What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Friday, April 6, 2018

Reno 8, Fresno 4

W- Taylor Clarke (1-0)
L- Trent Thornton (0-1)

Fresno home runs: Kyle Tucker (1, 2-run in 6th), Tyler White (1, solo in 6th), Jack Mayfield (1, solo in 6th)

After being rendered helpless by Reno starter Taylor Clarke, the Grizzlies made it a one-run game after they clubbed three home runs in the 6th... but it wasn't enough.

Ted strikes yet again. He put Fresno on the board with a 2-run shot off Michael Blazek and Tyler White followed by launching a solo shot of his own. Two batters later, Jack Mayfield took Silvino Bracho deep for a solo homer. Tucker and White both finished 2-4 on the night.

Trent Thornton allowed 4 unearned runs, 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 in 2.2 innings. Buddy Boshers and Jacob Dorris both threw 1.1 innings with contrasting results. Boshers allowed a hit and struck out 1 in a scoreless outing. On the other hand, Dorris allowed 3 runs on 3 hits (solo homer), walked 1, and struck out 2. Reymin Guduan walked 1 and struck out 3 over 1.2 scoreless, and Brendan McCurry allowed a run on 2 hits and struck out 1 in the 8th.

Francis Martes makes his first start of 2018 at 4:05 Pacific. He'll take on Kris Medlen.

Corpus Christi 11, Northwest Arkansas 9

W- Ralph Garza Jr. (1-0)
L- Sam Selman (0-1)

CC home runs: None.

As the old saying goes, turnabout is fair play. After the Naturals scored three runs in the final two innings to win in walk-off fashion on Opening Night, the Hooks scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th to erase a 9-4 deficit... which was a hole that they found themselves in despite leading 4-0 after the midway point of this contest.

Corpus parlayed a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the 1st into three runs as Yuli Gurriel scored on a Nick Tanielu RBI groundout and then Taylor Jones followed with a 2-run double. Yordan Alvarez hit a sac fly in the 5th but reached anyway thanks to an error. Myles Straw hit an RBI single in the 8th to cut the deficit to 9-5.

Jamie Ritchie got plunked to lead off the 9th inning and Alvarez followed with a single. Tanielu grounded out, but Jones singled to load the bases and Ryne Birk and Stephen Wrenn followed with bases-loaded walks to bring Corpus to within 2, and then Alex De Goti put the Hooks in front by sending everyone home with a triple. De Goti ended up scoring the final run of the night on a Carmen Benedetti RBI single.

Jones finished 3-5 on the night and scored twice, while Straw (RBI, R, 2 BB, 2 SB), Yuli, and De Goti all turned in two-hit nights.

Brock Dykxhoorn went 4.1 innings and allowed an unearned run, which was an inherited runner charged to him, on two hits while striking out 5. Ryan Hartman and Sean Stutzman followed with 1.1 innings apiece. Hartman was the first man out of the Hooks bullpen and all four of his outs were strikeouts. However, he also allowed 4 unearned runs (3 inherited runners charged to him), 3 hits, and issued a walk. Stutzman allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, walked 3, and struck out 2. Ralph Garza Jr. got the win on his birthday by throwing two perfect innings, striking out one. Garza also induced four groundball outs.

The Hooks will wrap up their first series of the season by sending Yoanys Quiala out to the mound. He'll face Scott Blewett at 6:05.

Salem 4, Buies Creek 3

W- Joan Martinez (1-0)
L- Brandon Bielak (0-1)

BC home runs: Anibal Sierra (1, solo in 3rd)

The Red Sox scored three in the bottom of the 9th to walk off with the win.

Anibal Sierra hit the first home run of the new Astros minor league season when he put Buies Creek on the board with a solo blast. Chas McCormick singled to start off the 5th, advanced to second base on an error, moved to third on another error, and then stole home. Josh Rojas led off the 6th with a walk, stole second, and came around to score on a Troy Sieber RBI double. Sierra and Abraham Toro (2B) both finished 2-4.

Hector Perez was excellent in his five innings as he allowed just one run on two hits, walked one, and struck out a career-high 10. After issuing the walk to start the bottom of the 5th, Perez plunked the next man he faced, but he managed to get out of the inning without further incident. Brandon Bielak cruised through three innings, but the wheels fell off for him in horrific fashion in the 9th as Salem managed to get 3 runs off of him to win the game. Bielak allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits (solo homer), walked 1, and struck out 6 in 3.1 innings.

Carson LaRue takes the hill for game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 6:05 Eastern.

Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids was postponed

Due to the cold snap that has enveloped the Midwest. A doubleheader is scheduled for today, with the first game starting at 1:15. Tyler Ivey will face Edwar Colina, while Yohan Ramirez takes on Blayne Enlow in the second game.

Friday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.