Roster Moves

Since I've been travelling, it's been a few days since I've checked the transactions. Here's what I found over the last few days:

OKLAHOMA CITY
Rudy Owens placed on the 7-day DL, but effectively he is out for the season after having foot surgery yesterday

CORPUS CHRISTI
Domingo Santana activated from the DL
Austin Wates placed on the 7-day DL

LANCASTER
Tyson Perez activated from the Temporary Inactive list
Aaron West placed on the 7-day DL retroactive to 4/26

QUAD CITIES
*Colton Cain assigned from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities
*Ariel Ovando assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training

*Note - There have been several phantom moves at Quad Cities as of late so don't read too much into these assignments back and forth to/from Extended Spring Training. The only real move so far appears to be the move from last week that sent Chase Davidson back to Extended Spring Training and brought Miles Hamblin from Extended to Quad Cities.

Astros Minor League Recaps

Sunday’s Games

Great Lakes Loons 10, Quad Cities River Bandits 6

Quad Cities fell behind early on Sunday and even after scoring six runs couldn't catch up. Colton Cain (0-2) took the start and the loss after going three and a third while giving up four runs on ten hits and walking one. Mitchell Lambson followed Cain and was the only Quad Cities pitcher not to give up a run, lasting one and two thirds and allowing one hit. Miles Hamblin hit two-for-four on Sunday with an RBI, scoring Carlos Correa for the last River Bandits run in the ninth. Austin "Catfish" Elkins went two-for-five with an RBI on the day as well.

Inland Empire 66ers 12, Lancaster JetHawks 7

Lancaster crept out to an early lead Sunday, but by the fifth they were playing catch-up at home. David Rollins (2-2) was the starter on Sunday and took the loss after pitching four and two thirds and giving up six runs on five hits and two walks. Rollins also struck out two in his time on the mound. Tyson Perez, who came on in the sixth, gave up five more runs on four hits while striking out one over two innings of work. Andrew Aplin got busy at the plate, hitting a huge grand slam in the third to get Lancaster on the board. Aplin finished one-for-four with five RBIs (22 all season), a run scored and a walk. Zach Johnson went two-for-five, picking up his 10th double.

  

Corpus Christi Hooks 3, Frisco RoughRiders 4

The Hooks took the lead right out of the gate at Dr. Pepper Ballpark, but stumbled in the seventh. David Martinez started the game at the helm and threw five scoreless innings, with four hits, a walk and two Ks. Asher Wojciechowski (2-1) came on next for Corpus Christi and after pitching a scoreless sixth, loaded the bases and gave up a game-clinching grand slam.  Wojciechowski picked up his first blown save and loss, finishing with four runs on four hits, a walk and a pair of strikeouts. The Hooks collected 4 hits all night at the plate and George Springer had two of them. Springer batted two-for-three, both hits for doubles, with a run scored, RBI and walked twice. 

New Orleans Zephyrs 3, Oklahoma City RedHawks 5
The RedHawks stayed ahead of the competition Sunday at home in Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark thanks to some steady offense and solid pitching. Brett Oberholtzer (1-2) took the start and the win after going six innings on the mound and giving up two runs on six hits and K-ing five. Kevin Chapman (2IP H 2BB 3SO) and Josh Zeid (1IP H ER 2BB) both earned holds, their third and second respectively, for their efforts following the starter. Jose Valdez tallied his sixth save after coming on for the last three outs, giving up a hit and striking out two. Jonathan Villar had a great game swinging the stick, hitting two-for-four with two runs scored and an RBI on his first homer of the year-a solo shot to cap OKC scoring in the seventh. Andrew Simunic also had a nice game, batting two-for-three with a run scored. 

Player of the Day: Rio Ruiz, Catfish Elkins and Miles Hamblin are sharing the prize today for their parts in a tremendous 5-4-3 triple play on Sunday in front of the home crowd. It was the 14th triple play in team history and the first since 2007.

Pitcher of the Day: Oberholtzer is the man today after recording the QS and win in OKC on Sunday. This was his first outing since rejoining the team last week and he did it in style. Good game, Oberholtzer. 

Roster Moves

OKLAHOMA CITY
2B Raoul Torrez assigned from Lancaster to Oklahoma City

LANCASTER
C Tyler Heineman activated from the DL
RHP Tyson Perez placed on the Temporary Inactive List

QUAD CITIES
DH Chase Davidson assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training
LHP Colton Cain assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training
3B Ryan Dineen assigned from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities (just sent to EST 4 days prior)
C Miles Hamblin assigned from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities

Also, Grant Hogue tweeted today that he was moving on. Hogue is a terrific individual that was well loved by teammates and fans alike. I met him on a couple of occasions and could see why. Those who are privileged to have Grant in their midst next will definitely be the richer for it.

Happy Birthday - 10/22

C Miles Hamblin (24)
This Texas native was drafted in the 12th round in 2011 out of the University of Mississippi. After a good 2011 season for Tri-City, he started the 2012 season for Lexington but only appeared in two games before getting shelved for the season. In only three at-bats he hit a home run, walked and scored twice.

SS/OF Brian Bixler (30)
A second round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2004, Bixler was claimed by Houston off waivers from the Nationals in November 2011. In his first season with the Astros, he split his time between Oklahoma City and Houston. In 75 games with the Redhawks, he hit .269/.346/.361. In 36 games with Houston, he hit .193/.253/.330. He elected free agency at the end of the season.

Former Astros having birthdays today ~

LHP Frank DiPino (56)
DiPino came to Houston as a part of a September 1982 trade with Milwaukee for Don Sutton. In 201 games pitched for the Astros from 1982 to 1986, he had a 3.65 ERA and a 1.304 WHIP. He left Houston in a July 1986 trade for Davey Lopes.

CF Gerald Young (48)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the fifth round in 1982, Young came to Houston in an August 1984 trade with New York. Playing for the Astros from 1987 to 1992, Young hit .246/.330/.302 and stole 153 bases.

Manager "Harry the Hat" Walker (died August 8, 1999 at age 82)
Walker managed the Astros from 1968 to 1972 and compiled a 355-353 record. According to Wikipedia:

"Harry the Hat" got his nickname from his habit during at-bats of continually adjusting his cap between pitches — there were no batting helmets in his day.

Roster Moves - 4/10

Oklahoma City
RHP Jonathan Aristil was optioned from OKC to CC
SS Jed Lowrie was sent to OKC for a rehab assignment

Corpus Christi
RHP Chris Hicks went on the 7-day DL (per Greg Rajan, he has a sore shoulder)

Lancaster
I either missed this one or it was posted late.
RF Domingo Santana went on the 7-day DL (effective 4/6)

Lexington
RHP Nathan Pettus was assigned to LEX
C Miles Hamblin was assigned to TCV from LEX

Tweet of the Day

Miles Hamblin ‏ @MilesHamblin24

Glad I had the chance to play with @Bubwilliams12 and become great friends off the field. Good luck man. Can't wait to see Bo all grown up

 

Bubby Williams ‏ @Bubwilliams12

@MilesHamblin24 thanks hambone love ya big cat!!

Tweet of the Day

Miles Hamblin ‏ @MilesHamblin24

Yeehawww #TexasIndependenceDay

Happy Birthday - 10/22

C Miles Hamblin (23)
This Texas native was drafted in the 12th round in 2011 out of the University of Mississippi.  He put up good numbers in his first professional season.  In 201 AB's for Tri-City, his line was .264/.346/.398/.745.

Former Astros having birthdays today

LHP Frank DiPino (55)
Pitched in 201 games for Houston from 1982 to 1986 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.304 WHIP
Came to Houston as part of the Don Sutton trade
Left Houston in a trade with Chicago for Davey Lopes

CF Gerald Young (47)
Played for Houston from 1987 to 1992
Rookie of the Year Candidate (came in 5th) in 1987 when he hit .321
Hit a composite .246 with the Astros and stole 153 bases

Bullpen Coach Jamie Quirk (57)
Played for 18 seasons with 8 different clubs (11 seasons with the Royals)
Primarily a catcher, but played all positions except CF and pitcher

Manager "Harry the Hat" Walker (died August 8, 1999 at age 82)
Managed the Astros from 1968 to 1972 and went 355-353
According to Wikipedia:  ""Harry the Hat" got his nickname from his habit during at-bats of continually adjusting his cap between pitches — there were no batting helmets in his day."

Tweet of the Day

@MilesHamblin24 Miles Hamblin
Dove huntin with the boys. #cantgetanybetter

"Huntin" - guy is Texas all the way.

Neiko, on the other hand, needs to get back into baseball soon if this is all he has to tweet about:

@ThisIsNJJ Neiko Johnson
Car clean now shower time