Monday, August 31, 2015

Astros Daliy Farm Report - 8/31

Everything you need to know from down on the farm ...

WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ...

C Marlon Avea (22)
Avea was born August 31, 1993 in Masaya, Nicaragua, and was signed by the Astros in November 2010. He has played for Greeneville and Tri-City this season and was just promoted to the Low A Quad Cities team over the weekend.

More Astros minor league roster moves from yesterday.

STANDINGS, RESULTS AND LAGNIAPPE

FRESNO

Record: 1st 79-56 -.-GB L5 (Clinched playoff berth; clinched division title)

Sunday's Game: Omaha 4 over Fresno 2

The Midwest has not been kind to the Grizzlies. They went 1-7 on this road trip and will likely be very, very happy to return to Chukchansi Park as they host the Albuquerque Isotopes (against whom they own an 11-1 record) for four games starting tonight.

Playoff Picture: Fresno's first two playoff games in the best-of-five Conference series will be at home on Wednesday, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th. The next three games (if three are necessary) will take place at the home ballpark of the PCL Pacific Southern Division winner from Friday the 11th through Sunday the 13th. But we still don't know who Fresno will face in that series. The Las Vegas 51's are currently 1.5 games ahead of the El Paso Chihuahuas in the Southern Division. Those two teams will face off for four games in Las Vegas starting tonight.

CORPUS CHRISTI

Record: 1st 83-49 -.-GB W3 (Clinched playoff berth; clinched first half title)

Sunday's Game: Corpus Christi 2 over San Antonio 1
The Hooks were held to 7 hits, but the Corpus pitching staff held the Missions to only 3 hits. Michael Feliz had yet another very good start and was supported by Gonzalo Sanudo, who just returned from being on loan to the Mexican League, and Jandel Gustave, who earned his 18th save of the season. In other news, A.J. Reed did NOT hit a home run.

Playoff Picture: Much like Fresno, Corpus Christi will host the first two playoff games next Wednesday, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th, but unlike Fresno, they know who they will be facing. Midland (an Oakland affiliate) clinched the second playoff spot last week. The next three games (if three are necessary will be played in Midland. Corpus Christi owns the season series against Midland 18-14 and split their last series 2-2.

LANCASTER

Record: T2nd 72-61 2.0GB W4 (2nd in 2nd half; 2.0GB; clinched wild card)

Sunday's Game: Lancaster 19 over Lake Elsinore 2

It was a laugher at The Hangar as the 'Hawks banged out 20 hits with J.D. Davis (4x5 2B 2HR 6RBI BB 4R) and Brian Holberton (4x5 2B 3RBI 3R) leading the way. Akeem Bostick took the mound for his fifth, and by far his best, start at The Hangar.

Playoff Picture: This one could get interesting. Lancaster is definitely in the playoffs, but if the season ended today, they would be in as a wild card. However, Lancaster only lags High Desert in the second half standings by two games with seven games left to play, and the final 4 games of the regular season will be between these two teams. At stake ... bragging rights as the second half winner and home field advantage as these two teams will face each other again in the best-of-three mini-series being played September 9th, 10th and 11th (if necessary). The winner of the mini-series will face Rancho Cucamonga (the first half winner) in the Division Finals. Got all that? Good!

QUAD CITIES

Record: 1st 84-46 -.-GB W1 (Clinched playoff berth; clinched first half title)

Sunday's Game: Quad Cities 2 over Burlington 1

It wasn't the most convincing win as the River Bandits collected only four hits (including a Bobby Boyd triple) and only managed to score on a sac fly and on a wild pitch, but it still counts as a win! Brock Dyckhoorn collected his 8th win of the season and Angel Heredia his 12th save.

Playoff Picture: In the Midwest League, eight teams advance to the playoffs. As the Western Division first half champion, the River Bandits play the second place team from the first half, the Cedar Rapids Kernels, in a best-of-three division quarter final. The first game will be in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, September 9th and the second and third (if necessary) will be back in Davenport on Thursday, the 10th and Friday, the 11th. The River Bandits won the season series against the Kernels 9 games to 4.

TRI-CITY

Record: 1st 37-30 -.-GB W2

Sunday's Game: Tri- City 13 over Brooklyn 4
And that's where it stayed as far as home runs go, but it was definitely a wild one at The Joe yesterday. All of the Tri-City starters got at least one hit and five of them got two hits. Hector Roa, one of the players going deep in the game got plunked in the 8th inning and, according to reports, benches cleared and both pitchers got tossed. But Roa got the last laugh as he went 2-for-4 and drove in 4 runs.

Playoff Picture: With losses yesterday from Lowell and Connecticut, the Stedler Division leading ValleyCats extended their lead to 3.5 games ahead of Lowell and 4.5 games ahead of Connecticut with 8 games left to play. (Vermont is hanging by a thread 8.5 games behind with an elimination number of 1.) The three division leaders plus one wild card (the non-division leader with the best record) advance to the playoffs. The final three games of the regular season are between Tri-City and Connecticut.

GREENEVILLE

Record: 2nd 33-32 5.5GB W1

Sunday's Game: Greeneville 6 over Princeton 2

Starter Andrew Thome, a non-drafted free agent signed by the Astros this season, continues to shine. In this one, he went five innings allowing only two hits, no runs, no walks and struck out six. He has walked only one batter in 31 innings this season. The Appy Astros had six runs on five hits, partly because they scored three in the fifth inning on zero hits, two walks, two stolen bases, two errors and three wild pitches. Gotta love minor league baseball!

Playoff Picture: Greeneville increased their lead over Elizabethton to 1.5 games for the second division playoff spot as Elizabethton split a double-header on Sunday. There are only two games left in the season. Greeneville will play Princeton two more games on Monday and Tuesday; they are even in the season series against that team. And Elizabethton plays two against Bristol against whom they own the season series 6 games to 1. Greeneville will have played one fewer game than Elizabethton at the season's conclusion, but as far as I can tell that won't impact the standings, and Greeneville should be able to clinch their playoff spot with a win tonight. I will try to get clarification on that.

GULF COAST LEAGUE

Record: 4th 19-41 16.5GB L7 (Eliminated from postseason play)

Season over.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE BLUE TEAM

Record: 1st 43-29 -.-GB L3 (Clinched playoff berth; clinched division title)

Won first round of playoffs over DSL Blue Jays 2 games to 0
Lost second round of playoffs to DSL Rangers1 2 games to 0

Season over.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE ORANGE TEAM

Record: 5th 28-44 22.0GB W1

Season over.

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