What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Saturday, April 20, 2019

Let's play two in Memphis and Fayetteville!

Game 1: Round Rock 11, Memphis 6

W- Kent Emanuel (1-0)
L- John Fasola (0-1)

RR home runs: Taylor Jones (4, solo in 5th), Drew Ferguson (1, solo in 5th), Yordan Alvarez (8, 2-run in 7th), Kyle Tucker (2, solo in 7th)

The Express erupted for nine runs in the final inning to shock the Redbirds in game one of the doubleheader.

Taylor Jones and Drew Ferguson hit back-to-back solo homers in the top of the 5th inning to tie the game at 2, but Memphis regained control with four runs in the bottom of the 5th and it looked like they'd come out on top in the first game. Round Rock had other ideas, however.

Yordan Alvarez walked to lead off the 7th and advanced to third on Kyle Tucker's double. They both scored on a Nick Tanielu double that cut the deficit to two runs. Jones followed with a double and a base hit from Ferguson put runners at the corners for Jamie Ritchie, who got plunked to load the bases. Jones scored the tying run on a Myles Straw sac fly. Derek Fisher hit into a force out that erased Ritchie at second base for the second out of the inning, but Jack Mayfield came through with a two-run double that put the Express in the lead. Alvarez launched a two-run homer in his second plate appearance of the inning and Tucker capped off the assault with a solo blast.

Jones, Ferguson, Fisher, and Tucker all finished with two hits in the first game; Ferguson reached base in all of his plate appearances.

Cionel Pérez went four innings and allowed four runs (two inherited runners charged to him) on five hits, walked three, and struck out four. Kent Emanuel was the first man out of the bullpen in game one and he allowed two runs on two hits (three-run homer, one run was charged to Cionel), walked one, and struck out one. Ralph Garza Jr. pitched a 1-2-3 7th inning.

Game 2: Memphis 3, Round Rock 0

W- Austin Gomber (2-0)
L- Rogelio Armenteros (1-1)

RR home runs: None.

The Express ended up having to settle for the split as they got shut out in game two.

All they could muster up offensively in the nightcap was a Taylor Jones double and a pair of singles from Nick Tanielu and Alex De Goti.

Rogelio Armenteros allowed a run on four hits, walked two, and struck out one in 1.2 innings of work. Brendan McCurry turned in three innings in relief and allowed two runs on four hits (solo homer), walked three, and struck out one. Dean Deetz pitched the last 1.1 innings and walked four while striking out two.

Forrest Whitley takes on Jake Woodford in game three of this series. First pitch is at 2:05.

Amarillo 6, Corpus Christi 3

W- Reggie Lawson (1-1)
L- Gabriel Valdez (0-1)
S- Emmanuel Ramirez (1)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks got doubled up as they dropped this Easter series in the Panhandle.

Ronnie Dawson opened the scoring with a bases-loaded RBI single in the 2nd inning. Corpus got a pair in the 7th as Carlos Canelón scored on an Abraham Toro groundout and Stephen Wrenn scored on a wild pitch. J.J. Matijevic finished 3-4 with a couple of doubles and scored a run.

Gabriel Valdez went 1.2 innings and the three runs he allowed came on Jorge Oña's first home run of the evening. He allowed one other hit, walked three, and struck out one. Colin McKee allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. José Hernández-Urquidy pitched the final four innings and allowed three runs on six hits (solo homer hit by Oña) and struck out four.

The Hooks have Easter Sunday off. They'll begin a homestand against the Arkansas teams on Monday; first up, three with Northwest Arkansas.

Game 1: Fayetteville 3, Carolina 2

W- José Bravo (1-0)
L- Dylan File (0-3)

Fayetteville home runs: None.

The Woodpeckers nipped the Mudcats in game one with a run in the 6th that broke a 2-2 tie.

Cristian Javier went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits (solo homer), walked two, and struck out three. José Bravo allowed a hit and fanned three over the last 2.1 innings to get the win.

Jake Meyers got the Woodpeckers on the board with an RBI single in the 2nd and he came around to score on Scott Manea's double. Jake Adams finished 2-3 and hit the RBI single in the 6th that put Fayetteville in front.

Game 2: Fayetteville 6, Carolina 3

W- Bryan Abreu (1-0)
L- Christian Taugner (1-2)
S- Carlos Sanabria (1)

Fayetteville home runs: Seth Beer (3, 2-run in 2nd)

SEGRA Stadium is getting a few firsts out of the way in short order. They've got the first game done with and now they can cross "first doubleheader" off the list. The Woodpeckers stormed out of the gate with four in the 1st and two more in the 2nd to earn the doubleheader sweep.

Fayetteville loaded the bases to lead off the 1st and that's how they got their four runs. Scott Manea drew a bases-loaded walk, Colton Shaver ripped a two-run double, and Michael Papierski hit an RBI single. Seth Beer finished 3-3 and launched a two-run homer in the 2nd inning. He also had a double and scored on Shaver's double in the opening frame.

Bryan Abreu went five innings and the three runs he allowed came on a homer hit by Rob Henry in the 4th. He allowed four other hits, walked one, and struck out eight during his time on the mound. Tommy DeJuneas and Carlos Sanabria both pitched 1-2-3 innings and struck out one; DeJuneas did so in the 6th while Sanabria had the 7th to finish it off.

This seven-game series between the Woodpeckers and Mudcats is tied at three games apiece. These two teams will face off for the final time this month at 2:00 Eastern.

Quad Cities 4, Kane County 3

W- Matt Ruppenthal (1-0)
L- Ryan Miller (0-3)

QC home runs: None.

The Banditos scored a run in each of the final four innings to walk off with the win and avoid the sweep. They managed to withstand a one-man assault from Geraldo Perdomo, who had three hits and drove in all three of the Cougars' runs.

Luis Garcia went five innings and the one run he allowed came when Perdomo took him deep in the 1st inning. Other than that, Garcia shined as he allowed just one other hit, walked one, and struck out six. Matt Ruppenthal got the last four innings and the two runs he gave up came on a 6th-inning double hit by guess who... Perdomo. Ruppenthal allowed one other hit, walked two, and struck out four.

Jeremy Peña put Quad Cities on the board with an RBI single in the 6th, which was their first run of the entire series. Jonathan Lacroix ripped an RBI double in the 7th and Peña lashed an RBI double of his own to tie the game in the 8th. Lacroix doubled again in the 9th, advanced to third on an error that allowed Austin Dennis to reach, and scored the winning run on Andy Piñeda's single. Peña and Lacroix both finished 2-4 on the day.

Quad Cities has Sunday off. They'll be back in Peoria for a three-game series against the usual occupants of Dozer Park, the Peoria Chiefs, beginning on Monday.

Saturday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.