What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Let's play two in the Dominican Republic!

Triple-A All-Star Game

The PCL All-Stars stormed out to an 8-1 lead and defeated the International League 12-7.

A.J. Reed got the start at first base and went 0-2 with a walk, a couple of strikeouts, and scored a run before leaving the game. Garrett Stubbs entered the game in the 7th and played the rest of the game behind the plate. He got plunked in his only plate appearance in the 9th. Stubbs then stole second and scored on a double from Ildemaro Vargas.

Fresno returns to action tomorrow when they start a four-game series in Tacoma.

Corpus Christi 11, Midland 6

W- Jorge Alcala (2-2, 4-6 season)
L- Joel Seddon (4-5)

CC home runs: None.

A quick start allowed the Hooks to take the series opener out in West Texas.

Jorge Alcala turned in a bare minimum quality start as he allowed eight hits, walked one, and struck out four. Ronel Blanco allowed two runs on two hits, walked one, and struck out one in the 7th, and Alex Winkelman allowed a run on two hits, walked one, and struck out one over the final two innings.

Carmen Benedetti opened the scoring with a two-run triple in the 2nd inning and came home on a base hit from Aníbal Sierra. All three runs in that inning came with two outs. All four Corpus runs in the 3rd also came with two outs. Chas McCormick brought Lorenzo Quintana in with a flare out to center and then Sierra followed with a two-run single. Benedetti, who walked and then advanced to third on Sierra's single, scored on an Andy Piñeda single. Ryne Birk ripped an RBI double in the 4th and Quintana smacked a two-run triple in the 8th to get Corpus to double-digits on the evening. Benedetti capped off the evening with a sac fly in the 9th. McCormick and Sierra both finished 3-5 on the evening, while Birk and Piñeda had two hits apiece. Quintana also stole a couple of bases to go along with his three-bagger; he now has six steals on the year.

Brandon Bielak takes on Logan Shore in game two of this series. First pitch is at 7:00.

Buies Creek 3, Down East 1

W- Patrick Sandoval (2-0, 9-1 season)
L- Christian Torres (5-5)
S- Colin McKee (3)

BC home runs: None.

Patrick Sandoval's breakout season continues. The Astros threw a sizeable amount of money at him following the 2015 draft to get him to spurn USC. It's been a bit of a slow burn with him, but he has truly blossomed into a legit prospect in 2018. When you look at his numbers for the year, it's pretty hard to believe that it includes an outing in which he allowed ten runs.

Sandoval allowed just one hit, walked two, and struck out eight in seven shutout innings. He has yet to allow a run of any kind in 16 innings with Buies Creek. The Wood Ducks spoiled the shutout with a run in the 8th off Colin McKee, which was unearned. McKee allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out two.

After both teams combined for 13 zeroes on the scoreboard, Jonathan Arauz finally opened the scoring when he came home on an error that allowed Bryan de la Cruz to reach safely. De La Cruz wound up scoring on an Osvaldo Duarte single. Cody Bohanek drew a leadoff walk in the 8th and scored on a sac fly from Carlos Canelón. Duarte finished 2-4 with a stolen base (18).

The Carolina Stros will look to get the split at 6:00 Eastern.

Quad Cities 3, Dayton 2

W- Bryan Abreu (1-0, 3-0 season)
L- Miguel Aguilar (1-2)
S- Chad Donato (1)

QC home runs: None.

The Banditos nipped the Dragons with a couple of runs in the 6th and their pitchers held the Dragons to three hits on the night.

Ruben Castro led off the 4th with a base hit and David Hensley promptly brought him home with a double. Hensley walked to lead off the 6th. Colton Shaver and Chandler Taylor joined him on the bases after they got on with singles. Hensley ended up scoring on a wild pitch and Logan Mattix followed with a sac fly that turned out to be the decisive scoring play. Taylor finished 3-3. Shaver and Castro had two hits apiece.

Enoli Paredes went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out eight. Bryan Abreu was a winner in his Midwest League debut as he struck out two of the four Dayton batters he faced. Chad Donato got his first career save with three scoreless; he walked one and struck out three.

Peter Solomon will take on Austin Orweiler in game two of this series. First pitch is at 6:00 Eastern.

Williamsport 14, Tri-City 6

W- Randy Alcantara (2-1)
L- Nivaldo Rodriguez (0-1)

TC home runs: None.

It was a rough day in the field for César Salazar, Michael Wielansky, and Luis Encarnación as they committed two errors apiece. Seven of the Crosscutters' runs were unearned.

The ValleyCats pitchers got peppered incessantly as 11 of the 14 hits they allowed were singles. As I already stated, half of Williamsport's runs were unearned thanks to the six gaffes in the field.

Wielansky got Tri-City on the board with an RBI single in the 6th and an error later in the inning allowed Encarnación and Ramiro Rodriguez to come home. Alex McKenna hit an RBI single in the 7th. Encarnación hit an RBI single in the 9th and McKenna later scored on a wild pitch. Wielansky and McKenna both finished with two hits in the contest.

The ValleyCats and Crosscutters will continue their series at 7:05 Eastern.

GCL Astros 3, GCL Marlins 2 in 10 innings

W- Jonathan Bermúdez (1-0)
L- Nathan Alexander (0-1)

GCL home runs: None.

The Palm Beach Stros got two in the 9th to tie and got their leadoff runner across in the first extra frame to stun the Marlins.

Miguel Figueroa allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out two in three innings of work. Layne Henderson was the first man out of the GCLstros bullpen and allowed a run on three hits, walked two, and struck out two in 2.1 innings. Freylin Garcia was next and he went 2.2 innings, allowing an unearned run on a passed ball, a hit, walking three, and striking out two. Jonathan Bermúdez struck out three over two perfect innings to get the win.

Juan Ramirez and Ronaldo Urdaneta both singled to start the final inning and Ramirez scored on a Hector Martinez single. Urdaneta scored the tying run on an error. Carlos Diaz led off the 10th in scoring position and scored when Gerry Castillo hit into a fielder's choice. Diaz and Yorbin Ceuta both finished 2-4 on the day.

Game 1: DSL Astros 5, DSL Athletics 1

W- Fabricio Reina (2-3)
L- Stiven Montilla (0-1)

DSL home runs: None.

The Academy used a three-run 3rd to get the win in game one.

Valente Bellozo allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out one over four scoreless and Fabricio Reina allowed a run on two hits, walked four, and struck out two in his three innings.

Jose Alvarez went 2-4 with a pair of RBI singles. Jeury Castillo also went 2-4; he doubled and scored on Alvarez's RBI single in the 3rd.

Game 2: DSL Astros 2, DSL Athletics 1

W- Jose Antonio Hernandez (2-1)
L- Edwin Rojas (1-2)

DSL home runs: None.

Sebastian Grullón grounded into a force out that allowed Yimmi Cortabarria to score in the 7th. He moved into scoring position on an error and was allowed to score the winning run when he was interfered with while trying to round third. Franklin Pinto finished 3-4.

Ernesto Jaquez allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out six in four innings of work. Jaquez has allowed three hits in his last 20.2 innings pitched. Jose A. Hernandez allowed a run on three hits and struck out four in three innings.

Wednesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Valente Bellozo, RHP, DSL Astros: 4 IP, 2 H, BB, K in game one of doubleheader
Ernesto Jaquez, RHP, DSL Astros: 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K in game two of doubleheader

Jonathan Bermúdez, LHP, DSL Astros: W (1-0), 2 IP, 3 K; perfect outing