Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Tuesday, July 8, 2014


Oklahoma City 6, New Orleans 5

W- Jake Buchanan (7-5)
L- Adam Conley (2-4)
S- Kevin Chapman (5)

OKC home runs: None.

The RedHawks built a 6-1 lead and then had to hang on for dear life as the Zephyrs chipped away at it.

After New Orleans opened the scoring in the 1st, OKC responded with 4 in the bottom of the 2nd in the form of an RBI single from Max Stassi, a 2-run double from Jio Mier, and a Ronald Torreyes sac fly. In the 3rd, Matt Duffy hit an RBI groundout, and Joe Sclafani added an RBI single. Austin Wates, Preston Tucker (2 R), Sclafani, and Stassi all had 2 hits in this game.

Jake Buchanan went 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 9 hits (solo homer), walked 2, and struck out 1. Jason Stoffel allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and fanned 3 over 2 scoreless, and Kevin Chapman allowed an unearned run on 3 hits in the 9th, but he was able to pull himself together to close it out. He struck out 1.

In game 3, uh... Jake Buchanan was scheduled to start that one. I suppose he and Brett Oberholtzer switched places? Whoever the starter is, he'll take on Brian Flynn at 7:05.

Corpus Christi was off

The Hooks will actually begin a 4-game series in Frisco beginning at 7:05. Mike Hauschild will face Edwar Cabrera.

Inland Empire 14, Lancaster 8

W- Chris O'Grady (1-2)
L- Evan Grills (0-1, 3-4 season)

Lancaster home runs: Jack Mayfield (3, 5 season; 3-run in 2nd), Conrad Gregor (7, 8 season; solo in 9th)

The JetHawks' slide continues. They got to within 1 run twice, but the 66ers put them away with a 6-1 run over the final 4 innings.

They got on the board in the 2nd with a 5-spot, as Jack Mayfield ripped a 3-run homer and Danry Vásquez hit a 2-run single. Chan-Jong Moon added a sac fly in the 4th, and later on in the frame, Danry hit another RBI single. Conrad Gregor's homer came with 1 out in the 9th. Everyone in the lineup had a hit; Moon (2B, R, SB [2, 27 season]), Danry (hitting 2nd for the 1st time this season), Dan Gulbransen (2B, R), Mayfield (3-R HR, 2 R), and Tanner Mathis (2B, R) all had 2 hits.

Evan Grills was making his Lancaster debut; he pitched 4 and allowed 8 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits (solo homer), walked 1, and struck out 2. Josh Hader tagged in for 3.2 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits (solo homer), walked 3, and struck out 4. Dan Minor pitched 1.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on on 3 hits, walking 1, and striking out 1.

In the middle game of this series, Brian Holmes will face Elliot Morris. First pitch is at 8:30.

Kane County 7, Quad Cities 3

W- Paul Blackburn (8-2)
L- Edison Frias (5-4)

QC home runs: Marc Wik (2, 4 season; 2-run in 2nd), Brett Phillips (7, solo in 6th)

The Cougars jumped out to a 6-2 lead after 4 innings and the River Bandits offense never really got going, as they were held to 4 hits.

All 3 Bandits runs came off of the two homers you see above. Phillips finished 2-4, while the other hits belonged to Wik and Chase McDonald.

Edison Frias went 3.1 innings and allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 7 hits (solo homer), walked 2, and struck out 3. Albert Minnis tagged in for 3.2 innings and allowed an unearned run on 2 hits and fanned 3. Frederick Tiburcio finished it out, allowing 2 hits and striking out 2 over 2 scoreless.

In the middle game of this series, Blaine Sims makes his Quad Cities debut. He'll face Daury Torrez at 7:00.

Connecticut 18, Tri-City 4

W- Austin Pritcher (3-1)
L- Francis Ramirez (1-3)

TC home runs: A.J. Reed (2, solo in 8th)

After scoring the game's first 2 runs, the ValleyCats found themselves on the wrong end of an 18-2 run.

Reed, who finished 3-4, hit a 2-run double in the 1st to open the scoring. Alfredo Gonzalez went 2-2 and singled to lead off the 5th, then made his way around the bases on a couple of groundouts, and finally scored on a wild pitch. Reed went deep with 2 outs in the 8th. D.J. Fisher went 1-2 with 2 walks and a run scored.

*Fisher's middle name is Joseph, and D.J. is how I will refer to him from now on, because the Houston Rockets fan in me absolutely loathes Derek Fisher the basketball player.

Francis Ramirez went 3.1 innings and allowed 5 runs (2 inherited runners charged to him) on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 1. Vince Wheeland only got 1 out (via strikeout) in the 4th in relief of Ramirez; he allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and walked 2. Raul Rivera was the only Tri-City pitcher who emerged unscathed; he struck out 1 over 1.1 perfect innings. Sebastian Kessay and Chris Munnelly both allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 2 innings; all 4 of Kessay's runs came on a grand slam to Justin Verlander's brother, Ben. Kessay walked 1 and struck out 2, while Munnelly walked 2 and struck out 1. Kevin Ferguson gave up another homer to Verlander in the 9th and struck out 1 in the inning.

After playing their division for the first 25 games of the season (that must get really tiring, playing the same teams over and over and over and over), the ValleyCats will finally play a team from outside their division. They will begin a 3-game series with the Jamestown Jammers tonight at 6:05. Austin Chrismon will face Montana DuRapau in the opener.

Greeneville and Bristol was postponed

This game will be made up as part of a twinbill on July 26.

As for tonight, the Appy Astros are at home, where they will begin a 3-game series against the Johnson City Cardinals. In the opener, Agapito Barrios will take on Steven Farinaro. First pitch is at 6:00.

GCL Braves 5, GCL Astros 3 in 10 innings

W- Jorge Zavala (3-0)
L- Aaron Vaughn (0-1)

GCL home runs: None.

The Kissimmee Stros have alternated wins and losses in their last 4 contests.

Brauly Mejia went 2-3 with a 2-run triple in the 1st. They would have to wait until the 8th for their next run, which came on a Randy Cesar sac fly. Alex Melendez went 2-5 and has a 5-game hitting streak going.

Aaron West made his first rehab appearance and threw 2 scoreless, allowing 3 hits and striking out 2. Elieser Hernandez tagged in for 5 innings and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. J.D. Osborne threw a 1-2-3 8th, striking out 1. Juan Delis worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 9th, and Aaron Vaughn was tagged for 2 runs on 3 hits in the 10th. He struck out 1.

The GCLstros are in Lakeland to face the Tigers; that game will start momentarily.

DSL Royals 7, DSL Astros Blue 5

W- Miguel Medrano (2-1)
L- Gabriel Valdez (2-3)

Blue home runs: None.

The Royals erased a 4-1 deficit by going on a 6-1 run over the final 4 innings.

The Blue team got 1 run from the 1st-4th innings. In order: Oliver Toribio was plunked with the bases loaded. Then, Jonathan Matute hit an RBI single. Connor MacDonald scored on an error, and then he added a sac fly in the 4th. Toribio added an RBI single to his ledger in the 7th. Rodrigo Ayarza went 3-5 with a double and a run scored, and Wander Franco finished 2-5 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Moreno Polanco allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 5 in 5 innings. The wheels fell off on Gabriel Valdez, who allowed 6 runs on 7 hits (solo homer) and struck out 2 in 2 innings. Luis Arias worked around a walk to throw a scoreless 8th.

These two teams are currently in a game at the Astros complex.


DSL Astros Orange 3, DSL Rangers2 2

W- Joel Belboder (3-2)
L- Jesus Linares (0-1)

Orange home runs: None.

Another Astros team emerged victorious over the Rangers, as the Orange team got a run in the 8th to break a 2-2 tie.

Bryan De La Cruz grounded into a force out in the 4th that brought home their first run. Frankeny Fernandez scored on a wild pitch in the 6th, and he scored the eventual game-winning run on a single from Vicente Sanchez in the 8th. Fernandez added a steal; he's now 18-19 on the year. Luis Vasquez went 2-4.

Gerald Benzant allowed an unearned run on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2 in 3 IP. Juan Hernandez also went 3; he allowed a run on 2 hits, walked 2, and fanned 2. Joel Belboder, who had a walk-off walk to go along with his win on Saturday, threw 3 scoreless and allowed a hit, walked 1, and fanned 4.

These two teams are at it again at the Rangers complex.


Monday: DSL Marlins 8, DSL Astros Orange 3


Marcos Almonte: 2-5, 2 2B, R
Frankeny Fernandez: 2-3
Bryan De La Cruz: 2-4

Yhoan Acosta: L (2-2), 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 earned), BB, 4 K