Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Sunday, May 21, 2017

Fresno 9, Memphis 3

W- Casey Coleman (2-2)
L- Artie Reyes (5-2)

Fresno home runs: Colin Moran (7, 3-run in 6th)

Both sides pounded out 10 hits, but Fresno's 10 were more impactful.

Reid Brignac put Fresno on the board with an RBI single in the 2nd and Andrew Aplin put them in front with a sac fly. Brignac struck again in the 4th with an RBI double. Teoscar Hernandez scored on a D.J. Fisher groundout in the 5th, and Colin Moran delivered the big blow in the 6th when he launched a 3-run homer. Jon Kemmer capped off the day with an RBI double in the 7th. Brignac finished 4-4 with 3 doubles, while Moran's blast extended his hitting streak to 9 games.

Casey Coleman allowed a solo homer to Nick Martini in the 1st and then proceeded to keep Memphis off the scoreboard for the last four innings of his outing. He allowed 4 other hits, walked 3, and struck out 5. Kevin Comer and Aaron West both pitched 2 innings out of the bullpen; Comer was first and he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and fanned 1. West allowed a hit and struck out 2.

David Martinez will start the series finale and he'll take on John Gant at 11:05 AM Pacific.

Corpus Christi 5, Frisco 0

W- Akeem Bostick (2-1, 3-2 season)
L- David Ledbetter (1-1)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks have gone 6-3 following a 10-game losing streak earlier this month. Akeem Bostick acquitted himself well in his Texas League debut against his old teammates in the Arlington system. In his first outing since coming off the disabled list, he shut the Roughriders down.

Bostick allowed 3 hits, walked 1, and fanned 3 over 6 shutout innings. Sean Stutzman and Albert Minnis completed the shutout; Stutzman allowed a hit and struck out 2, while Minnis worked around a hit in the 9th, getting two groundouts and a flyball out.

J.D. Davis led off the 4th with a double and scored the first run of the day on a sac fly from Bobby Boyd. Garrett Stubbs went 3-4 with a 2-run single in the 5th and scored on Davis's second double in the 7th inning. Tony Nuñez scored the final run of the afternoon when Jack Mayfield grounded into a double play. He, Kristian Trompiz, Drew Ferguson (R, 3 BB), and Davis all finished with two hits. Ferguson extended his hitting streak to 18 games, which is now the longest in the system this year.

Corpus and Frisco will wrap up this series at 11:05 AM. Kyle Smith will face Yohander Mendez.

Down East 6, Buies Creek 1

W- Pedro Payano (2-2)
L- Justin Ferrell (3-3)

BC home runs: None.

All of Buies Creek's offensive production occurred in the first inning. Unfortunately, the Wood Ducks scored in each of the first three innings.

Jason Martin singled to lead off the game and scored the only run on Randy César's RBI single. Those were the Astros' only two hits of the day.

Justin Ferrell went 2.2 innings and allowed 6 runs on 7 hits (2-run homer) and struck out 1. The bullpen stopped the bleeding and turned in 5.1 scoreless innings. Ralph Garza Jr. allowed 2 hits and struck out 1 in 3.1 innings, and Howie Brey allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 1 over the final two frames.

Hector Perez will start the series finale against Jeff Springs. First pitch is at 7:00 Eastern.

Quad Cities 15, Kane County 8

W- Carson LaRue (5-1)
L- Sam McWilliams (4-2)

QC home runs: Rodrigo Ayarza 2 (7; 3-run in 1st, 2-run in 9th), Wander Franco (1, 2-run in 5th), Osvaldo Duarte (1, 3-run in 6th)

The Banditos busted out of their slump in a massive way as they launched 4 homers and everyone played a part in the onslaught.

It didn't take long for Quad Cities to break their 31-inning scoreless streak as Rodrigo Ayarza whacked a 3-run homer, his first of the day.

Prior to this season, Ayarza hit 7 home runs in 228 career games. In 30 games this season, he has 7. His rise has certainly been one of the stories in the system this season.

Carson LaRue went 5 innings and the two runs he allowed came on a homer hit by Ramon Hernandez in the 4th. He allowed three other hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Dustin Hunt was the first man out of the Quad Cities bullpen and threw 2.1 innings, allowing 5 runs (2 inherited runners charged to him) on 3 hits, walked 4, and struck out 4. Lucas Williams pitched 1.2 innings and the lone run he allowed came on a solo homer from Marcus Wilson in the 9th. He allowed 2 other hits and struck out 2.

Quad Cities is back home and they'll kick off a four-game with Peoria at 6:35.

Sunday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Photo from Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net

Quad Cities River Bandits

W 15-8 @ Kane County

All players in starting lineup recorded a hit and scored a run

Rodrigo Ayarza: 2-6, 2 HR (7), 5 RBI

Wander Franco: 2-4, 2-R HR (1), 3 RBI

Osvaldo Duarte: 3-R HR (1)

Ronnie Dawson: 2-6, 2 2B, RBI, R

Carson LaRue: W (5-1), 5 IP, 4 H (2-R HR allowed), 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Buies Creek Astros bullpen

5.1 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K

Ralph Garza Jr.: 3.1 IP, 2 H, K

Howie Brey: 2 IP, H, BB, K

Photo from the Iowa Cubs, taken by Chris Donahue

Casey Coleman, RHP, Fresno

W (2-2), 5 IP, 5 H (solo HR allowed), ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Photo by Joel Dinda

Reid Brignac, IF, Fresno

4-4, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R

Corpus Christi Hooks pitchers

W 5-0 @ Frisco

9 IP, 5 H, BB, 5 K

Akeem Bostick: W (2-1, 3-2 season), 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K

Sean Stutzman: 2 IP, H, 2 K

Albert Minnis: IP, H

Garrett Stubbs, C, Corpus Christi

3-4, 2 RBI, R

Getting to Know Astros/JetHawks LHP Albert Minnis

LHP Albert Minnis got off to a good start this season. In six bullpen appearances for Quad Cities, he had a 0.00 ERA and a 0.522 WHIP, leading to his early May promotion to High A Lancaster. For the season he now has a 2.78 ERA and a 1.015 WHIP in 17 appearances.

And, although Minnis has been used mostly as a late inning reliever, he has shown himself to have the flexibility to handle middle relief and long relief (most notably pitching 3.1 innings in a recent extra inning game and getting the win) as well. He has held lefties to a very stingy .156 batting average so far this season, but has also held right-handed bats to a very respectable .212 average, demonstrating that there is no need to pigeonhole him as a LOOGY. He has also largely avoided the long ball in his career, allowing only two home runs in 84 innings of work, none so far this season.

When I spoke with Lancaster Pitching Coach Don Alexander recently, he told me what he likes about Minnis, "He's got a nice mix of pitches. He's aggressive. He shows no fear on the mound. He's going to come after you and we're going to play baseball. I love (those) guys, especially relievers, like that. They come in and they're not afraid to challenge you and work in the strike zone. I think he's got a chance to be pretty good too. He's got a chance to be pretty nasty."

Albert Minnis - May 2015

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Minnis was drafted by the Astros in the 25th round in 2013 out of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. We spoke late last month for the first time ...

As is usually the case with a pitcher I haven't talked to before, my first question relates to the player's pitch arsenal. Minnis told me that he throws a 2-seam sinker, 4-seam fastball, changeup and slider. "I'm working on all of them, though," said Minnis. "I think my 2-seam fastball is my best pitch. I've been throwing it longer." As to velocity and movement on that pitch, he said, "I think it ranges right around 90, somewhere around there. Just sinks and tails. Hopefully get ground balls with it is my main goal."

As to what Minnis has accomplished so far this season, he said, "Just kind of maturing as a pitcher, not getting too high, not getting too low throughout the season. Just knowing what a full season is like after having my first one last year. Just going out there, pitching and giving your team the best chance to win. If you do that, everything evens out over the season."

In order to get to the next level of his development, Minnis said, "Definitely just be more consistent day in and day out, just try to be the same guy every time you go out there. Just try to be the same guy day in and day out so the manager knows who they're going to get when you go out there."

For any one who has never seen Minnis pitch before, what can they expect to see? According to Minnis, "They're going to see me compete. I go out there and I try to go after guys. That's what baseball is, going after the other guy and hopefully you can beat him. So I think the one thing you would see is just me competing out there. That's the one thing you can control is how you approach the game. Everything else is out of your control."

Who in the Astros system has a pitch he would like to steal? "I would probably have to say, in honor of his big league debut, Lance McCullers' breaking ball. It's getting a lot of publicity right now so I'd probably say that pitch." As to what Astros hitter he would least like to face, Minnis said, "I'd probably have to go with George Springer. I'm working on getting right-handers out and he's probably the most prolific right-handed guy we've got in the organization."

If Minnis wasn't playing baseball, he told me what his top priorities would be, "I'd definitely go back to the Midwest and I'd get a dog right away. Being on the road all the time, you can't have a dog. So I'd definitely get a dog would be the first thing, and then I have about a year and a half of school left so I'd go back to school. Once I get my degree (in Sports Management), I'd get a job and try to live life to the fullest in the Midwest."

When asked to tell me a random, little known fact about himself, Minnis talked of his two younger sisters, telling me, "My youngest sister, Adrienne, we share the same birthday (and) we're right at seven years apart so I got to spend my seventh birthday in the hospital."

A well known fact (for anyone who follows Minnis on twitter) is his extreme fandom for the Kansas City Chiefs. When I asked him how his team was going to do this year, Minnis became very animated, "I'm going with an AFC West title. I'm going out on a limb here. I think that the Chiefs are going to be sleepers, kind of like what the Royals did last year. I'm calling the same thing in football for Kansas City this year!"

Thank you for your time, Albert. It was a pleasure getting to know you just a little bit better. Best of luck as the season continues.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

Other recent interviews:
1B Jon Singleton
LHP Bryan Radziewski
1B A.J. Reed
RHP Joe Musgrove
3B J.D. Davis

You can find more on virtually every player in the Astros minor league system in the 2015 Houston Farm System Handbook available on Amazon for download to your kindle, iPad, laptop, desktop or smart phone.

Tweet of the Day

All I want in this life is a mustache and hair like Alan Jackson

— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) May 27, 2015

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Quad Cities with the...

Fresno 12, Salt Lake 4

W- Tommy Shirley (1-0)
L- Garrett Richards (0-1)

Fresno home runs: Preston Tucker 2 (3; 2-run in 5th, 2-run in 7th)

The Grizz knocked a rehabbing Garrett Richards around and Preston Tucker put on a show of power. They trailed 2-0 after 2 innings, but they outscored the Bees 12-2 the rest of the way. Much of the damage done by Fresno came off the bats of Preston Tucker, L.J. Hoes, and Matt Dominguez; they drove in 10 of the 12 Grizzlies runs.

Hoes put Fresno on the scoreboard with a 2-run double in the bottom of the 3rd. One batter later, Jon Singleton put them ahead with an RBI single, and it turned out to be a lead that they would not relinquish. Tucker hit his first 2-run shot of the evening in the 5th. He struck again with the other 2-run homer in the 7th, and then the Grizzlies formally buried the Bees with 5 runs in the 8th, coming off RBI singles from Nolan Fontana and Hoes, and a bases-clearing double from Matt Dominguez.

Hoes (2B, 3 RBI, 2 R), Tucker (2 2-run homers, 3 R), Dominguez (bases-clearing 2B in 8th), and Ronald Torreyes (run scored) all finished 2-5. Andrew Aplin reached base in all 4 of his plate appearances, going 2-2 with a double, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored in his 2015 debut. In addition to his RBI single, Jon Singleton drew 3 walks and scored 3 runs.

Tommy Shirley didn't have a great first start, but the offense and the bullpen had his back. He allowed 4 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 9 hits and struck out 1 over 5+ innings of work. Darin Downs was the first man out; he did allow the runner he inherited from Shirley to score on an RBI double from Marc Krauss, and other than a wild pitch that allowed Krauss to move to 3rd, nothing else happened as Downs got out of the inning by striking out Roger Kieschnick. Next up was Jason Stoffel, who allowed a hit and struck out 2 over 2 scoreless. Josh Fields finished it with a 1-2-3 9th, striking out 1.

Fresno looks for the series win as Jake Buchanan faces Andrew Heaney at 6:35 Pacific.


Tulsa 2, Corpus Christi 1

W- Chris Anderson (2-0)
L- Aaron West (0-1)
S- Blake Smith (1)

CC home runs: Carlos Correa (1, solo in 9th)

The Hooks suffered their first loss of the year as they were foiled in their attempt to sweep the Drillers and the roadtrip. Corey Seager played a starring role in putting Corpus in the loss column as he drove in both Tulsa runs. However, in spite of Seager, the Hooks still had a chance to steal the game as their bats woke up just in time.

Corpus Christi's offense had been absolutely stifled by Chris Anderson and Mike Thomas, who held them to just 2 singles through 8 innings. But, Correa got them on the board with a 1-out solo home run in the top of the 9th inning. Colin Moran grounded out to become the 2nd casualty of the inning, but Brandon Meredith beat out an infield single and advanced to 3rd on another single from Tyler Heineman. Sadly, Conrad Gregor struck out swinging on a full count to end the game. Correa finished 2-4; the other Hooks hit (besides Meredith's and Heineman's singles) was a Jon Kemmer single to lead off the 3rd.

Aaron West was the hard-luck loser in this one; Seager took him deep for a solo shot in the 4th inning. He allowed 2 other hits and struck out 2. Kent Emanuel pitched the final 3 innings, and Seager got to him for an RBI single in the 8th. Emanuel allowed 3 other hits and struck out 1.

After a day off on Wednesday, the Hooks will play in front of their home crowd in Corpus Christi for the first time this season. Mark Appel will take the mound in the opener of a 3-game series against Springfield on Thursday.

Lancaster and Stockton was postponed

Due to extremely high winds in the Antelope Valley. They'll play a doubleheader tomorrow with game 1 starting at 5:30 Pacific. Edison Frias will take on Dylan Covey. In game 2, Brian Holmes faces Tim Atherton.

Quad Cities 5, Clinton 3

W- Kevin Comer (2-0)
L- Jeffeson Medina (0-1)
S- Albert Minnis (1)

QC home runs: D.J. Fisher (2, 2-run in 3rd)

The River Bandits swept their first home series of the season thanks to a stellar effort from Albert Minnis out of the bullpen.

Kevin Comer got the start and went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, walking 3, and striking out 4. Jose Montero and Albert Minnis pitched 2 innings apiece; Montero allowed a run (inherited runner charged to him), a hit, walked 3, and struck out 3. Well, Minnis technically allowed one of the 2 runners he inherited from Montero to score on a bases-loaded walk, but he was nails the rest of the way, allowing a hit and striking out 5 to get the save.

D.J. Fisher's second home run in as many nights opened the scoring in the 3rd inning. Mott Hyde doubled to lead off the 4th, and Kristian Trompiz brought him home with a single. Jamie Ritchie singled to begin the 7th and was able to score thanks to a Clinton error on a Fisher single. Fisher, who advanced to 3rd on the error, scored on a wild pitch by Kody Kerski. Ritchie and Fisher both had 2-hit nights, and they scored 4 of Quad Cities' 5 runs. Jamie Ritchie also stole his first base of the season, as did Alex Hernandez, who went 0-2 with 2 walks.

Quad Cities is back on the road again as they begin a 3-game set in Beloit. In game 1, Chris Lee will face Brett Graves at 6:30.

Three Stars: Position Players

3.

Carlos Correa, SS, Corpus Christi

2-4, solo HR (1)

2. 

D.J. Fisher, OF, Quad Cities

2-4, 2-R HR (2), 2 R

1. 

Preston Tucker, 1B/OF, Fresno

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

Three Stars: Pitchers

3.

Aaron West, RHP, Corpus Christi

L (0-1); 5 IP, 3 H (solo HR), ER, 2 K

2. Fresno bullpen.

View image | gettyimages.com

Darin Downs, LHP
IP, H, allowed inherited runner to score, K

Jason Stoffel, RHP

2 IP, H, 2 K

Josh Fields, RHP

IP, K

1.

Albert Minnis, LHP, Quad Cities

Save (1), 2 IP, H, allowed inherited runner to score, 5 K

Honorable Mentions

- Jamie Ritchie and Andrew Aplin, for reaching base in all of their plate appearances.
- Kent Emanuel keeping the Hooks in the game as their offense tried to search for answers.
- The entire Fresno offense.

Tweet of the Day

Last games in Spring Training! It's about that time! #letsgo #season2015
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) April 3, 2015

Tweet of the Day

Kid puked on plane in front of me😷 welcome to orlando to me!
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) March 8, 2015

Tweets of the Day

The Diamondbacks introduced a "churro-dog" to their stadium menu. If I had one last meal. A Churro-Dog would definitely be it
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) March 5, 2015

A churro inside of a donut with ice cream on top ARE YOU KIDDING ME. That sounds too good to be true. #fattweet
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) March 5, 2015

Tweet of the Day

Baseball brawls are so much better than football brawls
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) January 11, 2015

Happy Birthday - 11/5

Happy Birthday to ~

LHP Albert Minnis (23)
Drafted by Houston in the 25th round in 2013 out of Wichita State University, Minnis spent most of the 2014 season with Quad Cities with a side trip to the GCL. In 24 appearances for the River Bandits, he was 2-2 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.475 WHIP.

These former Astros celebrate the day as well ~

OF Tom Wiedenbauer (56)
A seventh round pick by the Astros in 1976, Wiedenbauer played in four games for Houston in 1979. Those four games constituted his entire major league career and he made the most of them. In six at-bats, he had four hits, a double and two RBI. His career batting average was .667. Now that's a cup of coffee that you can live with.

RHP Craig McMurtry (55)
Originally drafted by Atlanta in the first round in 1980, McMurtry signed with Houston as a free agent in March of 1994. In 11 appearances for the Astros in 1995, he had a 7.84 ERA and a 2.323 WHIP. His rookie year in 1983 was arguably his best as he went 15-9 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.300 WHIP in 36 games (35 starts) for Atlanta and came in second in Rookie of the Year voting to Darryl Strawberry.

Tweet of the Day

If you play me in fantasy you don't even need to check your lineup. Your team will go off no matter what
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) November 2, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Dink here, dunk there. Put the ball in play good things happen
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) October 23, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Don't give the other team extra motivation. They already want to beat you. Why give them something to hang up on their clubhouse bulletin?
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) October 13, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Defense wins championships
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) October 11, 2014

Tweets of the Day

What a wild card game! All kinds of momentum shifts. Gotta love baseball #KCvsOAK
— Marc Krauss (@MarcKrauss25) October 1, 2014

If this game is any indication of how the playoffs are gonna be.....I can't wait!!
— Brady Rodgers (@Rodg_25) October 1, 2014

This is the craziest game I've ever seen
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) October 1, 2014

#OMG what a game #ALWildcard
— Rudy Owens (@Rudy_Owens) October 1, 2014

Dear sleep... I need you , you need me... But this game is standing between us ... How can we solve this? #walkoffplease
— Josh Zeid (@Josh_Zeid14) October 1, 2014

Have to be up at 6am and head to the complex... BUT this @Royals @Athletics game is keeping me from getting my rest! #WildCard
— Antonio Nuñez (@nunezlife03) October 1, 2014

My eyes are burning but I can't close them.. #playoffbaseball
— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers_41) October 1, 2014

One of the most exciting games I've seen all year!
— Joe Musgrove (@musgrove23Stros) October 1, 2014

Get out of bed to see what all the hype was about, turn tv.. on walkoff hit! All of you guys can thank me tomorrow.. Goodnight
— Brett Phillips (@Brett_Phillips8) October 1, 2014

Unbelievable start to the playoffs
— Tommy Shirley (@ShirBird24) October 1, 2014

Wow that was a great game. That's called never giving up. It's sad to think a team had to lose that one #royals #loveit #playoffbaseball
— Tyler White (@twhite409) October 1, 2014

Now that it's over I don't want To go to bed. If that game doesn't motivate you to want to play October baseball, check your pulse #ImAllin
— Josh Zeid (@Josh_Zeid14) October 1, 2014

Tweet of the Day

I'm not sure what is worse, @minnis33 bitching when the Chiefs play or when he plays FIFA
— Chris Cotton (@58percentCotton) September 14, 2014

Tweet of the Day

The movie #sharknado has phenomenal acting
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) August 6, 2014

Tweet of the Day

I week full of commuter road trips. #keepthatphonecharged
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) April 21, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Operation "find new shower shoes at the mall" was off to a slow start but ended in success. #excited
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) April 10, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Peyton Manning interview Vs. Richard Sherman's interview... Now that is a mashup I'd love to hear
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) January 20, 2014

Tweets of the Day

Wow
— Brett Phillips (@Brett_Phillips8) January 7, 2014

Wow
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) January 7, 2014

I love college football
— Jiovanni Mier (@JioMier) January 7, 2014

Wowwwwwwwwwww
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Wow!! What a crazy game!
— J.D. Martinez (@JDMartinez14) January 7, 2014

This game is amazing. Everything you could hope for in a Nat'l championship Game
— Josh Zeid (@Josh_Zeid14) January 7, 2014

this is unbelievable and I don't even care who wins
— Brett Phillips (@Brett_Phillips8) January 7, 2014

Wow
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

What the heck is going on in this game!!!!!
— J.D. Martinez (@JDMartinez14) January 7, 2014

Yikes this is intense
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) January 7, 2014

Wow best championship game ive seen
— Jarred Cosart (@JarredCosart) January 7, 2014

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Only got one word for that game
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Wooooooooow
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Jameis Winston... My god... What did u just say?
— Matt Duffy (@meduffy13) January 7, 2014