Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Reno 3, Fresno 2

W- Archie Bradley (3-1)
L- Asher Wojciechowski (2-2)
S- Silvino Bracho (3)

Fresno home runs: None.

The Aces edged the Tacos with a run in the 7th.

Fresno's 2 runs both scored on a single from Nolan Fontana in the 4th. Colin Moran, who scored one of those runs, finished 2-4.

Asher Wojciechowski went 6.1 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1. Juan Minaya was the first man out; he struck out 1 over 1.2 perfect frames, and Jordan Jankowski struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 9th.

In game 2 of this series, Brady Rodgers will face Matt Buschmann. First pitch is at 6:35 Pacific.

Midland 3, Corpus Christi 1

W- Dylan Covey (2-1)
L- David Paulino (0-1)
S- Aaron Kurcz (3)

CC home runs: Chase McDonald (7, solo in 7th)

The Hooks offense was held in check once again as they could only muster up 3 hits.

The one guy who doesn't seem to be affected by the collective slump is Chase McDonald, who whacked his 4th home run in his last 5 games. His solo shot in the 7th represented the lone Hooks run.

David Paulino went 5 innings, and the 2 runs he allowed came on a home run from Ryon Healy in the 1st. He allowed 3 other hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Kyle Smith went 3 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 4.

Francis Martes takes the mound for the first time in May as he looks to put a tough April behind him. He'll go up against Chris Jensen at 6:30.

Lancaster 4, Inland Empire 2

W- Dean Deetz (2-0)
L- Jake Jewell (0-4)
S- Rogelio Armenteros (1)

Lancaster home runs: Richard Gonalez (1, solo in 9th)

The JetHawks got even in the series as they got a fine outing from their pitchers, who held the 66ers to 4 hits in this one.

Dean Deetz started it off, and he allowed 2 runs on a single and a sac fly, walked 2, and struck out 4 in 5 innings. In his season debut, Andrew Walter struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 6th, and Rogelio Armenteros recorded his first professional save, allowing 3 hits, walking 2, and striking out 3 over 3 scoreless.

Jamie Ritchie put Lancaster on the board with an RBI double in the 2nd. He then advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch and scored on a single from Kristian Trompiz. Inland Empire tied the game with a run in the 4th, but the JetHawks re-took the lead in the 5th, thanks to a Nick Tanielu RBI single. Richard Gonzalez provided some insurance in the 9th with a solo homer, his 1st of the year. Tanielu and Gonzalez both finished 3-4.

Josh James will start game 3 of this series; he'll take on Alex Klonowski at 7:05 Pacific.

Great Lakes 3, Quad Cities 2 in 13 innings

W- Brian Bass (1-0)
L- Ralph Garza Jr. (2-1)

QC home runs: None.

The Banditos walked off with the loss and ended up dropping the first leg of their roadtrip.

Quad Cities' 2 runs came in the 5th as Bobby Wernes scored on an error following an Osvaldo Duarte single. Duarte, who advanced to 2nd on the blunder, scored on an RBI single from Kyle Tucker. QC had some opportunities to put up at least one more run, as Christian Correa hit a 1-out double in the 6th, but he was stranded at 3rd to end the frame. Tucker ripped a triple in the 10th, but he was also stranded at 3rd. Little Tuck wound up finishing 3-6 with a stolen base (7). Correa finished 2-5, while Anthony Hermelyn went 2-4 with 2 walks.

Jose Luis Hernandez went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs (both on solo homers) on 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 6. Alex Winkelman tagged in for 3.2 scoreless innings and allowed a hit, walked 3, and fanned 8. Ryan Deemes pitched 3.1 innings and all he did was strike out 5. The Loons jumped all over Ralph Garza Jr. in the 13th, though. He allowed the winning run on 2 hits and got 1 out in the inning.

The Banditos and Loons are just getting underway; Quad Cities is looking to avoid the sweep today. Chris Murphy is taking on Victor Gonzalez.

Three Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless noted otherwise.

3.

Photo from MiLB.com

Richard Gonzalez, C, Lancaster

3-4, solo HR (1)

2.

Photo from MiLB.com

Alex Winkelman, LHP, Quad Cities

3.2 IP, H, 3 BB, 8 K

1.

Photo from MiLB.com

Ryan Deemes, RHP, Quad Cities

3.1 IP, 5 K

Honorable Mentions

Chase McDonald, 1B, Corpus Christi: Solo HR (7)
- The big man just keeps rolling along.

Nick Tanielu, IF, Lancaster: 3-4, RBI
- It was only a matter of time before Tanielu got his bat going.

Juan Minaya, RHP, Fresno: 1.2 IP, K
Jordan Jankowski, RHP, Fresno: IP, 2 K
- Fresno's relievers have been outstanding to begin the season.

Kyle Tucker, OF, Quad Cities: 3-6, 3B, SB (7)
- Little Tuck has more than held his own in his first shot at full-season ball.

Happy Birthday - 11/18

Happy Birthday to ~

C Richard Gonzalez (21)
Drafted in the 29th round in 2014 out of Alabama State University, this native of Puerto Rico spent the vast majority of his first professional season in the Gulf Coast League with a late promotion to Greeneville for his final four appearances of the season. In 33 total games, he hit .207/.339/.293 and had a 29% caught stealing rate.

Numerous former Astros celebrate the day as well ~

OF Travis Buck (31)
Originally drafted by Oakland in the first round in 2005, Buck signed with Houston as a free agent in November 2011. Buck spent 33 games with the Astros in 2012, hitting .216/.284/.311. Buck has played in the San Diego minor league system for the last two seasons.

RHP Gil Rondon (61)
Originally drafted by the Orioles in the third round in 1973, Rondon was drafted by Houston from the Angels in the Rule 5 draft in 1975. In 19 games (seven starts) for the Astros in 1976, he was 2-2 with a 5.70 ERA and a 2.031 WHIP.

C Luis Pujols (59)
Signed by Houston as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1973, Pujols played in 311 games for the Astros from 1977 to 1983, hitting .192/.239/.259. In 2014, Pujols managed the Orioles minor league High A team in the Carolina League.

RHP Jeff Heathcock (55)
A first round pick by the Astros in 1980, Heathcock pitched in 56 games (13 starts) for Houston in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with a 9-9 record, a 3.76 ERA and a 1.190 WHIP.

LF Steve Henderson (62)
Originally drafted by the Reds in the fifth round in 1974, Henderson came to Houston as a free agent in March 1988. In 42 games for the Astros that season, he hit .217/.321/.261. In his debut year of 1977 with the Mets, Henderson came in second to Andre Dawson in Rookie of the Year voting. His career batting line over 12 seasons was .280/.352/.413. In 2014, he was the hitting coach for the Phillies.

C Eddie "Scooter" Tucker (48)
A fifth round pick by the Giants in 1988, the Astros claimed Tucker off waivers from San Francisco in September 1991. In 34 games played for Houston in 1992, 1993 and 1995, he hit .157/.222/.217. He managed the Carolina Mudcats, the Cleveland High A affiliate, in 2014.

RHP Tom "Flash" Gordon (47)
Originally drafted by the Royals in the sixth round in 1986, Gordon came to Houston in an August 2002 trade with the Cubs. In 15 appearances for the Astros in 2002, he had a 3.32 ERA and a 1.105 WHIP. Gordon pitched in 21 major league seasons for eight different teams. In 1989 while pitching for the Royals, he came in second to Baltimore's Gregg Olson in Rookie of the Year Voting. He was a three-time All-Star for the Red Sox, the Yankees and the Phillies.