Astros Fall and Winter League Recaps

Results for Thursday, November 6, 2014 (and one from today)


IBAF UNDER-21 BASEBALL WORLD CUP (held in Taichung, Taiwan)

Japan 9, Australia 7

W- Yuya Yokoyama (1-0)
L- Todd Van Steensel (0-1)
S- Ryosuke Nomura (1)

Australia HRs by Astros players: None.

The U-21 World Cup kicked off today, and Australia dropped their opening game in group play as Japan put up 3 in the top of the 9th to erase their 7-6 deficit.

Connor MacDonald got the start at 1B for the Aussies and went 0-3. He was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in a 5-run 4th and ended up scoring on a wild pitch later on in the inning.

Tomorrow, Australia will take on the Netherlands. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 NST (National Standard Time), which is 11:00 PM tonight in Houston.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Mesa 4, Salt River 2 in 10 innings

W- Arik Sikula (1-0)
L- Enrique Burgos (1-1)

Salt River HRs by Astros players: None.

No Astros in the lineup, but Mark Appel was on the mound and he was excellent. Per Mike Elias (via Eric Smith of the Antelope Valley Press), his fastball ranged from 92-97 in this outing and his slider was on.

Chatted with Mike Elias, #Astros dir. of amateur scouting, just now. Elias: "His stuff looked great tonight. That's Mark Appel right there."
— Eric Smith (@Eric_L_Smith) November 7, 2014

Appel allowed just 1 hit and struck out 4 over 5 shutout innings. The only blemishes on his outing were 2 hit batters and a balk. Other than that, an outing like this is what he's capable of.

The Rafters will be in Peoria this afternoon to face the Javelinas. First pitch is at 12:35 Mountain.

LIGA VENEZOLANA DE BÉISBOL PROFESIONAL

Magallanes 3, Caracas 2

W- Anthony Lerew (2-1)
L- Boone Whiting (0-3)
S- Hassan Peña (6)

Caracas HRs by Astros players: None.

The capital club had a chance to at least tie with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, but no cigar. Danry Vásquez went 0-4, and in his debut for Caracas, L.J. Hoes went 1-4.

The 2nd leg of this series will be in Valencia, the hometown of former Astro Raúl Chavez. First pitch is at 7:30 Venezuelan time.

LIDOM

Águilas 12, Gigantes 1

W- Lay Batista (1-0)
L- Kevin Pucetas (0-1)

Águilas HRs by Astros players: None.

All Águilas in this one as they took down their rivals. Jonathan Villar went 1-3 with an RBI single in the 2nd.

Águilas will travel east to take on Estrellas tonight. First pitch is at 7:30 Atlantic.

LIGA MEXICANA DEL PACÍFICO

Jalisco 16, Mazatlán 0

W- Marco Tovar (3-0)
L- Alejandro Martinez (0-3)

Jalisco HRs by Astros players: Leo Heras (4, solo in 3rd)

Los Charros (the Horsemen) ran roughshod over Mazatlán as they pounded out 18 hits and sent 4 out of the park. Leo Heras finished 2-4 with 2 runs scored; he cranked a solo shot in the 3rd and added a 2-run single in the 6th.

Tonight, Jalisco will begin a weekend in Mexicali. First pitch is at 7:30 Pacific.

Obregón 2, Culiacán 1

W- Arturo Lopez (5-0)
L- Jorge Reyes (1-1)
S- Jose Pina (1)

Gonzalo Sañudo struck out the side in order in the 7th inning for Culiacán.

Culiacán will travel to Mazatlán for a weekend series between the two largest cities in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. First pitch for tonight's game is scheduled for 8:00 Mountain.

LIGA DE BÉISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

Carolina 5, Santurce 4 in 11 innings

W- Giovanni Soto (1-0)
L- Jon Velasquez (0-1)

Carolina HRs by Astros players: None.
Santurce HRs by Astros players: None.

Carolina walked off with the win in the bottom of the 11th as René Garcia delivered with an RBI single. Los Gigantes put up 2 in the inning, in response to Santurce breaking a 3-3 tie in the top of the inning.

Garcia wound up finishing 2-5. Carlos Corporán had 2 doubles in 3 at-bats; one of them drove in a run in the 7th inning. Jobduan Morales came on as a pinch-hitter in the 11th and was intentionally walked.

For Santurce, Delino DeShields hit a triple in the 1st and had a sac fly in the 8th.

Tonight, Carolina will travel to Caguas, while Santurce hosts Mayagüez. Both games will be at 7:30 Atlantic.

Caguas 3, San Juan 1

W- Jose De Leon (1-0)
L- Adalberto Flores (0-1)
S- Saul Rivera (1)

Caguas HRs by Astros players: None.
San Juan HRs by Astros players: None.

San Juan was held to just 2 hits; Nolan Fontana's RBI triple in the 6th was one of them. Roberto Peña got the start at catcher for Caguas and went 1-3 with a run scored.

San Juan will be back in action on Saturday when they host Caguas again. Caguas, on the other hand, will host Carolina tonight.