What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Saturday, May 5, 2018

Sacramento 5, Fresno 2

W- Jose Valdez (1-2)
L- Brendan McCurry (0-2)

Fresno home runs: None.

The Grizzlies got stung in the 9th as Sacramento broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the inning.

Both of Fresno's runs came in the 6th on an A.J. Reed single and a J.D. Davis double. Both of Davis's hits were doubles.

The one run that David Paulino allowed in his five innings of work came on a solo homer hit by Kyle Jensen. Paulino allowed two other hits, walked one, and struck out six. Reymin Guduan was the first man out of the Fresno bullpen and allowed an unearned run, which was an inherited runner that was charged to him, a double, walked two, and struck out three in 1.1 innings. Matt Ramsey allowed a hit and struck out four in 1.2 innings. Brendan McCurry retired the first two men he faced via a popout and a strikeout in the 9th, but well... the last inning can sometimes be the toughest. He then walked the next man he faced, plunked the guy after that, and Orlando Calixte homered to put the River Cats in front.

What can you do besides dusting yourself off and trying again? Trent Thornton will face Matt Gage at 1:05 Pacific.

San Antonio 9, Corpus Christi 8

W- Matt Strahm (1-0)
L- Sean Stutzman (2-2)

CC home runs: Taylor Jones (5, solo in 2nd)

That's a serious kick to the gonads. The Missions, doing business as the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio on Saturday night, scored six in the bottom of the 9th to walk off with a win and capped off that rally with a grand slam that won it.

Josh James threw 1.2 innings and allowed one hit, which was a two-run home run hit by Kyle Overstreet. James had to battle his command and his control as well as he also issued four walks while striking out four; he needed 49 pitches to get five outs and left the bases loaded for Ralph Garza, who got James out of the 2nd and went on to throw 3.1 innings, allowing a run on three hits, walking one, and striking out one. Framber Valdez was next and he allowed five runs (four earned, three inherited runners charged to him), two hits, walked five, and struck out four in three innings. The last two walks that Framber issued came with the bases loaded and cut the Corpus lead to 8-5. Sean Stutzman got the first out of the 9th but wound up serving up the walk-off grand slam to Overstreet.

Taylor Jones got things started when he smacked a solo home run to lead off the 2nd inning. The next batter, Josh Rojas, drew a walk, stole second, and scored on Randy César's triple. César came in on a Nick Tanielu sac fly. Myles Straw walked to start the 3rd, stole second, and Jones brought him in with a single. Yordan Alvarez ripped an RBI double in the 5th inning and Jones once again came through by sending Alvarez home with a double of his own. Things got a bit interesting in the 9th as Alex De Goti stole third and then he ended up getting awarded home as well because San Antonio 3B Ty France interfered with him.

Flying Chanclas manager Phil Wellman, who is known to lose his temper every now and then, went ballistic and ended up getting tossed. France wasn't too pleased either and he wound up joining his skipper in getting the heave-ho right as he was getting set to appear at the plate in the bottom of the 9th.

Straw, who was at the plate when all of this went down, eventually worked a walk and scored on an error following an Alvarez double. Both of Yordan's hits were doubles. César (3B, RBI, R) and De Goti (2B, 2 R) also finished with two hits on the night. Jones went 3-5 and is now hitting an even .400 on the year.

Again... what can you do besides dusting yourself off and trying again?

Ryan Hartman will get the start in game 2 of this series. He'll take on Jesse Scholtens at 2:05.

Winston-Salem 6, Buies Creek 2

W- Bernardo Flores (2-2)
L- Ronel Blanco (2-1)
S- Jose Ruiz (2)

BC home runs: Abraham Toro (5, 2-run in 1st)

Both teams scored two runs in all of the innings in which they scored. Unfortunately, Buies Creek only had one such inning while Winston-Salem had three such instances.

The three pitchers who appeared for the Carolina Stros allowed two runs apiece during their time on the mound. Brandon Bielak threw 2.2 innings and allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out four. The two runs that were charged to Ronel Blanco came on a home run hit by Alex Call in the 6th. Blanco went 3.1 innings and allowed two other hits, walked one, and struck out three. Colin McKee also had two runs charged to him by way of a home run; this one came off the bat of Blake Rutherford. McKee allowed one other hit, walked one, and struck out five in two innings.

Abraham Toro's two-run blast in the 1st inning was Buies Creek's only scoring play. Chas McCormick, who hit a double right before Toro's homer, extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Hector Perez will get the start as Buies Creek and Winston-Salem wrap up their series this afternoon. First pitch is at 2:00 Eastern.

Quad Cities 9, Lansing 2

W- Parker Mushinski (1-0)
L- Yennsy Diaz (3-1)

QC home runs: J.J. Matijevic (3, solo in 1st), Jonathan Arauz (4, 3-run in 3rd)

The Banditos got off to another fast start, but this time, they didn't have to hang on for dear life. Jonathan Arauz continues to terrorize the Lugnuts.

Lansing starter Yennsy Diaz entered this game with a 0.31 ERA. He had allowed just one run in his first 28.2 innings this season. By the time the Banditos were through knocking him around for three innings, his ERA ballooned to 2.56.

J.J. Matijevic was activated from the DL and he wasted little time in getting the rout started as he launched a home run to lead off the game. Arauz followed by drawing a walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a Mike Papierski flyout, and scored on a Bryan de la Cruz sac fly.

Jake Meyers walked to lead off the 3rd and advanced to third on a Matijevic single. One batter later, Arauz whacked a three-run home run. Meyers ripped a two-run triple in the 4th and scored on an Arauz sac fly. Arauz struck one last time when he ripped an RBI double in the 8th inning. He reached in all four of his plate appearances, and he and Matijevic both finished with three hits on the evening. Jake Adams went 2-5, and Bryan de la Cruz extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the 3rd.

Parker Mushinski allowed a run on three hits, walked three, and struck out eight in 5.1 innings of work. Adam Bleday tagged in for 2.2 innings and allowed a run on two hits, walked one, and struck out seven. Cole Watts allowed a couple of hits in the 9th but finished the game without any further incidents.

Patrick Sandoval will face Graham Spraker in the series finale. First pitch is at 1:05 Eastern.

Saturday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.