Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Wednesday, July 8, 2015 and Thursday, July 9, 2015

Mark Appel on the mound!

Wednesday: Fresno 4, Sacramento 1

W- Mark Appel (1-1, 6-2 season)
L- Chris Stratton (0-2)

Fresno home runs: None.

The Grizz got a fine outing from Mark Appel, who took a shutout inning into the 7th.

Mr. Appel allowed 6 hits (all singles), walked 2, and struck out 4 over 6.2 innings. He left 2 runners on for Jason Stoffel, who got the final out of the 7th (via strikeout) without incident. Stoffel also pitched a scoreless 8th as he worked around 2 walks. He struck out 3 in all. Sacramento spoiled the shutout when they got a run off of Jordan Jankowski with a single in the 9th. Jankowski also walked 1 in the inning.

Nolan Fontana opened up the scoring with an RBI single in the 2nd. Later, Andrew Aplin added an RBI groundout. Matt Duffy hit a 2-out double in the 3rd and came around to score on a Domingo Santana RBI double. One batter later, Tyler White ripped an RBI single that brought Domingo home. They (Duffy, Domingo, and White) were the middle third of the Grizzlies lineup, and they all went 2-4. Andrew Aplin also went 2-4 from the bottom of the order.

Thursday: Sacramento 5, Fresno 4 in 13 innings

W- Brett Bochy (3-0)
L- Jake Buchanan (3-3)

Fresno home runs: Tyler White (1, 8 season; 2-run in 2nd)

The Grizz left the go-ahead run on 3rd to end the 11th and the 13th. Sigh.

Tyler White put Fresno on the board with a 2-run shot in the 2nd, his 1st homer in the Pacific Coast League. In the 7th, L.J. Hoes tied the game at 3 with an RBI single, and Domingo Santana was plunked with the bases loaded to put the Grizzlies in the lead. White, Hoes, and Andrew Aplin had 2-hit nights.

Asher Wojciechowski threw a bare minimum quality start. Well, all 3 of those runs came on one swing of the bat in the 1st. Wojo allowed 4 other hits and struck out 7. James Hoyt and Kevin Chapman threw an inning apiece. Hoyt allowed a run on 2 hits and struck out 2 in the 7th, while Chapman allowed a hit and struck out 1 in the 8th. Tyson Perez and Jose Veras both threw 2 perfect innings; Perez struck out 1, while Veras fanned 3. Jake Buchanan got 2 outs in the 13th via strikeout, but the RiverCats got the winning run off of him. Buchanan allowed 2 hits and walked 1.

In game 3 of this series, Luis Cruz will face Nik Turley. First pitch is at 7:05 Pacific.

Wednesday: Tulsa 9, Corpus Christi 3

W- Jharel Cotton (3-0)
L- Brian Holmes (3-3, 5-4 season)

CC home runs: Jack Mayfield (1, 8 season; solo in 2nd)

The Hooks were behind 7-1 after 3 innings and were never really in this one.

Jack Mayfield hit his first homer in the Texas League in the 2nd inning, a solo shot that put Corpus on the board. Brett Phillips ripped an RBI triple in the 5th and scored himself as an error occurred.

Brian Holmes allowed 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits (solo and 2-run homers), walked 1, and struck out 1 over 2 innings. Reymin Guduan went 2 innings and allowed a run on a sac fly, a single, and walked 1. Aaron West pitched 4.1 innings and had an inherited runner charged to him in the 9th inning. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 2. Travis Ballew got the final 2 outs of the 9th and allowed a run of his own on 3 hits and struck out 1.

Thursday: Corpus Christi 8, Tulsa 7

W- Chris Cotton (2-0, 3-2 season)
L- Jeremy Horst (0-2)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks staved off 4 homers from the Drillers and walked off with a win by scoring 3 in the bottom of the 9th.

Jack Mayfield put Corpus on the board with an RBI double in the 1st, and in the 3rd, Conrad Gregor cleared the bases with a double. The Hooks wouldn't score again until the 8th, when Brandon Meredith hit an RBI single. That hit made it a 6-5 game in favor of Tulsa. The Drillers got a homer in the 9th to make it a 2-run game.

Chan-Jong Moon got the rally started with an infield single. He'd advance to 3rd on an error following an Alfredo Gonzalez sac bunt and would score on a Brett Phillips groundout. Teoscar Hernandez tied the game with an RBI double and advanced to 3rd on a Gregor groundout. Meredith was the hero as he deposited the winning hit into left field to bring Teoscar home. He, Gregor, and Phillips finished with 2 hits apiece.

Chad Qualls only got 2 outs in his 2nd rehab appearance; he allowed a double and a solo homer. Adrian Houser went 5.1 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits (solo and 3-run homers), walked 3, and struck out 2. Juan Minaya allowed a run, walked 2, and struck out 1 in the 7th. Chris "58%" Cotton allowed a solo homer in the 9th, which was the only hit he allowed in 2 innings. He struck out 1.

In the series finale, Chris Devenski will face Jose De Leon. First pitch is at 7:05.

Wednesday: Rancho Cucamonga 6, Lancaster 5 in 10 innings

W- Caleb Dirks (1-0)
L- Andrew Walter (2-2)

Lancaster home runs: None.

The JetHawks had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the first extra frame, but they saw it go by the wayside. The Quakes, however, didn't miss on their first opportunity...

Ronnie Mitchell opened up the scoring with an RBI double in the 4th inning. Mott Hyde followed with an RBI single, and Brian Holberton hit a sac fly that scored Mitchell. Hyde added a 2-run double to his ledger in the 8th. He (2B, 3 RBI), Marc Wik (2B), James Ramsay, and Jake Nottingham (2 R) had 2 hits apiece, while A.J. Reed was 3-4 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Dan Mengden had a bare minimum quality start; allowing 6 hits, walking 1, and striking out 5. Albert Minnis allowed 2 runs on 3 hits (solo homer) and struck out 2 in 1.1 innings. Andrew Walter allowed a run on 4 hits and struck out 2 in 2 innings. The winning run scored with 1 out in the 10th.

Thursday: Lancaster 7, Rancho Cucamonga 5

W- Akeem Bostick (1-2, 4-3 season)
L- John Richy (7-3)

Lancaster home runs: Marc Wik (6, solo in 1st), Chase McDonald (13, 2-run in 8th)

The JetHawks took the lead in this series as they had a show of power in Rancho.

Akeem Bostick went 6.2 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits (solo homer), walked 4, and struck out 4. Tyler Brunnemann allowed a run on 3 hits and struck out 2 in 1.1 innings, and Aaron Greenwood allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in the 9th, but he was able to stop the bleeding before things got even more interesting.

A.J. Reed finished a homer shy of the cycle and scored 3 runs. Both of Chase McDonald's hits drove in runs; he ripped an RBI double in the 1st and whacked a 2-run homer in the 8th. Reed, Jake Nottingham, and Ronnie Mitchell all scored on errors in the 5th.

Bryan Radziewski will start the series finale. He'll face Luis De Paula at 7:05 Pacific.

Wednesday: Clinton 3, Quad Cities 2 in 11 innings

W- Ronald Dominguez (1-1)
L- Eric Peterson (4-4)

QC home runs: None.

The River Bandits also had an opportunity in extras go by the wayside, and they ended up walking off with an L.

Ramon Laureano opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 4th. Clinton took the lead with 2 in the 8th, but Jason Martin tied the game in the 9th when he scored on a fielder's choice hit by Alex Hernandez. Martin went 2-4 and was the only Bandito in the lineup with more than one hit.

Josh James was excellent as he allowed 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4 over 6 shutout innings. Jorge Perez allowed 2 runs (both in the 8th) on 5 hits, walked 3, and struck out 1 in 2.1 innings. Eric Peterson allowed the winning run on 3 hits and struck out 3 in 2 innings; Clinton won with 1 out in the 11th.

Thursday: Quad Cities 6, Clinton 2

W- Francis Martes (3-2)
L- Lukas Schiraldi (4-6)
S- Angel Heredia (3)

QC home runs: Sean McMullen (4, 3-run in 9th)

The Banditos earned a split in the series thanks to a solid performance on the mound from Francis Martes.

Martes allowed 2 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 4 hits and struck out 5 in 6.1 innings. Angel Heredia allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 1 over the final 2.2 innings to get the save.

The Bandits got 2 in the 1st on RBI singles from Jamie Ritchie and Jason Martin. Nick Tanielu scored on a wild pitch in the 3rd, and with a 1-run lead, Sean McMullen provided some much-needed insurance with a 3-run homer. Tanielu finished 2-5 with 2 runs scored.

Christian Powell will start the first game of a 4-game set with Burlington that begins tonight at 7:00.

Wednesday: Tri-City 10, Williamsport 6

W- Zac Person (1-1)
L- Denton Keys (0-1)

TC home runs: None.

This game wasn't exactly a textbook on how to pitch, as both teams' staffs combined to walk 20. Yep, one of those games. The ValleyCats put the Crosscutters away with 5 runs over the final 3 innings to push their lead to 10-5.

Bryan Muñiz opened the scoring with a sac fly in the 1st. TC got 3 in the 4th on RBI singles from Bobby Wernes and Johnny Sewald and an RBI double from Keach Ballard. In the 5th, Garrett Stubbs added an RBI single. Wernes hit another RBI single in the 7th, and Anthony Hermelyn got in on the RBI single party in the 8th. Brooks Marlow drove in 2 with a single in the 9th, and Hermelyn struck again with his 2nd RBI single in as many innings.

Sewald (3 SB [12]) and Wernes (2 RBI, 2 R) had 3 hits apiece, while Hermelyn finished 2-4 and stole a base (2).

Harold Arauz went 3.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 1. Zac Person was the first man out; he got the final out of the 4th and 2 outs in the 5th. He allowed a hit, walked 3 and struck out 1. Juan Carlos Santos got Person out of a bases-loaded jam to end the 5th. In his 2 innings, he had an inherited runner charged to him and allowed 2 hits while striking out 3. Steve Naemark allowed a hit and struck out 1 in 1.1 innings. Yeyfry Del Rosario allowed 2 runs, a hit, walked 3, and struck out 1 in the 9th inning.

Thursday: Tri-City and Williamsport was postponed

Due to rain. A doubleheader is scheduled for 4:05 Eastern. Ralph Garza Jr. will take on Alejandro Arteaga in game 1, and Elieser Hernandez will match up against Jose Taveras in game 2.

Wednesday: Johnson City 6, Greeneville 4

W- Ronnie Williams (1-0)
L- Alex Winkelman (2-1)
S- Steven De La Cruz (3)

Greeneville home runs: Luis Payano (1, solo in 9th), Connor Goedert (3, solo in 9th)

The Appy Astros finished this game on a 4-0 run, but that wasn't enough to erase a 6-0 deficit.

Hector Roa drove in Greeneville's first run of the evening with an RBI double in the 6th. Brauly Mejia added an RBI double in the 8th, and they got 2 solo shots from Luis Payano and Connor Goedert in the 9th. Payano's led off the inning, while Goedert's homer came with 2 outs. Roa finished 3-4 with 2 doubles, while Goedert, Mejia, and Justin Garcia had 2 hits apiece.

Alex Winkelman went 3.1 innings and allowed 5 runs (4 earned, 2 inherited runners charged to him) on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Joselo Pinales got the final 2 outs of the 4th, but not before allowing a 3-run homer to Ryan McCarvel. 2 of those runs were charged to Winkelman. Joselo Pinales allowed one other hit and struck out 1. Jose Montero got 1 out in the 4th. Erasmo Pinales allowed 2 hits and struck out 3 over 3.2 scoreless.

Thursday: Greeneville 9, Johnson City 2

W- Junior Garcia (1-0)
L- Julio Mateo (0-2)

Greeneville home runs: Hector Roa (2, 3-run in 6th)

Hector Roa's 3-run shot was the big hit in a 5-run 6th for the Appy Astros as they got even in their series with the Cardinals.

Ryan Deemes allowed 2 hits and struck out 1 over 4 shutout innings. Junior Garcia tagged in for 4 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 1. Jacob Dorris worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 9th, striking out 1.

Aaron Mizell went 2-5 with an RBI single in the 1st. Justin Garcia went 3 (all doubles)-5. His 2nd double of the game drove in 1 in the 6th, and his 3rd drove in a run in the 8th. Connor Goedert and Myles Straw had 2 hits and scored 2 runs apiece. Everyone who appeared at the plate for Greeneville got a hit. Luis Payano entered as a defensive replacement in the 9th.

In the final game of the series, Chris Murphy will face Ramon Santos. First pitch is at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Astros

The Kissimmee Stros swept the Tigers, winning 2-0 on Wednesday and 4-3 on Thursday.

DSL Astros Blue

The Blue team lost 1-0 to the Indians on Wednesday and 7-6 to the Royals on Thursday.

DSL Astros Orange

The Orange team defeated the Angels 4-2 on Wednesday and lost 5-2 in 10 innings to the Rangers 1 on Thursday.