Astros Minor League Recaps

Just a quick write-up about a (mostly) really great day in the Astros minor leagues yesterday.

The DSL Astros Blue team started it off with a win in their first postseason game for the Astros in the DSL in 14 years! They beat the DSL Blue Jays 3-1 with Jose Ramos getting the win, Jorge Alcala getting the save, and SS Ozziel Sanchez-galan collecting two hits and driving in two.

Then the news came that Quad Cities skipper Josh Bonifay was named Midwest League Manager of the Year and 3B Nick Tanielu (as well as former Astro Jacob Nottingham) were named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star team. It turned out to be an even more special day for the River Bandits as they CRUSHED Clinton 18-0 to collect their minor-league leading 80th win of the season.

And the River Bandits did it in style behind 7 no-hit innings from Dean Deetz, with Steve Naemark closing it out with one hit over the final two innings. Offensively, the Banditos went crazy, collecting FIVE triples in one game (Ramon Laureano collected two!). Trent Woodward had four of the Bandit's 16 hits and was a home run short of the cycle. Woodward also drove in four and was followed by Tanielu, Laureano and Jason Martin who drove in three runs each.

Tri-City's win wasn't the prettiest, but they pulled it out in walk-off fashion with Brooks Marlow driving in Aaron Mizell. It was a team effort with every starter collecting at least one hit. And best of all, Tri-City held their three and a half game lead over second place Lowell.

Greeneville also pulled out a win over second place Elizabethton and are now only a game back in the standings as they vie for a playoff spot.

To end the evening, out in Lancaster, Chase McDonald led the JetHawks with three doubles while Ronnie Mitchell and Mott Hyde each drove in a pair and Alex Bregman went yard. Michael Freeman and Kevin Comer provided five no-hit innings of relief to help the 'Hawks win 10-5 and get just that much closer to clinching a postseason berth.

Unfortunately, Fresno got one-hit by Iowa and the GCL Astros got no-hit, but other than that it was a fun day down on the farm.