the TV broadcasters indicated that umpires were reviewing the plays in a TV truck.] In subsequent reviews of plays at the bases, the umpire whose call is being reviewed joins the Home Plate Ump and upon completion of the review, the home plate umpire reiterates the call. All calls were upheld during the seven innings I watched, but each successive 'challenge' drew more and loader boos from the 2100+ fans in attendance. 

As for the actual Astros players, this was an uneven night. 

Delino DeShields was batting leadoff and started the game with a three-pitch, called, strikeout. His next appearance led to four foul balls before making an out, and his third time up featured a beautiful shot to right-center one hopping the fence at the 390 foot mark - a double for most but an easy stand-up triple for DD. He followed this with a solidly struck single his next time at the plate, with all balls going to right or right-center this evening. [WTHB: The following is in response to reports that DeShields has been less than fully engaged during games.]  In the field DeShields showed an involvement that had been lacking earlier in league play, making a nice catch on a ball over his head moving to left-center, and laying out at top speed on a ball hit to the warning track in right-center then leaping to his feet, fielding the ball off the wall and getting it back to the infield before collapsing to the ground for a minute or two. There was no indication he was seriously hurt and he remained in the line-up.

Japhet Amador, batting cleanup, failed to plate a run when presented with runners on first and third, went hitless in three appearances and was pitch-hit for in the sixth. 

Jonathan Meyer hit sixth, struck the ball well all night and, surprisingly, played a very nice third base - showing good range left and right. [WTHB: Meyer often surprises people with his athleticism at third.] Meyer was lifted in the sixth for a pinch hitter as well. 

Heidenreich gave up a hit in each of the first three innings but worked his way out of trouble with strikeouts when he needed them ... but the fourth inning was a different story, enabled by his right fielder overrunning a single in an attempt to throw out a runner rounding third for home. The two-base error wound up costing Peoria three runs in the inning, but Heidenreich was not sharp throughout.

Andrew Robinson had an even worse outing, yielding a bases loaded triple in his inning of work. 

Alex Sogard set Salt River down 1-2-3 in his inning of work, but the first two outs came on scalded pitches and the third on a terrible checked-swing call by the Home Plate Umpire. 

Didn't stay to the end as the Valley of the Sun was decidedly chilly this evening.

My intrepid reporter prefers to remain anonymous, but it is my hope that you have enjoyed his voice and writing style as much as I have.

Today is an off day for the AFL.

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Nothing to report

LIGA PARALELA (VENEZUELAN MINOR LEAGUE)

No game results posted for Saturday.

LIGA MEXICANA DEL PACIFICO

Mexicali over Culiacan 14-3

Tomateros del Culiacan
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 1.0IP 1H 1R 0BB 2SO HR

Los Mochis over Guasave 8-4

Algodoneros de Guasave
RF Leo Heras - 2x4 BB R

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

Gigantes over Licey 10-1

Gigantes del Cibao
LHP Rudy Owens (W, 2-1) - 6.0IP 3H 0R 0BB 5SO

Tigres del Licey
RF Domingo Santana - 0x2 2SO

Aguilas over Toros 3-1

Aguilas Cibaenas
SS Jonathan Villar - 0x2 SAC

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Nothing to report

LIGA DE BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE (PUERTO RICO)

Mayaguez over Santurce 5-3

Cangrejeros de Santurce
1B Jon Singleton - 2x3 2B 2BB SO
RF Austin Wates - 1x4 SAC GIDP (Wates also had THREE outfield assists in the game)
RHP Juan Santos - 0.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 1SO