What the Heck, Bobby?: Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Saturday, September 7, 2019

Let's play two in the Carolina League!

PCL Semifinals: Iowa 5, Round Rock 4 (11 innings)

Series tied 2-2.

W- Dillon Maples
L- Ralph Garza Jr.

RR home runs: None.

For the third time in this series, a game has ended in walk-off fashion. Unfortunately for the Express, they've squandered two chances to close out this series. Every game in this series has been decided by one run.

Drew Ferguson grounded into a force out in the 3rd and an error on the play allowed Ronnie Dawson to score. Ferguson wound up scoring on a single by Jack Mayfield. Mayfield hit another RBI single in the 8th and Taylor Jones added an RBI single of his own later in the inning. Mayfield and Chas McCormick both finished 2-5 on the night.

Cristian Javier pitched 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits, walked three, and struck out nine. Brendan McCurry was the first man out of the Round Rock bullpen and he allowed two runs on two hits (solo homer), walked one, and struck out two in 1.2 innings. Dean Deetz allowed a hit, walked two, and struck out the side in a scoreless 7th. Ralph Garza Jr. tagged in for 3.2 innings and allowed the winning run with two outs in the 11th on a sac fly, a hit, walked three, and struck out four.

Forrest Whitley will start a deciding game five at 12:38. He will be opposed by Trevor Clifton.

Carolina League South Final: Down East 5, Fayetteville 4 (8 innings)

Down East leads series 2-1.

W- Michael Matuella
L- Riley Cabral

Fayetteville home runs: Jeremy Peña (2, solo in 1st), Miguelangel Sierra (1, 2-run in 5th), Cal Stevenson (1, solo in 5th)

The Woodpeckers and Wood Ducks played another doubleheader as the Carolinas are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Down East scored one in the 7th to tie and one more in the 8th to walk off with the win in the first game.

Jojanse Torres pitched 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits (two-run homer), walked three, and struck out three. Humberto Castellanos allowed two runs (one earned, one inherited runner charged to him), a solo homer, and walked two in 2.2 innings. Riley Cabral couldn't get the final out of the 8th; he walked one and allowed the winning hit, a single.

All four of Fayetteville's runs in game one came via the homer; Jeremy Peña launched one to start the game and then Miguelangel Sierra (two-run) and Cal Stevenson (solo) went deep in the 5th. The three home run hitters all finished with two hits in game one.

Carolina League South Final: Fayetteville 7, Down East 2

Series tied 2-2.

W- Luis Garcia
L- Reid Anderson

Fayetteville home runs: None.

The Woodpeckers scored twice in the 4th and then went off for four in the 5th to nab a 6-0 lead as they forced a decisive game five.

Luis Garcia was solid once again as he allowed two runs on a pair of solo homers, three other hits, walked one, and struck out ten in six innings. Jacob Billingsley finished it off by striking out two in a 1-2-3 7th.

Ruben Castro opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 4th and then an interference call allowed David Hensley to score another run. Fayetteville loaded the bases to lead off the 5th and that's how they got their four runs in the inning. Castro hit another RBI single, Scott Manea walked Chandler Taylor in, and Michael Papierski hit a two-run single. They loaded the bases again in the 7th and Marty Costes got plunked to bring in another run. Castro and Hensley had three hits apiece, while Papierski went 2-4.

The fifth and final game of this series will start at 3:00 Eastern.

Saturday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.