What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps (Two Days)

Results for Thursday, July 6, 2017

Salt Lake 10, Fresno 5

W- John Lamb (2-0)
L- Dean Deetz (1-3, 5-5 season)

Fresno home runs: D.J. Fisher (19, 2-run in 1st)

Salt Lake seized control early with a 6-run 2nd inning.

No Fresno pitcher went more than 2.2 innings. Dean Deetz allowed 6 runs on 6 hits (grand slam), walked 3, and struck out 1 in 1.1 innings. Tyson Perez allowed a hit and walked 1 over 1.2 scoreless innings. Jordan Jankowski worked around a double to throw a scoreless 4th inning. Reymin Guduan went 2.2 innings, allowing an unearned run on 2 hits and striking out 3. Kevin Comer allowed a run on 3 hits in 1.1 innings, and Ashur Tolliver allowed 2 runs on 3 hits (solo homer) and struck out 1 in the 9th.

Tony Kemp tripled to lead off the 1st and scored on a Jon Kemmer single. D.J. Fisher followed by clubbing a 2-run homer. Kemp added an RBI single to his ledger in the 2nd and Alejandro Garcia ripped an RBI double in the 9th following a Reid Brignac triple. Kemp (3B, RBI, R), Kemmer (2B, RBI, R), and Brignac (3B, 2 R, SB) both finished with 2 hits Thursday night.

Northwest Arkansas 9, Corpus Christi 4

W- Richard Lovelady (2-0)
L- Alex Winkelman (0-4, 2-4 season)

CC home runs: Ramon Laureano (5, solo in 1st), Jack Mayfield (8, 9 season; solo in 4th), Jon Singleton (15, solo in 8th)

The Naturals got some separation with a 4-run 8th inning.

Corpus got a pair in the 1st on a Ramon Laureano homer and a Garrett Stubbs force out that scored Kyle Tucker. Jack Mayfield and Jon Singleton launched solo shots in the 4th and the 8th, respectively. Laureano finished 3-4 on the evening.

Akeem Bostick went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits (solo homer) and struck out 5. Alex Winkelman was the first man out of the Corpus bullpen and allowed 6 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and struck out 2 in 3 innings. Riley Ferrell struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 9th.

Buies Creek 3, Myrtle Beach 0

W- Ryan Hartman (1-3, 4-4 season)
L- Justin Steele (6-5)
S- Hector Perez (2)

BC home runs: Spencer Johnson (5, 8 season; solo in 2nd)

The Carolina Stros wrapped up this series with the Pelicans with a shutout victory.

Ryan Hartman and Hector Perez joined forces to keep Myrtle Beach off the board. Hartman allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 in his 5 innings, while Perez finished it off by allowing 3 hits, walking 3, and fanning 5 over the final 4 frames.

Spencer Johnson opened the scoring with a solo shot in the 2nd inning. Alex De Goti hit an RBI single in the 4th and scored the final run of the night on a Ryne Birk sac fly. Jake Rogers went 2-5, while Myles Straw stole his 24th base of the season.

Quad Cities 13, Kane County 3

W- Ronel Blanco (3-2, 3-3 season)
L- Mack Lemieux (3-3)
S- Carson LaRue (1)

QC home runs: Wander Franco (5, 3-run in 4th)

The Banditos romped their way to a sweep of the Cougars.

Quad Cities put up crooked numbers in all of their scoring innings, leading 5-1 after the 2nd and then busting the game open with 6 in 4th.

Marcos Almonte scored Quad Cities' first run on an errant pickoff throw in the 1st inning. Daz Cameron ripped an RBI triple and scored on a Wander Franco single. Carmen Benedetti hit an RBI single in the 2nd and Daz added a sac fly to his ledger.

Ray Henderson doubled to lead off the 4th and then Tyler Wolfe and Marcos Almonte joined him on the bases after drawing walks. Benedetti brought them all home with a double. Josh Rojas walked, and Wander Franco launched a 3-run homer. Wolfe ripped a 2-run double in 6th to bring in the final Quad Cities runs.

Ronel Blanco went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs on 8 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Lucas Williams struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 6th, and Carson LaRue allowed one hit, a solo homer to Adam Walton in the 9th. He struck out 5 in his 3 innings.

Tri-City 13, Brooklyn 0

W- Patrick Sandoval (1-1, 1-2 season)
L- Jake Simon (0-2)
S- Colin McKee (2)

TC home runs: Reid Russell 2 (2; solo in 6th, 2-run in 8th), J.J. Matijevic (1, solo in 1st), Jake Adams (3, 3-run in 3rd), Kyle Davis (2, 3-run in 6th)

The ValleyCats dominated the Cyclones in all facets of the game on Thursday.

Everyone in the lineup had a hit. Reid Russell turned in his first career multi-homer game as a pro, while J.J. Matijevic hit his first pro homer.

Patrick Sandoval and Colin McKee combined to hold Brooklyn to just 3 hits. Sandoval allowed 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 8, while McKee walked 2 and fanned 5 over the final 4 innings.

Greeneville 6, Johnson City 5 in 11 innings

W- Willy Collado (1-0)
L- Robert Calvano (0-3)

Greeneville home runs: None.

The Appy Astros earned the sweep by scoring 4 in the bottom of the 9th to force extras and walking off with the win in the 11th.

Chas McCormick went 3-3 and opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 2nd inning.

Brody Westmoreland and Colton Shaver walked with one out in the bottom of the 9th and they both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Roman Garcia came through with a 2-run double and scored on a single from Adrian Tovalin, who came on as a pinch-hitter. Martin Figueroa, who walked after Garcia's double, scored the tying run on an error.

Cody Bohanek pinch-ran for Tovalin after his single and stayed in the game at shortstop and won the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th. Shaver, who walked to lead off the inning, scored the winning run.

McCormick also stole 2 bases, giving him 3 on the year. Figueroa (2B, 2 R) and Joan Mauricio both finished 2-4.

The one run that Hansel Paulino allowed in his 6 innings came on a solo homer from Carlos Rodriguez in the 4th. Paulino allowed one other hit, walked 1, and fanned 7. Cole Watts pitched 1.2 innings, allowing 4 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, walking 1, and striking out 3. Willy Collado allowed a hit and struck out 5 in 3.1 scoreless.

GCL Cardinals 11, GCL Astros 10 in 10 innings

W- Patrick Dayton (1-0)
L- Chauncey Nuñez (0-1)

GCL home runs: Richard Slenker (2, solo in 6th)

The Palm Beach Stros scored 3 in the top of the 9th to take the lead, only to see the Cardinals tie the game with a run in the bottom of the 9th. They re-took the lead with a run in the 10th, but the Cardinals ended up walking off with the win.

Hector Martinez (2 R) and Bernardo Heras (2 2B, R) both finished with 3 hits on the day. Jose Benjamin tripled and drove in 3; he was one of four GCLstros who finished with 2 hits. Richard Slenker (2B, solo HR) and Jonathan Matute went 2-2, while Nathan Perry finished 2-4.

Juan Corniel went 4 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 4, and struck out 6. Luis Ramirez allowed 4 runs on 4 hits and walked 1 in the 5th. Johsson Arias was next and he allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 3, and fanned 2 in 3 innings. Chauncey Nuñez allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 3 in 1.1 innings.

DSL Astros Blue 10, DSL Braves 3

W- Flaer Gonzalez (1-0)
L- Willians Vasquez (1-2)

Blue home runs: None.

Yorbin Ceuta (RBI, 2 R, 2 SB) and Angel Tejeda (2 RBI, R) both finished with 3 hits on the day. Ronaldo Urdaneta went 2-5, scoring 3 runs and stealing a base (11). Ceuta's two steals give him 8 on the season.

Renny Ugarte allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 4 in 4 innings. Flaer Gonzalez and Manny Ramirez (yes, that is really his name) both made their pro debuts and they both pitched 2 scoreless innings. Gonzalez allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 3, while Ramirez walked 1 and struck out 2. Nathanael Ventura came on for the 9th, but he only got one out via strikeout and allowed 2 runs, walked 3 and hit two other batters. Jonger Ochoa got the last two outs of the game, striking out 1.

DSL Indians/Brewers 8, DSL Astros Orange 7

W- Daniel Acosta (4-0)
L- Fabricio Reina (0-2)
S- Ricardo Velasquez (1)

Orange home runs: None.

The Orange team scored 5 in the 7th to take the lead... only to see the Brewdians regain control with 3 in the 8th.

Team Orange got a couple of RBI singles from Renaigel Martis and Kelvin Perez in the 2nd inning. Martis got plunked to lead off the 7th.

Sean Mendoza singled to join Martis on the bases and they both moved over a base following a wild pitch. Michael Garcia walked to load the bases for Deury Carrasco, who came through with a 2-run single. Garcia ended up scoring on a wild pitch. An errant pickoff throw allowed Carrasco to move to 3rd and another bad pickoff throw allowed him to score. Jose Alvarez went 3-5 and drove in the final run of the inning with a single.

Christian Mejias allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 3 in 5 innings. Fabricio Reina had a rough 2.1 innings, and I think I'll leave it at that. Fredy Medina pitched 1.2 innings, allowing a hit and striking out 2.

Thursday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Christian Mejias, RHP, DSL Astros Orange: 5 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 3 K

Photo from Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.Net

Quad Cities River Bandits offense: W 13-3 vs. Kane County

Carmen Benedetti: 4-5, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R

Wander Franco: 3-5, 3-R HR (5), 4 RBI, 2 R

Ray Henderson: 2-4, 2 2B, 3 R

Lucas Williams: IP, 2 K

Carson LaRue: Save (1), 3 IP, H (solo HR), ER, 5 K

Photo from Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.Net

Tri-City ValleyCats: W 13-0 vs. Brooklyn

Reid Russell: 3-5, 2 solo HR (2), 3 RBI, 3 R

J.J. Matijevic: 2-4, solo HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 R

Kyle Davis: 2-4, 2B, 3-R HR (2), 2 R

Patrick Sandoval: W (1-1, 1-2 season), 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K

Colin McKee: Save (2), 4 IP, 2 H, 5 K

Hansel Paulino's photo taken by Bryan Green

This is Willy Collado's mugshot on MiLB.com.

Hansel Paulino, RHP, and Willy Collado, RHP, Greeneville

Paulino: 6 IP, 2 H (solo HR allowed), ER, BB, 7 K

Collado: W (1-0), 3.1 IP, H, 5 K

Buies Creek Astros pitchers: W 3-0 @ Myrtle Beach

Ryan Hartman: W (1-3, 4-4 season), 5 IP, 2 H, BB, K

Hector Perez: Save (2), 4 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K

His mugshot on MiLB.com

Chas McCormick, OF, Greeneville

3-3, RBI, 2 SB (4)

Results for Friday, July 7, 2017

Reno 8, Fresno 5

W- Matt Koch (1-1)
L- Kevin Comer (3-3)

S- Jimmie Sherfy (12)

Fresno home runs: Tony Kemp (4, solo in 3rd), Teoscar Hernandez (8, 2-run in 4th)

The Grizzlies have dropped three straight following a 12-game winning streak. Reno scored in six consecutive innings to take the opener of this series.

David Martinez went 4 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, walked 4, and struck out 2. Aaron West allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (solo homer) and struck out 1 in the 5th inning. Kevin Comer went 2 innings and allowed 2 runs, a hit, walked 2, and struck out 1. Andrew Thome and Jacob Dorris made their PCL debuts on Friday; Thome allowed an unearned run on 2 hits and struck out 1 in the 8th, while Dorris worked around a hit and a walk to throw a scoreless 9th, striking out 1.

Tony Kemp put Fresno on the board with a solo shot in the 3rd, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. Jon Kemmer kept the line moving with a single. He then advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch and scored on a Tyler White single. Teoscar Hernandez whacked a 2-run homer in the 4th and White added a sac fly to his ledger in the 5th. Colin Moran went 3-4 with a double. Kemp (solo HR) and Kemmer (2 R) both finished 2-5.

The Grizzlies wrap up the first half of their season with a doubleheader starting at 5:05 Pacific. Rogelio Armenteros takes on Eric Jokisch in game 1, and Kyle Smith faces Braden Shipley in game 2.

Corpus Christi 5, Northwest Arkansas 2

W- Brock Dykxhoorn (3-4)
L- Jake Kalish (0-3)
S- Ryan Thompson (4)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks got a small measure of revenge on the Naturals by taking the series from them at Whataburger Field after they were swept out of Springdale. They took control of this game with 3 in the 6th inning.

Ramon Laureano doubled to lead off the bottom of the 1st and scored the first run of the game on a J.D. Davis sac fly... all the way from 2B. Davis singled to lead off the 6th and put Corpus in front by scoring on a Jon Singleton double. Jack Mayfield followed by ripping an RBI ground-rule double. He wound up scoring when Arturo Michelena grounded into a force out. Davis doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the 7th.

Laureano (2B, R), Davis (2B, RBI, 2 R), Mayfield (2B, 3B, RBI, R) and Michelena (RBI) all had 2-hit nights.

Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Brock Dykxhoorn turned in his best outing of the year, allowing an unearned run on 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 8 in 7 innings. Andrew Walter allowed a run on 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 in 1.2 innings, and Ryan Thompson got a popout to end the game.

Yoanys Quiala will start the first game of a 3-game set against Arkansas at 7:05. He'll go up against Lindsey Caughel.

Down East 7, Buies Creek 1

W- Richelson Peña (5-4)
L- Matt Bower (3-4)

BC home runs: Spencer Johnson (6, 9 season; solo in 8th)

Matt Bower fell victim to the longball on Friday night as the Wood Ducks took him deep 3 times.

Bower allowed 7 runs on 7 hits (3 solo homers), walked 1, and struck out 5 in his 4 innings. Sebastian Kessay and Erasmo Pinales picked him up by restoring some order to this game. Kessay allowed 3 hits and struck out 6 in 3 innings, and in his Carolina League debut, Pinales struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 9th.

Spencer Johnson spoiled the shutout with a solo shot in the 8th. After hitting just 2 homers in his first two months (33 games) with Buies Creek, Johnson has sent 4 out of the park in the first week of July. He does have 4 triples, though. The blast was Buies Creek's only extra-base hit of the night.

Jorge Alcala has turned in a couple of solid outings in a row and he'll look to keep the momentum rolling as he starts tonight's game. He'll face Jacob Shortslef at 6:00 Eastern.

Quad Cities 6, Clinton 2

W- Abdiel Saldaña (5-1)
L- Ljay Newsome (4-8)
S- Cionel Perez (2)

QC home runs: Ronnie Dawson 2 (10; solo in 3rd, solo in 6th)

The Banditos topped the LumberKings on Friday behind a strong showing on the mound from Abdiel Saldaña and a show of force at the plate from Ronnie Dawson.

Saldaña allowed 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 6 over 5 shutout innings. Cionel Perez finished the game, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 1 over the final 4 innings.

Quad Cities scored a run in each of the first three innings. Carmen Benedetti scored the first run of the game in the 1st when Wander Franco beat a double play attempt. An error was also given on the play. Josh Rojas hit an RBI single in the 2nd, and Ronnie Dawson launched his first homer of the evening in the 3rd. Dawson smacked his second solo homer in the 6th inning, and Troy Sieber hit a 2-run single in the 7th. Dawson reached in all four of his plate appearances, going 3-3 with a walk.

César Rosado makes his first start for the River Bandits tonight. He'll take on Danny Garcia at 6:35.

Tri-City 2, Aberdeen 1

W- Reggie Johnson (2-0)
L- Josh Keaton (0-1)
S- Jesús Balaguer (1, 2 season)

TC home runs: Luis Payano (1, solo in 3rd)

One night after romping their way to a 13-0 victory, the ValleyCats came out on top in a tighter affair.

Matt Ruppenthal worked around a couple of walks in order to throw a scoreless 1st, striking out 2. Nathan Thompson went 2.2 innings and allowed the Ironbirds' only run on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Reggie Johnson got the win after throwing 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and striking out 2 along the way. Jesús Balaguer got the save in his TC debut, striking out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th.

Luis Payano whacked a solo homer in the 3rd to open the scoring. Kyle Davis led off the 7th with a double, advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch, and scored the go-ahead run on Connor MacDonald's single. Payano's homer and Davis's double were Tri-City's only extra-base hits of the game.

Juan Robles starts game 2 of this series against TBA at 6:05 Eastern.

Greeneville 3, Kingsport 1

W- Francisco Villegas (2-0, 3-0 season)

L- Aaron Ford (0-1)

Greeneville home runs: None.

The Appy Astros edged the K-Mets with a pair in the 9th to break a 1-1 tie.

Cody Bohanek doubled to start the game and scored the first run of the game when Gilberto Celestino ripped a double. Celestino walked to lead off the 9th, but two quick outs made things a little dicey. He scored the go-ahead run on an error following a Colton Shaver infield single. Shaver, who made it to 3rd, ended up scoring on a wild pitch. Bohanek finished 2-4 on the night.

Felipe Tejada allowed an unearned run on 4 hits and struck out 5 in 5.2 innings. Francisco Villegas allowed 2 hits and struck out 3 in 3.1 innings to get the win; he has yet to issue a walk in 14.2 innings between Greeneville and the GCL.

Leovanny Rodriguez takes on Garrison Bryant in game 2. First pitch is at 6:30 Eastern.

GCL Marlins 10, GCL Astros 1

W- Miguel De Los Santos (1-0)
L- Chad Donato (0-1)

GCL home runs: None.

The Palm Beach Stros fell behind 5-0 after the first half-inning and never posed a serious threat in this game.

Chad Donato got 2 outs in the 1st and allowed 3 unearned runs (2 inherited runners charged to him), walked 1, and struck out 1. Jheyson Caraballo and Javier Navas pitched 3 innings apiece; Caraballo allowed 5 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits (solo homer) and struck out 3, while Navas allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, walked 4, and struck out 3. Brendan Feldmann walked 1 and struck out 1 in 1.1 innings, and Carlos Pimentel worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 9th, striking out 1.

Orlando Marquez doubled to lead off the 3rd and scored the GCLstros' only run on an Alfredo Angarita groundout.

DSL Astros Blue 13, DSL Braves 0

W- Nivaldo Rodriguez (3-0)
L- Servando Hernandez (0-1)

Blue home runs: None.

The Blue team dominated the Braves in all facets of the game on Friday.

Four pitchers combined on the shutout. Nivaldo Rodriguez allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 7 in 5 innings of work. Angel Matos allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 1 in the 6th. Diosmerky Taveras went 2 innings and allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Alex Blanco struck out 2 in a scoreless 9th; an error allowed a Braves batter to reach against him.

DSL Indians/Brewers 9, DSL Astros Orange 8 in 12 innings

W- Melvin Mendez (2-1)
L- Luis De Paula (1-1)

Orange home runs: None.

The Brewdians scored a pair to condemn Team Orange to a 7th consecutive defeat.

Gerry Castillo went 3-6 with a 2-run single in the 6th and scored a run. Ramiro Rodriguez finished 2-5 with 2 runs scored and drove in a run with a groundout in the 7th. Deury Carrasco's two hits were doubles.

Elian Rodriguez went 2.2 innings and allowed 4 runs on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 2. Cristofer Melendez was the first man out of the Orange team's bullpen and went 2.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on a groundout and a wild pitch, walking 5, and striking out 4. Jose Betances allowed a run on a balk, hit 2 batters, and issued a walk. Betances was called for two balks in his pro debut. Ernesto Jaquez allowed a hit, walked 3, and struck out 1 in 1.1 innings, and Luis De Paula allowed the tying and winning runs in the 12th, both of which were unearned. De Paula went 3.2 innings and also allowed 2 hits, walked 4, and struck out 2.

Friday's Stars

Once again, all photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

DSL Astros Blue: W 13-0 vs. DSL Braves

Nerio Rodriguez: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Yeuris Ramirez: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Kendy Moya: 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI

Nivaldo Rodriguez: W (3-0), 5 IP, 2 H, BB, 7 K