What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Sacramento 12, Fresno 2

W- Casey Kelly (9-7)
L- Cy Sneed (8-5)

Fresno home runs: Yordan Alvarez (2, 14 season; solo in 7th)

The Rivercats have proven to be a serious thorn in the Grizzlies' collective side all season. I have no further comments to add, but at least Yordan Alvarez went deep.

Mike Hauschild will take on Shaun Anderson in the finale of this series. First pitch is at 7:05 Pacific.

Frisco 4, Corpus Christi 1

W- Tyler Davis (2-7)
L- Brandon Bielak (2-1, 7-4 season)
S- Reed Garrett (12)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks pounded out a dozen hits but only had one run to show for it.

Josh Rojas ripped a double with two outs in the 8th and scored that one run on a single from Alex De Goti, who finished 3-4 with a stolen base (4) on the evening. That double from Rojas was Corpus Christi's only extra-base hit of the contest. Rojas went 2-3 and also stole a base; he now has 15 in the Texas League and 27 on the season. Andy Piñeda finished 2-4.

Brandon Bielak pitched 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on five hits (solo homer), walked four, and struck out five. Kit Scheetz was the first man out of the Hooks bullpen and allowed a run on three hits and struck out two in two innings, and Ronel Blanco allowed a run on three hits and struck out three in 1.1 innings.

Hector Perez will start the first of a four-game series in Midland at 7:00. He'll take on Jesús Luzardo.

Buies Creek 1, Salem 0 in 10 innings

W- Carlos Sanabria (1-0, 3-1 season)
L- Jake Cosart (3-1)

BC home runs: None.

Nine innings came and went without a run, but the Carolina Stros finally broke the deadlock with a run in the first extra frame to walk off with the victory.

Chuckie Robinson led off the bottom of the 10th in scoring position and moved to third on a sac bunt from Jonathan Arauz. Jake Meyers got a free pass to first to set up the double play, but Corey Julks lifted one high enough and far enough for Robinson to dash home with the winning run. Ronnie Dawson went 2-4 and stole a couple of bases (26).

Meanwhile on the mound, three pitchers combined to hold the Red Sox to one hit over the ten innings. Brandon Bailey went five innings and didn't allow any; he walked two and struck out five. Gabriel Valdez allowed that one hit. He went four innings and struck out three. Carlos Sanabria worked around a walk to throw a scoreless top of the 10th.

Game two of this series is at 6:00 Eastern. Cristian Javier will take on Darwinzon Hernandez.

Quad Cities 2, South Bend 1

W- Peter Solomon (7-1)
L- Erling Moreno (0-2)
S- Willy Collado (3)

QC home runs: None.

Both teams had five hits, but the Banditos had more in the column that matters most.

Parker Mushinski allowed a run on three hits, walked three, and struck out four in 4.2 innings. Peter Solomon tagged in to throw 3.1 scoreless, allowing two hits and striking out four, and Willy Collado worked around a catcher's interference call in the 9th to secure the victory.

Chandler Taylor hit a one-out double in the 2nd, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored the game's first run on a sac fly from Colton Shaver. Taylor added an RBI single to his ledger in the 6th that brought in Seth Beer. Taylor finished 2-4 on the night.

César Rosado will get the start in game two of this series. He'll face Javier Assad at 6:35.

Brooklyn 11, Tri-City 5

W- Christian James (2-0)
L- Juan Pablo Lopez (1-1)

TC home runs: Alex McKenna 2 (2; 3-run in 1st, solo in 8th)

A big night from Alex McKenna was not enough for the ValleyCats to withstand an offensive onslaught from the Cyclones.

McKenna went 2-4 and both of his hits left the yard for his first two home runs as a pro. He put Tri-City on the board with a three-run blast in the bottom of the 1st and later launched a solo shot in the 8th. Austin Dennis hit an RBI single in the 9th inning. Carlos Machado finished 2-3 with a double.

Devin Conn got two outs in the 1st and allowed three runs (one earned, two inherited runners charged to him) and walked one. Juan Pablo Lopez was the first man out of the ValleyCats bullpen and allowed three runs (two inherited runners charged to him) on three hits, walked one, and struck out two in 2.2 innings. Felipe Tejada was next, and he allowed two runs on five hits (three-run homer), walked two, and fanned six in 3.2 innings. Luis De Paula got two outs in the 8th, but he allowed three runs on three hits (solo homer) and walked three. J.P. France got the last out of the 8th with a strikeout and went on to strike out two more in a 1-2-3 9th.

Tri-City will look to avoid the sweep at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Mets 6, GCL Astros 3

W- Jurgen Jimenez (3-1)
L- Angel Macuare (1-2)
S- Malky Mena (1)

GCL home runs: None.

The Palm Beach Stros got three runs in the 2nd, but the Mets ended up scoring the game's last six runs in a game that featured a rehabbing Yoenis Céspedes.

Freudis Nova singled to lead off that 2nd inning and moved to second base on a passed ball. He then stole third. Deury Carrasco worked the walk and he and Nova pulled off a double steal to open the scoring. Carrasco stole third and scored on a Ronaldo Urdaneta single. Urdaneta stole second, advanced to third on an Andrés Santana groundout, and scored on a Juan Ramirez groundout. Freudis and Nerio Rodriguez finished with two hits apiece on the day.

Angel Macuare went 4.1 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, one of which was a three-run homer hit by Céspedes. He also walked two and struck out three. Kyle Serrano and Daniel Bello pitched one inning apiece, or more accurately, recorded three outs apiece. Serrano got the last two outs of the 5th and the first out of the 6th; he retired all three Mets he faced, striking out one. Bello got the last two outs of the 6th and the first out of the 7th, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, walking two, and striking out one. Freylin Garcia walked one in 1.2 innings of work.

DSL Marlins 3, DSL Astros 2

W- Leudy Martinez (4-0)
L- Jose Antonio Hernandez (2-2)
S- Jesús Sanchez (2)

DSL home runs: None.

The Academy couldn't quite complete the comeback.

Jose Antonio Hernandez and Ernesto Jaquez both pitched four innings in this one. Hernandez allowed three runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out two. Jaquez continues to be absurd on the mound as he walked one, hit another batter, and struck out nine in a hitless outing. Jaquez has allowed just three hits in his last 24.2 innings pitched. Jose Betances worked around a couple of hits in order to throw a scoreless 9th.

Victor Mascai hit a sac fly in the 6th to put the DSL squad on the board. Jose Mendoza singled to lead off the 8th; he made his way to third thanks to a couple of wild pitches and scored on a Javier Bermúdez single. Mendoza scored both of the Academy's runs in this game. Bermúdez and Abraham Castillo both finished 2-4.

Wednesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Ernesto Jaquez, RHP, DSL Astros: 4 IP, BB, hit batter, 9 K