Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Monday, August 17, 2015

Tyler White tearing it up.

Francis Martes making his case to be the top prospect in the system.

Fresno 10, New Orleans 4

W- Dan Straily (10-6)
L- Travis Blackley (4-7)

Fresno home runs: Tyler White (5, 12 season; 2-run in 1st), Jon Singleton (18, solo in 7th), Alex Presley (3, solo in 8th)

The Grizzlies took game 3 of this series behind a huge night from Tyler White.

White finished 4-6, and all 4 of his hits drove in at least 1 run. He opened up the scoring with a 2-run homer in the 1st, and then he followed that with an RBI infield single in the 3rd. White added a 2-run single to his ledger in the 5th, and he capped off the scoring with an RBI ground-rule double in the 8th inning.

In that 5th inning, in which thee Grizzlies scored 4, Robbie Grossman added a sac fly, and Max Stassi hit an RBI single. Jon Singleton greeted Fabian Williamson with a solo shot to begin the 7th. and Alex Presley did the same in the 8th inning. Stassi went 3-5, while Singleton (solo homer, 2 R), L.J. Hoes (2 BB, 3 SB [21], 4 R), and Matt Duffy (BB, SB [2], R) all had 2-hit nights.

Dan Straily was the beneficiary of this offensive outburst, but he had a solid night on the mound himself. He went 7 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits (solo homer) and struck out 8. Kevin Chapman allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 1 in the 8th, and Joe Thatcher worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 9th, striking out 1.

The Grizz will look to complete the sweep as Mark Appel takes the mound. He'll take on Blake Logan at 7:05 Pacific.

Corpus Christi was off

The Hooks are back home, and they'll welcome the Arkansas teams to Whataburger Field starting with 3 against the Arkansas Travelers. Lance McCullers will face Chris Ellis at 7:05.

Lancaster 8, Inland Empire 0

W- Francis Martes (3-1, 6-3 season)
L- Jordan Kipper (6-9)

Lancaster home runs: Chase McDonald (25, 3-run in 2nd)

The JetHawks took flight in the 2nd as they scored 7 runs and Francis Martes completely dominated the 66ers on the mound. Everyone in the Lancaster lineup had a hit except for D.J. Fisher, who drew 3 walks and scored a run.

Martes, who may very well be the Astros' top pitching prospect right now, allowed 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 9 over 7 shutout innings in yet another outstanding outing. Jordan Mills completed the shutout as he allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 over the final 2 innings. There was a 26 MPH wind blowing out to center field in Lancaster last night.

Sean McMullen kicked off the festivities in the 2nd with an RBI double. He moved over to 3rd on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI double from Mott Hyde, who scored on... you guessed it, an RBI double from Marc Wik. Wik advanced to 3rd on a James Ramsay single and scored on an Alex Bregman groundout. Fisher drew a walk, and then Chase McDonald capped off a huge inning by continuing his home run binge. This latest blast was of the 3-run variety and put the JetHawks up by a touchdown.

McMullen added an RBI single in the 5th. He finshed 3-4 with 2 doubles. Wik, Ramsay, Bregman, and Ronnie Mitchell (who is on a triples binge) all had 2-hit nights.

Austin Chrismon will face Victor Alcantara in game 2 of this series. First pitch is at 6:30 Pacific.

Quad Cities was off

The River Bandits will begin a 3-game series with Wisconsin tonight at 7. Justin Ferrell will take on Angel Ventura.

Tri-City is off

The New York-Penn League All-Star Game will take place tonight at 6:35 Eastern in Aberdeen, Maryland. Alex Winkelman, Bobby Wernes, Johnny Sewald, and Dex McCall will represent the ValleyCats.

Tri-City will resume play tomorrow as they'll play a 2-game set in Vermont.

Greeneville 9, Johnson City 5

W- Diogenes Almengo (2-0)
L- Juan Caballero (3-2)

Greeneville home runs: None.

The Appy Astros kept pace in the division as they finished the game on a 6-1 run that began in the 4th inning.

Randy Cesar opened up the scoring with an RBI single in the 1st. Two batters later, Kyle Tucker ripped an RBI double. Cesar hit another RBI single in the 4th. Greeneville proceeded to take control of this game in the 6th.

Osvaldo Duarte kicked things off with a single. He then scampered all the way home on an error following a Myles Straw sac bunt. Straw, who made it to 3rd, scored on an RBI double from Daz Cameron, who came home on an RBI double from Cesar. Kevin Martir added a sac fly with the bases loaded. Duarte scored on another error in the 7th; this one occurred after a single from Straw.

Cameron (2B, RBI, 2 R), Cesar (2B, 3 RBI, 2 R), and Duarte (2B, 3 R) all finished with 3 hits. Greeneville's 9 runs were scored by 4 players: Straw, Cameron, Cesar (all 3 of them scored 2), and Duarte.

Moreno Polanco had 3 inherited runners charged to him in 1.1 innings. He allowed 2 hits and walked 2. Starlyng Sanchez allowed 2 runs of his own on 5 hits and struck out 1 in 2.2 innings. Diogenes Almengo was excellent in his 5 innings of relief; he allowed 2 hits and struck out 5.

In the series finale, Edgardo Sandoval will take on Josh Wirsu. First pitch is at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Astros

The Kissimmee Stros completed a suspended game and played another with the Phillies. They lost the suspended game 5-3, but won the regularly scheduled game by a score of 5-2.

The suspended game began on August 1. Frankeny Fernandez scored on a wild pitch in the 5th, and Nestor Tejada hit an RBI single in the 9th.

Michel Martinez came on after play resumed and allowed 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4 over 4 scoreless. Starlyn Taveras allowed 2 hits, walked 3, and fanned 2 in 2 scoreless.

They only scored in 1 inning (the 3rd) in the regularly scheduled game, but it turned out to be enough. Marcos Almonte, Vicente Sanchez, and Brian Peña all hit RBI singles, while Wander Franco ripped an RBI double, and Connor MacDonald had a sac fly. Franco finished 2-4.

Enrique Chavez went 5 innings and allowed a run on 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 5. Jorge Guzman allowed a run on a double play, a triple, and walked 2 in 2 innings.

DSL Astros Blue 7, DSL Rays 3

W- Gabriel Pirela (3-5)
L- Kendri Salvador (3-2)

Blue home runs: Cristopher Luciano (4, 2-run in 1st)

The Blue team broke a 3-3 tie with 2 in the 7th and 2 more in the 8th.

Cristopher Luciano's 2-run homer in the 1st opened up the scoring. He added a sac fly in the 5th. In the 7th, he reached on an error that allowed Ozziel Sanchez-Galan to score and made it to 2nd, and Juan Fuente brought him home with a double. Angel Tejeda singled with 1 out in the 8th, stole his way to 3rd (10), and scored on the errant throw down to 3rd. Sanchez-Galan ripped an RBI double for the final run of the day. Fuente and Andy Piñeda both had 2 hits.

Jorge Alcala allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 5 in 3.2 innings. Robert Corniel allowed a run on 4 hits and fanned 2 in 2.1 innings, and Gabriel Pirela went 3 innings and allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and fanned 2.

DSL Cardinals 5, DSL Astros Orange 2

W- Edwar Ramirez (4-2)
L- Yan De La Cruz (0-2)
S- Estailin Tejada (3)

Orange home runs: None.

The Orange team scored 2 in the 6th to tie the game... only to see the Cardinals retake the lead with 3 in the bottom of the 6th.

Javier Navas went 4 innings and allowed a run on a force out, a single that occurred after he allowed the run, walked 4, and struck out 4. Yan De La Cruz allowed 4 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 6 hits and struck out 1 in 1.2 innings. Harlen Florencio walked 2 in 2.1 scoreless innings.

As I mentioned earlier, the Orange team's 2 runs came in the 6th as Fredy Medina hit a sac fly and Brandon Benavente scored on an error. Carlos Machado finished 3-4, while Nicolás Miranda stole 2 bases (3).