What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Pitching ruled the day down on the farm. Could the offenses pull their weight?

Tacoma 13, Fresno 0

W- Christian Bergman (1-0)
L- Matt Ramsey (0-1)

Fresno home runs: None.

Um... yikes. The Rainiers broke through with a pair of runs in the 7th and then put up 11 in the 9th inning.

Drew Ferguson had two of the Tacos' four hits in this game, all of which were singles. Tony Kemp and Tyler White had the other two.

Mike Hauschild allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out nine over six shutout innings. The bullpen... had a night to forget. It might not be good when two position players end up having to pitch in a nine-inning game.

Trent Thornton will get the start in game 2 of this series. He'll take on Ariel Miranda at 6:35 Pacific.

Arkansas 4, Corpus Christi 3

W- Art Warren (1-0)
L- Erasmo Pinales (0-1)

CC home runs: Yordan Alvarez (1, solo in 7th)

After both teams combined to post 12 zeroes on the scoreboard, business suddenly picked up in the last three frames. Unfortunately, the Hooks wound up getting swept out of Little Rock in walk-off fashion to conclude their season-opening tour of Arkansas on a rather sour note.

Josh James turned in a dominating performance on the mound as he walked two and struck out nine over five no-hit innings. Sean Stutzman allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2 in 1.2 innings. He left the bases loaded for Erasmo Pinales, who managed to get him out of danger to end the 7th.

But... the wheels fell off for Pinales in the 9th inning as the Travelers scored all four of their runs in the frame to complete the sweep. Pinales allowed a game-tying 3-run homer to Joey Curletta and then a double right after. Riley Ferrell came on and was unable to preserve the tie; he committed a balk to put the winning run at third and then allowed the game-winner, an RBI single in which the run was charged to Pinales, who allowed 4 runs on 2 hits and walked 2 in 1.1 innings. Ferrell recorded an out in the 9th and also issued a walk.

Yordan Alvarez whacked a solo homer in the 7th to break the 0-0 deadlock. Corpus turned a bases-loaded, no out situation in the 9th into two runs as Myles Straw scored on a wild pitch and Ryne Birk hit a sac fly. Alvarez finished 2-3 and scored two of the Hooks' three runs on the afternoon.

The Hooks have Wednesday off as they get set for their first homestand of the season, which begins Thursday when Northwest Arkansas comes to Whataburger Field. Framber Valdez is scheduled to face Zach Lovvorn in Corpus Christi's home opener.

Buies Creek 4, Lynchburg 0

W- Abdiel Saldaña (1-0)
L- Micah Miniard (0-1)

BC home runs: None.

Buies Creek got a pair of two-run innings on offense and an outstanding night on the mound as three pitchers collaborated on a shutout.

Abdiel Saldaña shoved in his first start of the season; he allowed 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 6 over 6 shutout innings. Jesús Balaguer was the first man out of the Carolina Stros' bullpen and threw 2 scoreless, walking 2 and striking out 2. Kit Scheetz struck out the side in the 9th to end it, working around a hit and a walk to do so.

Aníbal Sierra opened the scoring by lashing a 2-run double in the 4th. Buies Creek got two more in the 5th when Josh Rojas scored on an Osvaldo Duarte groundout and a Chas McCormick RBI single. Luis Payano went 3-5 and scored a run on Sierra's double.

Jorge Alcala will take the mound for the series finale. First pitch is at 6:30 Eastern.

Kane County 3, Quad Cities 1

W- Breckin Williams (1-0)
L- J.B. Bukauskas (0-1)
S- Abraham Almonte (2)

QC home runs: None.

The Banditos drew eight walks in this game... but they only had two hits and all of that traffic amounted to a grand total of one run.

Jake Meyers scored the only run when Corey Julks grounded into a double play in the 4th inning. Julks and Adrian Tovalin had the only two Quad Cities hits.

J.B. Bukauskas went 3.2 innings in his season debut and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 4, and struck out 6. Carlos Sanabria allowed a solo homer to Jazz Chisholm, which was the only hit that he allowed in his 1.1 innings of work. Sanabria also recorded a strikeout. Parker Mushinski allowed 3 hits and struck out 5 over 3.1 scoreless, and Colin McKee got the last two outs of the 9th, one via strikeout.

César Rosado will face Jayson McKinley, a Friendswood native, in game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 6:35.

Tuesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.