Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, 2015

Better late than never, I always say.

I'm going to do these recaps a little differently. But first, let me start off with a few words.

Looking at the reaction to Jayne's reaction to the trade that saw Brett Phillips, Josh Hader, Domingo Santana, and Adrian Houser traded to Milwaukee for Carlos Gomez and Michael Fiers last night was incredibly disappointing and also made my blood boil.

As far as the Major League club is concerned, Jayne is not oblivious to the process. She knows that trades happen, and players who are untouchable to her will likely leave, as well.  To see her being patronized and mocked because she actually gives a shit (pardon my language) about the players who were being sent to Milwaukee was completely uncalled for. Why does the fact that she roots for the Minor League players in the Astros system bother you so much? Jayne also roots for the person, in addition to the player. We're all Astros fans. Some of us root for them in different ways. For some reason, this last statement is a source of irritation for a segment of Astros Twitter.

Ever since I stumbled across this site years ago, my interest in the Minors has skyrocketed. I know that the ultimate goal is a World Series, and I know that improving the Major League club takes precedent. But, I take great pleasure in tracking the progress of all the Minor Leaguers in the organization. If they win a Midwest League title along the way, that's pretty neat, too. They worked their butts off to win it, and I think that deserves some recognition. We all know the top prospects, but I prefer rooting for the late-round success stories like Tyler White, and I think there are a couple more such stories in the making with Keegan Yuhl and Steve Naemark. I know the vast majority of them will never make it to Houston, but I still follow regardless.

Oh crap, I'll probably be accused of having some type of prospect attachment by said segment of Astros Twitter now....

Although I never got to see 3 of the 4 players involved in yesterday's trade, it was obvious, from Jayne's interviews of all 4 of them, that they were good players and even better men. Better than the moronic haters, for sure. Brett, Domingo, Josh, and Adrian will all be missed, and I wish them nothing but the best for the future.... even if they have to play for Bud Selig's team now. This last paragraph is about 70% sarcastic.

The lesson I learned from last night is that prospect attachment is apparently taboo on Astros Twitter. Hooks fans, don't get too torn up the day A.J. Reed gets promoted to Fresno (or leaves Corpus, in general). You'll be torn apart by a segment of Astros Twitter. 

Alright, now that that's done, I will begin the regularly scheduled recaps. Like I said at the beginning, these will be a little different from the usual multi-day recaps.

Fresno

The Grizzlies split the first 2 games of their series in Reno, losing 10-4 on Wednesday and winning 10-7 on Thursday. 

Domingo Santana, in his final game as a member of the Astros organization, ripped a 2-run double in the 1st inning of Wednesday's game. The Grizz were up 4-1 after the 2nd that night, but the Aces closed that game on a 9-0 run.

It was a tough night on the mound for Mike Hauschild, who allowed 6 runs on 8 hits (solo and 3-run homers), walked 2, and struck out 2 in 4.2 innings.

On Thursday, Fresno pounded out 17 hits and a 5-run 2nd turned out to be huge for them. L.J. Hoes went 3-6 with 2 steals (14) and an RBI single in that 2nd inning. Joe Sclafani also had 3 hits; he had a sac fly in the 2nd and a couple of RBI singles in the 3rd and the 7th. Jonathan Villar finished 2-6 and both of his hits were RBI singles, coming in the 2nd and the 9th. Villar was a terror on the bases as he stole 2, including a theft of home in the 2nd. He now has 17 stolen bases in Fresno. Tyler White ripped an RBI double in the 4th and whacked a solo shot in the 8th, his 3rd with Fresno and 10th of the season.

Asher Wojciechowski went 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits (2 solo homers), walked 1, and struck out 4. James Hoyt slammed the door shut for his 5th save of the season, striking out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th inning.

On this, the final day of July, the Grizzlies and Aces will wrap up their series. Dan Straily will take on Aaron Blair at 7:05 Pacific.

Corpus Christi

The Hooks wrapped up their series with San Antonio with a 7-6 win on Wednesday, and they blanked Midland 4-0 in the series opener last night. 

Against the Missions, they scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead. In what turned out to be his final game in the organization, Brett Phillips went 4-5 with a double and the go-ahead RBI single in the 8th inning. A.J. Reed's 3 hits all drove in runs: he hit 2 RBI singles in the 3rd and the 5th, and drove himself in with a solo shot in the 8th, his 5th in Corpus and 28th of the year. 

Chris Devenski struggled, but Michael Feliz picked him up with 4.1 perfect innings and 3 strikeouts. Feliz's pitching bought time for the Hooks offense to get themselves going, and they came out with a big win.

In Midland, Colin Moran finished 3-5 with RBI singles in the 4th and the 5th. Jon Kemmer clubbed a 2-run double in the 4th. Danry Vásquez, Teoscar Hernandez, and Jack Mayfield had 2 hits apiece. 

Joe Musgrove had a no-hitter through 5.2 innings. Ultimately, he allowed just the 1 hit, walked 1, and struck out 6 over 7 shutout innings. Chris Cotton and Jandel Gustave brought it home. Cotton allowed 2 hits as he got 2 outs in the 8th, 1 via strikeout. Gustave freed him from the burden of that inning and closed it out. allowing just 1 hit. 

Kyle Westwood will start game 2 of this series. First pitch is at 7:00.

Lancaster

The JetHawks finished their series with Rancho Cucamonga with a 4-2 win, but they dropped a 5-3 game in the first of 4 against High Desert.

They got 2 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th against Rancho to take control. The 2 in the 7th came on an inside-the-park home run from Mott Hyde, who hit his first homer in the California League. Ronnie Mitchell and Marc Wik added to the lead in the 8th with an RBI double and a sac fly, respectively.

Keegan Yuhl allowed a run on 7 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5 in 6 innings of work. The only hit that Albert Minnis allowed in his 2 innings was a solo homer to Brandon Dixon in the 8th. He struck out 1. Tyler Brunnemann struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th to finish it.

Lancaster scored 2 in the 8th to take a 3-2 lead in High Desert... and then the Mavs scored 3 in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Sigh. This game finally got off the ground after a rain delay that lasted over 4 hours.

In his California League debut, David Paulino went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Francis Martes' outing went well enough, but they got to him for 3 in the 8th, which included a 2-run homer from Ronald Guzman. Martes allowed 4 other hits, walked 1, and struck out 3. 

James Ramsay hit an RBI single in the 3rd inning. In the 8th, D.J. Fisher ripped an RBI triple, and J.D. Davis hit an RBI double. 

In game 2 of this series, Kevin Comer will take on Connor Sadzeck. First pitch is at 7:05 Pacific.

Quad Cities

Quad Cities took two 4-3 games over Beloit to sweep the series. The second one took them 12 innings. 

Eric Peterson and Riley Ferrell combined for 5 scoreless innings of relief. Peterson allowed 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5 in 3 innings, and Ferrell walked 1 and struck out 2 in 2 innings.

All 4 of their runs on Wednesday came in the 5th inning, and all of them came on home runs. Ryan Bottger (6) and Nick Tanielu (4) hit solo shots, and Jason Martin (8) hit a 2-run homer. 

On Thursday, they got 2 in the 9th to tie and took the lead in the top of the 12th inning. Bryan Muñiz smacked an RBI double in the 6th. The 2 tying runs came courtesy of a double from Luis Reynoso, and Nick Tanielu put the Banditos on top with an RBI single. 

In his Midwest League debut, Agapito Barrios allowed a hit and struck out 3 over 5 shutout innings. Dean Deetz, also making his MWL debut, allowed 3 runs (2 earned, 1 inherited runner charged to him) on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4 in 2.1 innings. Zach Davis allowed a hit in an inning (final out of 6th, 2 in 7th). Angel Heredia allowed a hit and struck out 2 in 2.2 innings, and Ryan Thompson struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 12th for the win.

Elieser Hernandez will start game 1 of the Bandits' weekend series with Wisconsin. First pitch is at 7:00.

Tri-City

The ValleyCats swept West Virginia, winning 5-4 on Wednesday and 5-3 on Thursday.

Cesar Carrasco and Brooks Marlow put Tri-City on the board with an RBI groundout and an RBI single, respectively. In the 5th, Aaron Mizell hit an RBI single and Bobby Wernes added a 2-run single. Wernes and Mizell had 2 hits apiece. 

Trent Thornton allowed a run on 4 hits (solo homer), walked 1, and struck out 4. Scott Weathersby went 3 innings and allowed 2 unearned runs in the 8th on 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Adam Whitt threw a 1-2-3 9th to end it.

On Thursday, the ValleyCats used a 4-run 3rd to propel them to a win. Mizell drew a bases-loaded walk, Wernes hit another 2-run single, and Pat Porter hit a sac fly. Marlow hit his 4th homer of the season in the 7th inning.

Alex Winkelman allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 4 in 5 innings. Juan Carlos Santos allowed a solo homer to Logan Hill and struck out the side in the 6th. Jacob Dorris allowed a hit and struck out 2 over 3 scoreless.

Tonight, the ValleyCats will begin a 3-game series with Mahoning Valley. Junior Garcia will make his first start for Tri-City as he takes on Leandro Linares at 7:00 Eastern.

Greeneville

The Appy Astros dropped their series in Bristol, losing 9-7 and 4-3. 

On Wednesday, they were down 9-2 and couldn't quite recover. Hector Roa hit a 2-run homer (6) in the 2nd inning. In the 4th, Brauly Mejia (3) hit a solo homer. Roa added an RBI single in the 6th, and he and Mejia later scored as Luis Payano reached on an error. Ford Stainback scored on another error in the 7th. 

Albert Abreu was the third Greeneville pitcher on Wednesday. He allowed 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 7.

They scored 2 in the 8th to make Thursday's game a one-run affair, but... no cigar.

Connor Goedert opened the scoring with an RBI double in the 1st, and their 2 runs in the 8th came on a groundout from Stainback and a triple from Roa.

In his Appy League debut, Diogenes Almengo allowed a run on 4 hits, walked 3, and struck out 3 in 3.2 innings. Joselo Pinales allowed a hit and fanned 1 in 2.1 innings. The Pirates got to Alejandro Solarte for 3 runs on 3 hits in the 7th, and Lachlan Madden struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 8th.

Greeneville will welcome Kingsport to Pioneer Park this weekend. In game 1, Erasmo Pinales will take on Nabil Crismatt at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Astros

The Kissimmee Stros dropped 2 games against the Pirates by final scores of 2-0 and 7-5.

DSL Astros

The Blue team split 2 games with the A's, losing 2-1 on Wednesday and rebounding for a 7-3 win on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Orange team lost 5-0 and 5-1 to the Nationals.