Astros Farm Report: 9-16

One final regularly scheduled Astros farm report to wrap up the season ...

Two teams (Fayetteville and Round Rock) made it to their respective League Championship Series, but ultimately neither team was able to bring home the hardware. The Astros minor league season officially ended on Saturday with Fayetteville's loss to Wilmington in Game 5. Despite a brilliant outing from MLB Pipeline 29th ranked Astro prospect Luis Garcia (6.1 IP 3H 1R 0BB 11K), Garcia was charged with the loss as the solo home run he allowed in the fourth inning proved to be all the run support Wilmington needed.

There will be one final minor league game on Tuesday as the Pacific Coast League Champion Sacramento River Cats will face the International League Champion Columbus Clippers for a one-game winner-take-all AAA Championship game on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Memphis Redbirds Autozone Park. The game will be televised on FS1.

ROSTER MOVES/TRANSACTIONS

Here are the final roster moves for the minor league season. An ongoing list of all of the 2019 season transactions and roster moves can be found here.

9-14: IF Jack Mayfield recalled to Houston
9-13: SS Carlos Correa sent to Round Rock on a rehab assignment
9-7: SS/2B Anibal Sierra assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-7: RHP Bryan Abreu recalled to Houston
9-7: RHP Colin McKee assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-5: LHP Reymin Guduan released
9-5: OF/SS Myles Straw recalled to Houston
9-5: IF Osvaldo Duarte assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-4: RHP Bryan Abreu assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-4: RHP Forrest Whitley assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-4: OF Ramiro Rodriguez (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
9-4: IF Michael Wielansky (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
9-4: 1B Zach Biermann assigned to Tri-City from Quad Cities
9-4: SS AJ Lee assigned to Tri-City from Quad Cities
9-4: RHP Jairo Lopez assigned to Quad Cities from Tri-City
9-3: LHP Reymin Guduan activated from the restricted list and designated for assignment
9-3: RHP Francis Martes assigned to Corpus Christi from Round Rock
9-2: LHP Cionel Perez recalled to Houston
9-2: C Garrett Stubbs recalled to Houston
9-2: OF Kyle Tucker recalled to Houston
9-2: OF Granden Goetzman (Corpus Christi) activated from the IL
9-2: OF Stephen Wrenn assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-2: 2B/3B Enmanuel Valdez (Fayetteville) placed on the 7-day IL
9-2: RHP Francis Martes (Round Rock) activated from the IL
9-2: RHP Yeremi Ceballos assigned to Fayetteville from Tri-City
9-2: LHP Juan Pablo Lopez assigned to Quad Cities from Tri-City
9-1: RHP Francis Martes (Round Rock) sent to Quad Cities on a rehab assignment

2019 FINAL SEASON STANDINGS

AAA ROUND ROCK (Pacific Coast League/American Southern Division)
Division Winner
Won over Iowa in Semifinals 3-2
Lost to Sacramento in LCS 0-3

1st 84-56 .600 -.-GB L1

AA CORPUS CHRISTI (Texas League/South Division)

4th 66-73 .475 7.0GB L3

ADV A FAYETTEVILLE (Carolina League/Southern Division)
2nd half Division Winner
Won over Down East in the Semifinals 3-2
Lost to Wilmington in LCS 2-3

3rd 72-67 .518 15.0GB W2

LOW A QUAD CITIES (Midwest League/Western Division)
1st half Division Winner
Lost to Cedar Rapids in MWL Quarterfinals 1-2

2nd 79-57 .581 0.5GB W1

SHORT SEASON A TRI-CITY (New York-Penn League/Stedler Division)
4th 32-42 .432 9.0GB W3

ROOKIE LEVEL GULF COAST LEAGUE (East Division)
4th 25-26 .490 3.5GB W1

ROOKIE LEVEL DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE (Northwest Division)
2nd 38-31 .551 2.5GB W2

INTERVIEWS

The following links are to the interviews I conducted during the 2019 season. Here is a full list of links to all of the interviews I've done since December 2011.

Colin McKee
Enoli Paredes and Cristian Javier
Cesar Salazar
Brett Daniels
Felipe Tejada
AJ Lee
Peyton Battenfield
Franny Cobos and Juan Pablo Lopez
Austin Hansen
Jake Adams
Nivaldo Rodriguez and Enmanuel Valdez
Colton Shaver
Brett Conine
Bryan Abreu and Ronel Blanco
Granden Goetzman
Osvaldo Duarte and Jose Urquidy
Stephen Wrenn

WATCH THIS SPACE

If you are a regular reader, you know that I have regularly featured players who I felt were flying below the radar this season, in other words, players who weren't considered top prospects. Two of those players (Nivaldo Rodriguez and Taylor Jones) have since been included on MLB Pipeline's Top Prospect List for the Astros at #26 and #28 respectively and I wouldn't be surprised to see others added to the list as some of the current top prospects graduate over time.

But one of the biggest impacts this season has been the emergence of several Latin pitchers who seemingly came out of nowhere. Coming into the season, Cristian Javier (#10), Jose Urquidy (#12), Nivaldo Rodriguez (#26), Luis Garcia (#29) and Jose Alberto Rivera (#30) were not ranked at all by MLB Pipeline. But some of us have been paying attention all along. I would advise against getting wrapped up in the MLB June Draft as the be-all and end-all of player acquisition. The Astros have done an excellent job on the international front and the fruits of those labors are really starting to show.

So my final Watch This Space of the 2019 season is to remind you not to forget about the Latin players in the system. This group below from Corpus Christi represented 188 appearances (61 starts), a 32-26 record with 23 saves, and a 3.06 ERA and 1.169 WHIP over 558.2 innings. They combined for 708 strikeouts (11.4 SO/9). Watch this space ...

(L-R) Enoli Paredes, Erasmo Pinales, Bryan Abreu,

Yohan Ramirez, Carlos Sanabria, Willy Collado,

and Cristian Javier

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Friday, September 13, 2019

Tough night on the farm.

PCL Championship: Sacramento 7, Round Rock 5

Sacramento wins series 3-0.

W- Pat Venditte
L- Carson LaRue
S- Enderson Franco

RR home runs: Drew Ferguson (1, solo in 2nd), Taylor Jones (1, 2-run in 3rd)

The River Cats captured the Pacific Coast League crown as they scored three in the top of the 8th to take the lead.

Rogelio Armenteros went 2.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits, walked four, and struck out one. Carson LaRue tagged in for 4.2 innings and he allowed two runs, both of which were inherited runners that were charged to him, on two hits, walked three, and struck out four. Ralph Garza Jr. pitched the last 1.2 innings and he allowed a run of his own on a groundout, a two-run single that resulted in both of the runners he inherited from LaRue to score, walked one, and struck out two.

Taylor Jones opened the scoring by ripping an RBI double in the 1st inning. Drew Ferguson led off the 2nd with a homer and Jones struck again in the 3rd with a two-run blast. Round Rock had the bases loaded in the 7th but all they got out of it was Jack Mayfield walking in Ronnie Dawson. Carlos Correa went 1-2 and drew a couple of walks; he got the start at shortstop and played seven innings.

Round Rock's next game will take place on April 9, 2020.

Mills Cup: Wilmington 2, Fayetteville 0

Series tied 2-2.

W- Austin Cox
L- Jojanse Torres
S- Tad Ratliff

Fayetteville home runs: None.

The Woodpeckers' bats were silenced as the Blue Rocks forced a deciding game five.

Jojanse Torres pitched well but he received a loss for the first time this season. Torres allowed three hits, one of which was a solo homer, walked two, and struck out six in six innings of work. J.P. France was the first man out of the Woodpeckers' bullpen and he allowed a run, which was an inherited runner that was charged to him, on two hits, walked three, and struck out two in 2.1 innings. Yeremi Ceballos allowed a hit and struck out one as he got the last two outs of the 9th.

Fayetteville only had three hits: a double from David Hensley and singles from Jeremy Peña and Chandler Taylor.

Luis Garcia will take the mound for the decisive game five and he'll take on Rito Lugo at 6:00 Eastern.

Friday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Taylor Jones, 1B, Round Rock

2-4, 2B, 2-R HR (1), 3 RBI

Jojanse Torres, RHP, Fayetteville

L, 6 IP, 3 H (solo HR allowed), ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Thursday, September 12, 2019

Woodpeckers one win away!

Mills Cup: Fayetteville 2, Wilmington 1

Fayetteville leads series 2-1.

W- Nivaldo Rodriguez
L- Kris Bubic
S- Humberto Castellanos

Fayetteville home runs: None.

Both teams had one scoring play; the Woodpeckers' yielded more runs and now, they are one win away from defending the crown they won last year as the Buies Creek Astros.

David Hensley put Fayetteville on the board and in the lead by ripping a two-run double in the 6th inning. Chandler Taylor, who scored one of those two runs, finished 2-4.

Nivaldo Rodriguez delivered in the clutch as he allowed just one run on three hits while striking out seven over six excellent innings. César Rosado struck out three in two perfect innings of relief and Humberto Castellanos worked around a hit in the 9th to close it out, striking out one.

Jojanse Torres will take the mound in game four and he'll face Austin Cox at 6:00 Eastern.

Thursday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

From top:

Nivaldo Rodriguez: W, 6 IP, 3 H, ER, 7 K

César Rosado: 2 IP, 3 K; perfect outing

Humberto Castellanos: Save, IP, H, K 

David Hensley: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Wednesday, September 11, 2019

PCL Championship Series: Sacramento 4, Round Rock 2

Sacramento leads series 2-0.

W- Dan Winkler
L- Brendan McCurry
S- Enderson Franco

RR home runs: Ronnie Dawson (2, solo in 7th)

Well, the E-Train is up against it now. Sacramento scored three in the bottom of the 6th to take control after Round Rock had tied it in the top half.

Brandon Bielak allowed a run on four hits, walked two, and struck out three in five innings of work. Brendan McCurry got the 6th and struck out the side... but he also allowed three runs on four hits, one of which was a solo homer. Riley Ferrell got the last two innings and allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out three.

Nick Tanielu ripped an RBI double in the 6th and Ronnie Dawson launched a solo homer in the 7th; he's homered in both games of this series.

After a day off, the series will resume in Round Rock on Friday. Rogelio Armenteros is listed as the starter for game three and he'll face Carlos Navas.

Mills Cup: Wilmington 5, Fayetteville 4

Series tied 1-1.

W- Andrew Beckwith
L- Riley Cabral
S- Tad Ratliff

Fayetteville home runs: Scott Manea (1, solo in 2nd)

The Blue Rocks scored three in the bottom of the 7th to take the lead and even up the series.

Austin Hansen and Leovanny Rodriguez both threw three innings and they both allowed a run on two hits. Hansen's run was earned because it came on a solo homer and he also walked five while striking out six. Leovanny's run came on an RBI single and was unearned; he also walked one.

Riley Cabral came on for the 7th. He got two outs via the strikeout and the Blue Rocks' three runs in the inning were all unearned; one of them was an inherited runner that was charged to him. Wilmington got a two-run single with two outs off of him, because of course they did. Jacob Billingsley got the final out of the 7th, but not before he allowed the go-ahead RBI single. He got the 8th and overall, he allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out one in 1.1 innings.

Chandler Taylor lashed an RBI double in the 1st to open the scoring. Scott Manea whacked a solo homer in the 2nd, Ruben Castro grounded into a force out to score Taylor in the 4th, and Taylor tripled to lead off the 6th and scored on Michael Papierski's single. Taylor and Cal Stevenson finished with two hits apiece.

The Mills Cup Series now heads south to Fayetteville. Nivaldo Rodriguez will get the call for game three and he'll take on Kris Bubic at 6:00 Eastern.

Wednesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Scott Manea, C, and Chandler Taylor, OF, Fayetteville

Manea: 1-3, solo HR (1)

Taylor: 2-2, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 R

Brandon Bielak, RHP, and Riley Ferrell, RHP, Round Rock

Bielak: 5 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Ferrell: 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Wednesday, September 10, 2019

For all the marbles...

PCL Championship: Sacramento 8, Round Rock 7

Sacramento leads series 1-0.

W- Tyler Cyr
L- Ronel Blanco

RR home runs: Chas McCormick (1, 2-run in 6th), Ronnie Dawson (1, solo in 9th)

The River Cats scored two in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead. Ronnie Dawson tied the game with his solo shot in the top of the 9th, but Sacramento wound up walking off with the victory to start the Pacific Coast League Championship Series.

Kent Emanuel pitched 7.2 innings and allowed seven runs on eleven hits (solo and two-run homers), walked one, and struck out two. Sacramento scored the winning run off of Ronel Blanco with two outs in the 9th. Blanco allowed two hits and struck out two in an inning of work (last out of the 8th, two outs in the 9th); the winning run scored on a double.

Taylor Jones opened the scoring with a sac fly in the 1st and the Express got two more sac flies in the 3rd from Nick Tanielu and Alex De Goti. Ronnie Dawson hit yet another sac fly in the 6th right before Chas McCormick launched a two-run homer. Dawson's solo homer led off the 9th. Stephen Wrenn and Jack Mayfield finished with two hits apiece in this one.

Brandon Bielak will get the start in game two of this series and he'll take on Chase Johnson at 6:35 Pacific.

Mills Cup (Carolina League): Fayetteville 3, Wilmington 1

Fayetteville leads series 1-0.

W- Parker Mushinski
L- Daniel Lynch
S- Humberto Castellanos

Fayetteville home runs: David Hensley (1, 2-run in 4th)

Fine pitching and David Hensley's homer propelled the Woodpeckers to a game one victory.

Parker Mushinski allowed a run on a steal of home, three hits, walked two, and struck out eight in five innings of work. Cody Deason tagged in for 2.2 scoreless, allowing a hit, walking two, and striking out four, and Humberto Castellanos got the final four outs of the game, all via strikeout, to earn the save; he allowed one hit in his 1.1 innings.

Hensley's two-run blast in the 4th put Fayetteville on the board and in the lead. Marty Costes added a crucial insurance run with an RBI single in the 9th. Hensley went 3-5 on the night while Jeremy Peña finished 2-5; both of his hits were doubles.

Austin Hansen will start game two of this series and he'll take on Jonathan Bowlan at 6:35 Eastern.

Tuesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Fayetteville Woodpeckers pitchers: W 3-1 @ Wilmington

9 IP, 5 H, ER, 4 BB, 16 K

Parker Mushinski: W, 5 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Cody Deason: 2.2 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 K

Humberto Castellanos: Save, 1.1 IP, H, 4 K

David Hensley, IF, Fayetteville

3-5, 2-R HR (1)

Ronnie Dawson, OF, and Chas McCormick, OF, Round Rock

Dawson: 1-3, solo HR (1), 2 RBI

McCormick: 1-4, 2-R HR (1)

Astros Farm Report: 9-9

A very abbreviated farm report today as two teams head to their respective League Championship Finals ...

ROSTER MOVES/TRANSACTIONS

Here are the latest roster moves. An ongoing list of all of the 2019 season transactions and roster moves can be found here.

9-7: SS/2B Anibal Sierra assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-7: RHP Bryan Abreu recalled to Houston
9-7: RHP Colin McKee assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-5: LHP Reymin Guduan released
9-5: OF/SS Myles Straw recalled to Houston
9-5: IF Osvaldo Duarte assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-4: RHP Bryan Abreu assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-4: RHP Forrest Whitley assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-4: OF Ramiro Rodriguez (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
9-4: IF Michael Wielansky (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
9-4: 1B Zach Biermann assigned to Tri-City from Quad Cities
9-4: SS AJ Lee assigned to Tri-City from Quad Cities
9-4: RHP Jairo Lopez assigned to Quad Cities from Tri-City
9-3: LHP Reymin Guduan activated from the restricted list and designated for assignment
9-3: RHP Francis Martes assigned to Corpus Christi from Round Rock
9-2: LHP Cionel Perez recalled to Houston
9-2: C Garrett Stubbs recalled to Houston
9-2: OF Kyle Tucker recalled to Houston
9-2: OF Granden Goetzman (Corpus Christi) activated from the IL
9-2: OF Stephen Wrenn assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
9-2: 2B/3B Enmanuel Valdez (Fayetteville) placed on the 7-day IL
9-2: RHP Francis Martes (Round Rock) activated from the IL
9-2: RHP Yeremi Ceballos assigned to Fayetteville from Tri-City
9-2: LHP Juan Pablo Lopez assigned to Quad Cities from Tri-City
9-1: RHP Francis Martes (Round Rock) sent to Quad Cities on a rehab assignment

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS PREVIEW

AAA ROUND ROCK - LCS starts Tuesday 9-10

The Round Rock Express won out over the Iowa Cubs on Sunday three games to two to take the Pacific Coast League American Conference title and will advance to the best-of-five League Championship Series which starts on Tuesday. They will face the Sacramento River Cats in Sacramento for two games (Tuesday and Wednesday) before returning to Round Rock on Friday for three games over the weekend (if all are necessary).

Sacramento (73-67 in the regular season) won out over the Las Vegas Aviators three games to two, clinching the PCL Pacific Conference title on Sunday. Round Rock (84-56 in the regular season) has only played Sacramento four times this season. In early August, Round Rock won the series three games to one.

The winner of the Pacific Coast League LCS will face the International League Champions in a one game winner-take-all AAA Championship game which will take place on Tuesday, September 17th in Memphis.

HIGH A FAYETTEVILLE WOODPECKERS - LCS starts Tuesday 9-10

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers bested the Down East Wood Ducks three games to two to win the Carolina League Southern Division title on Sunday, earning them a ticket to the Carolina League Championship Series. They will head to Wilmington Tuesday and Wednesday to face the Blue Rocks in a best-of-five LCS. (The Blue Rocks won the Carolina League Northern Division in dramatic fashion on Sunday, coming back to win the final three games after digging an 0-2 hole vs. the Salem Red Sox to start the series.) The LCS will return to Fayetteville on Thursday and will continue on Friday and Saturday if those games are necessary.

Wilmington (82-56 in the regular season) owns the regular season series again Fayetteville (72-67 in the regular season), having won eight of 14 against the Woodpeckers; however, the two teams are tied 3-3 in their final two matchups during the season and Fayetteville has the better record over the second half of the season.

LOW A QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS - Eliminated in the Quarterfinals

The Banditos unfortunately did not survive the quarterfinals, succumbing to the Cedar Rapids two games to one in that best-of-three series.

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Sunday, September 8, 2019

Off to the 'ship!

PCL Semifinals: Round Rock 10, Iowa 5

Round Rock wins series 3-2.

W- Ryan Hartman
L- Trevor Clifton

RR home runs: Alex De Goti (1, 3-run in 3rd), Drew Ferguson (2, 2-run in 6th), Chas McCormick (1, solo in 8th)

The E-Train overcame an early 3-0 deficit by putting up seven runs in the 3rd to seize control of this deciding game five.

Forrest Whitley went four innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, walked five, and struck out six. Ryan Hartman took over for the final five innings of this one and allowed six hits, one of which was a solo homer, walked one, and struck out five.

Round Rock loaded the bases to lead off the top of the 3rd and that's how they went off for seven runs. Drew Ferguson got them on the board with a sac fly and then Jack Mayfield got plunked to re-load the bases. Taylor Jones went down on the infield fly rule, but Nick Tanielu kept things going with a two-run single to tie the game at 3 and Alex De Goti followed by launching a three-run home run to put the Express in front. Stephen Wrenn walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Jamie Ritchie.

Ferguson smacked a two-run homer in the 6th and McCormick capped off the afternoon with a solo blast in the 8th. Jones, McCormick, Ferguson, and Tanielu all finished with two hits on the day.

Round Rock will face Sacramento, the winner of the PCL's Pacific Conference in the PCL Championship Series which will begin on Tuesday in Sacramento.

Carolina League South Final: Fayetteville 6, Down East 3

Fayetteville wins series 3-2.

W- Shawn Dubin
L- Scott Engler
S- Leovanny Rodriguez

Fayetteville home runs: Chandler Taylor (1, solo in 6th)

The Woodpeckers swung this game in their favor after scoring four in the 7th to break a 1-1 tie.

Chandler Taylor tied the game when he homered to lead off the 6th. Like Round Rock did in the 3rd inning of their game, Fayetteville also capitalized on a bases-loaded situation to lead off an inning.

Miguelangel Sierra singled to lead off the 7th, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and made it to third on Jeremy Peña's single. Peña advanced to second on defensive indifference and Cal Stevenson walked to load 'em up for Marty Costes, who ripped a two-run double to put the Woodpeckers in front. Taylor was intentionally walked to re-load the bases for David Hensley, who immediately made the Wood Ducks regret that move by hitting a two-run single. Ruben Castro provided the cherry by ripping an RBI double in the 9th. Castro finished 3-4 on the day while Sierra, Costes, and Peña all went 2-4.

Shawn Dubin turned in an excellent performance in a crucial game as he allowed an unearned run on two hits, walked two, and struck out seven in six innings of work. The Wood Ducks tried to stir up some unrest but the Fayetteville bullpen kept themselves composed and closed out the series. César Rosado was the first man out of the Woodpeckers bullpen and he pitched 1.2 innings, allowing a two-run double, walking four, and striking out two. Riley Cabral got the final out of the 8th with a strikeout. Jacob Billingsley came on for the 9th but he walked the only two men he faced. Leovanny Rodriguez took ownership of the final inning and he worked around an error that loaded the bases to close things out, striking out two.

The Mills Cup, the Carolina League's Championship series, will begin Tuesday at 6:35 Eastern. Fayetteville will head up to Wilmington for game one.

Sunday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Chas McCormick, OF, Alex De Goti, IF, Nick Tanielu, IF, Jamie Ritchie, C, and Drew Ferguson, OF, Round Rock

McCormick: 2-4, solo HR (1), 2 R, SB (1)

De Goti: 1-4, 3-R HR (1)

Tanielu: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R

Ritchie: 2-4, RBI, R

Ferguson: 2-4, 2-R HR (2), 3 RBI

Ryan Hartman, LHP, Round Rock

W, 5 IP, 6 H (solo HR allowed), ER, BB, 5 K

Shawn Dubin, LHP, Fayetteville

W, 6 IP, 2 H, unearned run, 2 BB, 7 K

Marty Costes, OF, and Ruben Castro, C, Fayetteville

Costes: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R

Castro: 3-4, 2B, RBI

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.

Cal Stevenson's photo taken by Bryan Green.

Cal Stevenson, OF, Jeremy Peña, SS, and Miguelangel Sierra, IF, Fayetteville

All stats from game one of doubleheader.

Stevenson: 2-3, solo HR (1)
Peña: 2-4, solo HR (2)

Sierra: 2-3, 2-R HR (1)

Luis Garcia, RHP, Fayetteville

W, 6 IP, 5 H (2 solo HR allowed), 2 ER, BB, 10 K in game two of doubleheader

David Hensley, IF, Ruben Castro, C, and Michael Papierski, C, Fayetteville

All stats from game two of doubleheader.

Hensley: 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R

Castro: 3-4, 2 RBI, R

Papierski: 2-4, 2 RBI, R

Jack Mayfield, IF, Round Rock

2-5, 2 RBI singles

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Friday, September 6, 2019

Unfortunately, one team's playoff journey came to an end.

PCL Semifinals: Iowa 3, Round Rock 2

Round Rock leads series 2-1.

W- Michael Rucker
L- Rogelio Armenteros
S- James Norwood

RR home runs: Ronnie Dawson (1, solo in 6th)

The I-Cubs managed to stave off elimination, at least for one night.

Ronnie Dawson went 2-4 and he smacked a solo homer in the 6th. Round Rock managed to load the bases in the 7th but all they could get out of it was Drew Ferguson walking in a run.

Rogelio Armenteros went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits, walked two, and struck out nine. Ronel Blanco got the final out of the 6th, pitched the 7th, and got two outs in the 8th for his two innings; he walked two and struck out three. Kit Scheetz walked the first two men he faced but got the last out of the 8th with a strikeout.

Cristian Javier will get the start in game four and he'll go against Trevor Clifton at 7:08.

Midwest League West Semifinal: Cedar Rapids 4, Quad Cities 2

Cedar Rapids wins series 2-1.

W- Josh Winder
L- Matt Ruppenthal
S- Austin Schulfer

QC home runs: None.

The Banditos bowed out of the MiLB playoffs with this loss. They had ten hits in this one but only had two runs to show for their effort.

Matt Ruppenthal went four innings and allowed three runs on five hits (solo homer), walked one, and struck out five. José Alberto Rivera went down swinging in his five innings as he allowed a run on four hits, walked one, and struck out a career-high 13 to finish off the Quad Cities season.

C.J. Stubbs hit a sac fly in the 7th and scored on Grae Kessinger's single in the 9th. They loaded the bases following Stubbs' sac fly in the 7th but failed to push across any more runs. Kessinger, Alex McKenna, Austin Dennis, and Ramiro Rodriguez all finished 2-4 on the night.

Friday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

José Alberto Rivera, RHP, Quad Cities

5 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, career-high 13 K

Ronnie Dawson, OF, Round Rock

2-4, solo HR (1)

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Thursday, September 5, 2019

PCL Semifinals: Round Rock 4, Iowa 3 (10 innings)

Round Rock leads series 2-0.

W- Riley Ferrell
L- Jordan Minch

RR home runs: None.

Make it two straight walk-off wins for the Express as they now have three chances to close out this series. They scored two in the 7th to tie and walked off with the win in the first extra frame.

Brandon Bielak turned in a bare minimum quality start (6 IP, 3 ER), allowing eight hits (solo homer), walking one, and striking out three. Bryan Abreu and Riley Ferrell finished things off with two scoreless innings apiece; Abreu walked two and struck out three while Ferrell allowed a hit and struck out one.

Round Rock loaded the bases to lead off the 2nd inning but all they could get out of it was an RBI infield single from Stephen Wrenn. Nick Tanielu walked and Alex De Goti doubled to lead off the 7th; Jamie Ritchie atoned for hitting into a double play in the 2nd with an RBI single in the 7th and De Goti scored the tying run when Ronnie Dawson hit into a force out. Drew Ferguson walked to lead off the 10th and advanced on a wild pitch. Jack Mayfield also drew a walk and one batter later, Taylor Jones won the game with an RBI single. Jones finished 2-5 on the night while De Goti went 3-4 with a double.

The series now heads to Des Moines for the next three games. Hopefully, it'll only take one. Rogelio Armenteros gets the start in game three and he'll take on Kendall Graveman at 7:08.

Midwest League West Semifinals: Cedar Rapids 2, Quad Cities 1

Series tied 1-1.

The Kernels forced a deciding game three by scoring in more innings than the Banditos did on Thursday.

Alex McKenna's RBI single in the 5th was Quad Cities' only scoring play and one of just three hits on the night that the Banditos could muster up. Trey Dawson, who scored on the play, and Ramiro Rodriguez had the other two hits.

Brett Daniels pitched well but the lack of run support resulted in him taking the L. In 6.1 innings, Daniels allowed two runs on five hits, walked two, and struck out ten. Felipe Tejada finished the game and struck out five over 2.2 perfect innings.

Matt Ruppenthal will be on the mound for the third and final game of this series. He'll face Josh Winder at 6:35.

Thursday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Taylor Jones, 1B/OF, and Alex De Goti, IF, Round Rock

Jones: 2-5, walk-off RBI single in 10th

De Goti: 3-4, 2B, R

Round Rock Express bullpen

4 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 K

Bryan Abreu: 2 IP, 2 BB, 3 K

Riley Ferrell: W, 2 IP, H, K

Quad Cities River Bandits pitchers: L 2-1 vs. Cedar Rapids

9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 15 K

Brett Daniels: L, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K

Felipe Tejada: 2.2 IP, 5 K; perfect outing

Astros Minor League Playoff Recaps

Results for Wednesday, September 5, 2019

It's playoff time in Minor League Baseball!

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

Round Rock leads 1-0.

W- Brendan McCurry
L- Dillon Maples

RR home runs: Drew Ferguson (1, 2-run in 2nd)

The Cubs scored twice in the top of the 11th to break a 2-2 tie... and then the E-Train walked off with the victory in the bottom half.

Kent Emanuel was excellent in his 6.1 innings as he allowed two runs (one inherited runner charged to him) on five hits, walked one, and struck out a season-high ten batters; his regular-season high for strikeouts was six. Ralph Garza Jr. walked two and struck out three in 2.2 innings and Brendan McCurry allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and struck out one in the final two innings.

Drew Ferguson launched a two-run home run in the 2nd inning to open the scoring. This was Round Rock's only scoring play in the nine regulation innings. Ferguson drew a walk in the 11th and Jamie Ritchie kept the game alive with a two-out single. They both advanced on a wild pitch and then Alex De Goti drew a walk to load the bases for Chas McCormick. Another wild pitch allowed Ferguson to score and McCormick won the game with a two-run single. McCormick and Ferguson both finished with three hits on the night.

Brandon Bielak will take on Tyson Miller in game two of this series. First pitch is at 7:05.

Carolina League South Semi-Final Game 1: Down East 3, Fayetteville 0

Down East leads series 1-0.

W- Sal Mendez
L- Nivaldo Rodriguez
S- Joe Kuzia

Fayetteville home runs: None.

Due to the threat of Hurricane Dorian, the decision was made to have a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Miguelangel Sierra homered in the 5th... but he forgot to touch home plate (he did, actually). He was called out and was credited with a triple instead. That did break up the no-hitter, though.

Nivaldo Rodriguez allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and struck out seven in 5.2 innings. César Rosado allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out one in 1.1 innings of relief.

Carolina League South Semi-Final Game 2: Fayetteville 3, Down East 0

Series tied 1-1.

W- Austin Hansen
L- Scott Engler
S- Humberto Castellanos

Fayetteville home runs: Jeremy Peña (1, 2-run in 3rd)

The Woodpeckers returned the favor with a 3-0 win of their own to get on the board in this series.

All three Fayetteville runs came in the 3rd as Jeremy Peña smacked a two-run homer and David Hensley drew a bases-loaded walk.

Austin Hansen allowed four hits, walked one, and struck out three over 5.1 shutout innings and Humberto Castellanos struck out three over 1.2 perfect innings to complete the shutout.

The series shifts to Kinston and will resume on Friday, weather and field conditions permitting.

Midwest League West Semi-Final: Quad Cities 4, Cedar Rapids 1

Quad Cities leads 1-0.

W- Valente Bellozo
L- Luis Rijo
S- Layne Henderson

QC home runs: None.

Quad Cities got a couple of runs in the 8th to pull away from the Kernels in game one of this Midwest League semi-final series.

Alex McKenna scored the first run of the evening on a wild pitch in the 1st inning and scored another run on a sac fly from Ramiro Rodriguez in the 5th. Wilyer Abreu capped off the scoring by ripping a two-run double in the 8th. Abreu, McKenna, and Alex Holderbach all finished 2-4 in this game; both of Wilyer's hits were doubles.

Valente Bellozo allowed four hits, one of which was a solo homer, walked two, and struck out six in six innings. Luis de Paula retired all four men he faced, striking out two, and Layne Henderson got the five-out save, allowing one hit and striking out four.

Brett Daniels gets the start in game two as the series shifts to Quad Cities. He'll take on Matt Canterino at 6:35.

Wednesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Chas McCormick, OF, and Drew Ferguson, OF, Round Rock

McCormick: 3-6, walk-off 2-R single in 11th

Ferguson: 3-4, 2-R HR (1), 2 R

Kent Emanuel, LHP, Round Rock

6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER (one inherited runner charged to him), BB, 10 K

Quad Cities River Bandits pitchers: W 4-1 @ Cedar Rapids

9 IP, 5 H (solo HR allowed), ER, 2 BB, 12 K

Valente Bellozo: W, 6 IP, 4 H (solo HR allowed), ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Luis de Paula: 1.1 IP, 2 K

Layne Henderson: Save, 1.2 IP, H, 4 K

Wilyer Abreu, OF, Quad Cities

2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI

Fayetteville Woodpeckers pitchers: W 3-0 vs. Down East (game 2)

7 IP, 4 H, BB, 6 K

Austin Hansen: W, 5.1 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 K

Humberto Castellanos: Save, 1.2 IP, 3 K

Jeremy Peña, SS, Fayetteville

1-3, 2-R HR (1) in game 2 of doubleheader