Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Friday, April 4, 2014

The system suffered a power outage... the 3 teams in action combined for just 3 runs on 11 hits.

Round Rock 5, Oklahoma City 0

W- Nick Tepesch (1-0)
L- Jake Buchanan (0-1)

OKC home runs: None.

The RedHawks were held to 4 singles as they got blanked. Max Stassi went 2-4; Austin Wates and George Springer had 1 each.

Jake Buchanan got dinged in the 1st by a 3-run homer from former RedHawk Brad Snyder. He ended up going 4 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Chia-Jen Lo struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 5th to bridge the gap to Paul Clemens, who threw the final 3 innings, allowing a run on 2 hits, walking 1, and fanning 3.

Game 3 of this 4-game set will begin at 6:05. The team of Nick Tropeano and Collin McHugh will face off against Scott Baker.


Corpus Christi 2, Tulsa 1

W- Aaron West (1-0)
L- Bruce Kern (0-1)
S- Alex Sogard (1)

CC home runs: None.

Through 8 innings, there were 16 zeros on the box score. David Rollins started off with 4 scoreless and allowed 3 hits, walked 2, and fanned 6. Aaron West tagged in for 4 more scoreless innings, allowing a hit, walking 1, and striking out 2. He retired 7 in a row to end his outing.

This time, the Hooks were the beneficiaries of a wild pitch, as Preston Tucker scored the first run of the evening on one of those from Bruce Kern. Kiké Hernandez, who was at the plate, wound up walking, and he scored on a Jio Mier double. For the 2nd straight game, a Hook had a 2-steal game; this time, it was Delino DeShields.

Alex Sogard was summoned to close it out, and he got 2 quick outs in the bottom of the 9th. But all of a sudden, things got a little too close for comfort after he allowed 2 conseecutive doubles which resulted in the Drillers' first run. However, he pulled himself together and struck out Jayson Langfels to end the game.

In the series finale, Luis Cruz and Ross Seaton will take on the #1 prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization, Jonathan Gray. First pitch is at 7:05.


Lake Elsinore 6, Lancaster 1

W- Zach Eflin (1-0)
L- Lance McCullers (0-1)

Lancaster home runs: None.

The JetHawks weren't able to take off, as they only managed 3 hits. 2 of those 3 belonged to Tony Kemp; one of those was a double. Kemp also got plunked and scored the only Lancaster run of the game on a Carlos Correa groundout in the 6th inning. Teoscar Hernandez went 1-4 with a steal (1).

Lance McCullers gave up 2 solo shots in his 4 innings: the first was to Alberth Martinez to begin the game, and the other was to Luis Domoromo with 1 out in the 2nd. He allowed 1 other hit, walked 2, and struck out 7, so other than the solo shots, McCullers actually had a pretty good season debut. Yes, he got saddled with the loss, but he shouldn't fret over that.

Juan Minaya allowed a hit in the 5th; it was a 2-run homer for Hunter Renfroe. Both of those runs were unearned. And lastly, Kyle Smith allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5 in 4 innings after tagging in.

Josh Hader and Chris Devenski will take on Colin Rea in game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 6:00 Pacific.


Quad Cities and Kane County was postponed

Due to cold weather, Friday night's game has been postponed. The @QCRiverBandits and @KCCougars will play a 3 p.m. Saturday doubleheader.
— QC River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) April 4, 2014

Three Stars

Well, there's a tie for 1st star.

3.

Tony Kemp, 2B, Lancaster

2-3, 2B, R

Kemp has reached safely in all but 2 of his plate appearances this year. California League pitchers: In case you missed it, Anthony Kemp has declared war on all of you.

1.

 

Aaron West, P, and David Rollins, P, Corpus Christi

West: W (1-0), 4 IP, H, 2 K

Rollins: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K

Honorable Mentions

Jio Mier had a big hit in a critical juncture of the game for Corpus, as his double gave the Hooks a vital run in the top of the 9th.

Paul Clemens was effective as the piggybacker for OKC as he threw 3 innings of 1-run ball. A very solid season debut from a guy who will vie to be one of the first callups to the Major League roster.

As I mentioned earlier, Lance McCullers was rather good, outside of the two solo homers he allowed.