Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Thursday, September 4, 2014

We going to the ship
— Nick Tanielu (@TanieluN) September 5, 2014

More on that in a moment. First up, the Lancaster JetHawks now know who they'll be up against in the California League's South Division Finals. Inland Empire walked off with a 5-4 win in 13 innings to sweep the mini-series against Lake Elsinore. The JetHawks begin their playoff run tomorrow evening at 8:00. Vince Velasquez will get the start in game 1 of that series.

New York-Penn League Semifinals: Tri-City 6, Connecticut 5 (Tri-City wins series 2-0)

W- Austin Chrismon (1-0)
L- Austin Pritcher (0-1)
S- Derick Velazquez (1)

TC home runs: None.

For the 3rd consecutive season, the ValleyCats will head off to the New York-Penn League Championship Series. They jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 4 innings, but the Tigers responded with 1 in the 5th and 4 in the 6th to whittle the lead all the way down to a single run. However, Derick Velazquez shut it down and finished them off.

Austin Chrismon got the start; he went 5.1 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned, 2 inherited runners charged to him via RBI single and sac fly) on 8 hits, walked 1, and struck out 3. Chris Munnelly only got 1 out in the 6th; he had 2 inherited runners charged to him and a couple of singles. Angel Heredia got TC out of the 6th, but not before he allowed a 2-run single that scored both of Munnelly's runners. After that, he caught Derek Hill, who brought the Tigers to within 1, stealing 2nd to end the inning, and then proceeded to throw a 1-2-3 7th, striking out 1. Derick Velazquez was called on to preserve the lead, and he did just that by firing 2 perfect innings, striking out the side in order in the 9th.

The ValleyCats got a pair of 3-run innings on offense. The first came in the 2nd, when Jason Martin smacked an RBI double, and then Alfredo Gonzalez and D.J. Fisher followed up with RBI singles. In the 4th, Fisher added a sac fly, Martin scored on a wild pitch, and Nick Tanielu smashed an RBI double. Fisher, who reached in all 3 of his plate appearances, finished 2-2 with a walk, 2 RBI, and 2 steals. Tanielu (RBI 2B), Jamie Ritchie (2B), and Mott Hyde (run scored) also finished with 2 hits. Martin and Alex Hernandez scored 2 runs apiece.

The ValleyCats' opponent in the NYPL Championship Series will be determined tonight, as the Hudson Valley Renegades and the State College Spikes will play a deciding game 3 in State College tonight. Both teams traded 3-0 victories in the first 2 games.