What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Thursday, June 21, 2018

History in Corpus Christi!

Zamunda (Fresno) 8, Albuquerque 0

W- Cy Sneed (7-3)
L- Brett Oberholtzer (3-5)

Zamunda home runs: Kyle Tucker (10, solo in 1st), Tim Federowicz (6, 2-run in 5th)

On Thursday, the Fresno Grizzlies re-branded themselves as the "Zamunda Lions" to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Eddie Murphy film "Coming to America."

I am ruler of the Kingdom of Dugout...#ComingToFresno pic.twitter.com/1f4RgcvP8B
— Zamunda Lions 🦁 (@FresnoGrizzlies) June 22, 2018

Cy Sneed turned in his first nine-inning complete game and his first career shutout. He threw a seven-inning complete game on July 21, 2015 as part of a doubleheader. Sneed allowed two singles to Raimel Tapia, walked two, and struck out a career-high 11.

Kyle Tucker got things started with a solo shot in the opening frame. Zamunda got three in the 3rd when A.J. Reed cleared the bases with a double and three more in the 5th on a two-run homer from Tim Federowicz and a Jack Mayfield groundout that scored Derek Fisher. Myles Straw walked to lead off the 6th. He then stole second and scored the final run of the night on a single from Little Tuck, who went 3-5. Reed and Federowicz both finished 2-4. Straw singled, scored twice, and stole two bases, which now gives him 41 on the season. He's the first man in affiliated professional baseball to steal 40 bases this year.

Mike Hauschild will get the start in game two of this series. First pitch is at 7:05 Pacific.

Corpus Christi 4, Frisco 2

W- Jorge Alcala (1-0, 2-4 season)
L- Tyler Wagner (1-1)

CC home runs: Yordan Alvarez (9, 2-run in 4th)

The Blue Ghosts pounded out 14 hits but only had four runs to show for that hit parade. No matter, they still wound up with the win.

Yordan Alvarez went 3-4 with a two-run blast in the 4th inning and Chas McCormick finished 2-4 with a two-run single in the 6th. Randy César finished 3-4 and set a new Texas League record for the longest hitting streak at 38 games, surpassing Bobby Trevino's mark in 1969. Taylor Jones and Ryne Birk also finished 2-4. Alvarez has a 15-game hitting streak of his own.

Corbin Martin allowed a run on two hits, walked one, and struck out three in four innings. Dean Deetz worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 5th, striking out two. He bridged the gap between Martin and Jorge Alcala, who finished it off by allowing an RBI single, walking two, and striking out four in the final four innings.

Framber Valdez will face TBA in game two of this series. First pitch is at 7:05.

Buies Creek 7, Carolina 1

W- Cristian Javier (2-0, 4-2 season)
L- Devin Williams (0-2)
S- Hector Perez (2)

BC home runs: Abraham Toro (10, solo in 3rd)

The Carolina Stros stormed out of the gate with a 5-1 lead after three innings and cruised to the victory.

Cristian Javier went five innings and allowed a run on three hits, walked one, and struck out one. Hector Perez threw four scoreless to close it out and did not allow a hit. He walked two and fanned three.

Osvaldo Duarte opened up the scoring with a two-run single in the opening frame. Carlos Canelón reached on a fielder's choice in the 2nd that allowed Corey Julks to score; he ended up scoring himself thanks to a Jake Meyers sac fly. Abraham Toro smacked a homer to lead off the 3rd. In the 8th, Duarte scored on an error as Jake Adams stole second and Canelón capped off the night with a sac fly. Toro and Duarte both finished 2-3.

Buies Creek and Carolina will continue their series at 6:00 Eastern.

Beloit 3, Quad Cities 2

W- Josh Reagan (2-3)
L- Willy Collado (0-1)
S- Seth Martinez (9)

QC home runs: None.

The Banditos dropped their second-half opener as they had the tying run on base in the 9th but couldn't push him across.

Logan Mattix hit a two-run single in the 4th to bring in the only two Quad Cities runs. Mike Papierski drew a one-out walk but was left at first to end the night.

Leovanny Rodriguez and César Rosado threw four innings apiece. Leovanny allowed four hits and struck out eight in a scoreless outing, while Rosado allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, walked one, and struck out four. Willy Collado allowed the go-ahead run on two hits and fanned two in the 9th.

Game two of this series will start at 6:35.

Tri-City 9, Lowell 3

W- Tim Hardy (1-1)
L- Brian Brown (0-1)
S- Juan Pablo Lopez (1)

TC home runs: Enmanuel Valdez (3, solo in 4th)

For the second straight night, a huge inning spurred Tri-City on to victory.

For the second straight night, a Tommy John survivor returned to action. Jose Luis Hernandez made his first appearance in a real baseball game since September 1, 2016 and allowed a run on four hits while striking out three in two innings. Tim Hardy retired all four Spinners he faced, striking out one. Hansel Paulino threw 2.2 scoreless, allowing a hit, walking one, and striking out five. Juan Pablo Lopez pitched the final three innings and allowed two unearned runs on three hits and struck out two.

The ValleyCats scored eight of their nine runs in the 3rd inning, all of which came with two outs. Enmanuel Valdez grounded into a force out that erased Alex Holderbach at second, but an error allowed Juan Piñeda to score. Valdez ended up scoring on an error that allowed Michael Wielansky to reach. Luis Encarnación singled and Gilberto Celestino walked to load the bases, which prompted a pitching change. Wielansky scored on a wild pitch and then Ramiro Rodriguez and Carlos Machado followed with RBI singles. Another wild pitch allowed them to advance and Marty Costes continued the onslaught with a two-run triple. Piñeda brought Costes in with a single in his second plate appearance of the inning. Valdez, who went 3-4, led off the 4th with a homer. Piñeda went 2-4.

The ValleyCats and Spinners will square off again at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Astros 6, GCL Marlins 5

W- Bryan Solano (1-0)
L- Scott Sebald (0-1)
S- Freylin Garcia (1)

GCL home runs: None.

The Palm Beach Stros entered the win column for the first time this season by holding off the Marlins.

Both teams scored a run in the 1st; the GCLstros' run came when Freudis Nova stole third and scored on an errant throw. Wilyer Abreu singled to lead off the 5th and scored on a triple from Nathan Perry. Abreu added an RBI single to his ledger in the 6th and drove in two more with another base hit in the 8th. Nova flew into a force out in the 9th. Abreu went 3-4, while Nova and Joe Perez finished with two hits apiece.

Elian Rodriguez went 2.2 innings and allowed a run on a bases-loaded walk, a single, walked six, and struck out three. Bryan Solano allowed three hits and struck out two in 1.1 innings. Fredy Medina allowed a solo homer, one other hit, walked one, and struck out six in 3.2 innings, and Freylin Garcia allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits, walked one, and struck out two.

DSL Rays1 6, DSL Astros 3

W- Jose Roca (1-0)
L- Jairo Lopez (0-1)
S- Dauris Lopez (1)

DSL home runs: None.

The Academy got doubled up on Thursday.

Marco van der Wijst got the DSLstros on the board with a sac fly in the 7th. They got two more in the 8th on a Victor Mascai groundout and a sac fly from Yimmi Cortabarria. Jose Mendoza went 2-3.

Jairo Lopez allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits (solo homer), walked two, and struck out three in four innings. Alex Blanco allowed two runs on three hits and walked two in the 5th. Diosmerky Taveras tagged in for three innings and allowed two runs on two hits, walked three, and struck out two. Ronny Garcia threw a 1-2-3 9th inning.

Thursday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.
When I run out of characters to tag players, it was a good night.

Wilyer Abreu, OF, GCL Astros: 3-4, 3 RBI, R