Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Tuesday, July 16, 2019

A relatively light slate as only the complex-league clubs and the ones in leagues that have more than one A were in action.

Round Rock 4, Memphis 1

W- Cy Sneed (6-6)
L- Jake Woodford (5-6)

RR home runs: Garrett Stubbs (6, 2-run in 2nd), Derek Fisher (11, solo in 3rd)

A fine outing from Cy Sneed powered the E-Train to the win.

Sneed allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out seven over seven shutout innings. Justin Ferrell struck out one in a 1-2-3 8th. The Redbirds spoiled the shutout with a solo homer off Colin McKee in the 9th; McKee allowed two hits and fanned two.

Garrett Stubbs smacked a two-run homer in the 2nd to open the scoring and Derek Fisher led off the 3rd with a homer. Taylor Jones hit an RBI single in the 5th for the last Round Rock run. Josh Rojas finished 2-4 from the leadoff spot.

Akeem Bostick faces Mike Hauschild in game three of this series. First pitch is at 7:05.

Northwest Arkansas 5, Corpus Christi 2

W- Andrés Sotillet (5-1)
L- Tommy DeJuneas (1-5)
S- Tyler Zuber (5)

CC home runs: Ronnie Dawson (15, 2-run in 2nd)

The Naturals pulled ahead with a run in the 8th and got two insurance runs in the 9th to take the first game of the series.

Ronnie Dawson went 2-4 and his two-run blast in the 2nd represented Corpus Christi's only scoring play. Abraham Toro went 2-3 with a double.

Chad Donato allowed three hits, one of which was a two-run home run, and struck out seven in seven innings of work. The Naturals got to Tommy DeJuneas in the last two innings; DeJuneas allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits (two-run homer), walked one, and struck out three.

Enoli Paredes gets the start in game two of this series. He'll take on Brady Singer at 6:15.

Fayetteville was off

The Woodpeckers will start a three-game series in Lynchburg at 6:30 Eastern. Cody Deason will take on Justin Garza.

Quad Cities was off

The River Bandits welcome Dayton to Modern Woodmen Park for a three-game midweek series beginning at 6:35. Jonathan Bermúdez gets the start and he'll go against Jhon De Jesus.

Tri-City was off

The ValleyCats will start a three-game series against Lowell at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Mets 16, GCL Astros 7

W- Mitchell Senger (1-0)
L- Elián Rodríguez (0-1)

GCL home runs: Yorbin Ceuta (2, 2-run in 2nd)

Well that was not a very fun afternoon for the Palm Beach 'Stros.

Of the four pitchers who appeared, Heitor Tokar gave up the fewest runs. He went 3.2 innings and allowed a run on three hits, walked two, and struck out two.

Gerry Castillo hit an RBI single in the 2nd and he scored when Yorbin Ceuta whacked a homer. Castillo ripped a two-run double in the 6th and in the 8th, Yefri Carrillo hit a sac fly and Franklin Pinto hit an RBI single. Castillo, Ceuta, José Álvarez, and Adonis Giron all finished with two hits on the afternoon.

The Palm Beach 'Stros will take on the Cardinals at noon Eastern.

DSL Astros and DSL Red Sox 1 was suspended

Due to rain. The Dominican Stros ran off four runs in the 4th to tie the game. Frank Perez hit a two-run single and Tomás Ramírez followed by launching a two-run homer, which was the last action before play was halted. That shot was Ramírez's second home run of the season. Yohander Martinez is currently 2-2.

Jeremy Molero pitched 2.1 innings and allowed three runs (one inherited runner charged to him), a hit, walked five, and struck out three. Edinson Batista allowed a run on two hits and got the final two outs of the 3rd.

Tuesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Gerry Castillo not pictured.

This is Yorbin Ceuta's mugshot on MiLB.com.

Gerry Castillo, C, and Yorbin Ceuta, IF, GCL Astros

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

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

Chad Donato, RHP, Corpus Christi

7 IP, 3 H (2-R HR allowed), 2 ER, 7 K

Ronnie Dawson, OF, Corpus Christi

2-4, 2-R HR (15)

Cy Sneed, RHP, Round Rock

W (6-6), 7 IP, 5 H, BB, 7 K

Beyond the Top 30: Shortstops

As the old year fades away and the new season approaches, it's time to start looking at those players of interest who are beyond the Top 30. These players may not ever make a Top 30 list (or they may), but a combination of projections, actual results, incremental improvements and intangibles keep them in the mix as interesting players to watch. I am not including any players in these posts who have already made their major league debuts since, presumably, anyone reading my blog is already very familiar with those players.

Note: Most of the 2018 player rankings haven't been released yet so I will be using the MLB Pipeline postseason list and the Baseball Prospectus Top 10+ list to denote those players who are currently considered Top 30 type players in the Astros system. Once Baseball America and FanGraphs weigh in, and MLB Pipeline posts their 2018 pre-season list, I will post a consensus top prospect list.

[UPDATES TO FINAL 2018 PRE-SEASON RANKINGS SHOWN IN RED.

BA= BASEBALL AMERICA, BP = BASEBALL PROSPECTUS,

FG=FANGRAPHS, MLB = MLB PIPELINE]

SHORTSTOPS IN THE TOP 30 (in alphabetical order)

Jonathan Arauz - August 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Jonathan Arauz (S/R) - BP #6, FG #16, MLB #22, BA #23
Arauz is currently ranked by Baseball Prospectus at number 6 and by MLB Pipeline at number 23. After missing the first 50 games of the 2017 season on the restricted list (tested positive for a methamphetamine), Arauz was sent to Quad Cities where he hit a less than robust .220/.331/.276 in 36 games and was subsequently demoted to Tri-City for the remainder of the season. He hit .264/.341/.364 at the lower level. But keep in mind that he is a solid defender who only turned 19 toward the end of the 2017 season. Look for Arauz to start the 2018 season back with Quad Cities where he will try to catch up with full season A pitching.

Freudis Nova (R/R) - BA #5, MLB #5, FG #7, BP #11+
The Astros were able to sign Nova in July 2016 for 1.2 million, roughly half of his projected bonus after Nova tested positive for steroid use and was thought to have a potential issue with his elbow. Nova was cited by Baseball America as being one of the top athletes in the 2016 class. In his first season with the Dominican Summer League in 2017, Nova split his time between shortstop and third base. He may very well be moved to the hot corner as he is projected to have the bat and the arm for the position. He started off the season extremely hot before cooling off in his final month of play, hitting .247/.342/.355 with six doubles, four home runs, eight stolen bases and 15 walks to 33 strikeouts in 47 games while his defense improved throughout the season. The Dominican-born Nova won't turn 18 until January 12th. Nova is currently listed as number 11 by MLB Pipeline and in the 11-20 range by Baseball Prospectus.

Miguelangel Sierra (R/R) - BA #30, FG #28+
Miguelangel Sierra, however, does not currently project to move out of a middle infield position. In his third season of playing since signing for $1 million in July 2014, Sierra exhibited plus defense at short with a bat that lagged behind in his 57 games at short season A Tri-City (.178/.260/.297). He is not ranked by Baseball Prospectus and will likely fall from his current number 16 ranking by MLB Pipeline based on his regression with the bat. Having turned 20 on December 2nd, Sierra will need to show a more disciplined line drive, high contact approach at the plate in his fourth season.

SHORTSTOPS BEYOND THE TOP 30 (in alphabetical order)

Kristian Trompiz - July 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Cody Bohanek (R/R)
As the only signed shortstop in the 2017 Astros draft class (30th round, University of Illinois at Chicago), Bohanek impressed the front office enough with his excellent fielding at rookie level Greeneville that he was rewarded with a promotion to the Quad Cities full season A club for the last 10 games of the regular season (and the postseason). Bohanek also displayed a decent bat in his first 56 pro games, hitting .246/.353/.332 with a little pop (8 doubles and 3 home runs).
Key: Keep up the good work defensively, cut down on the strikeouts (18BB:54SO) and show enough consistency/improvement with the bat to enable the 22-year old to move quickly through the system.

Deury Carrasco (L/R) - FG #28+
Although Carrasco is nowhere near as polished a fielder as Bohanek, what he did at age 17 in his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League was nothing short of remarkable. In 64 games, Carrasco hit .266/.407/.319 with nine doubles and one triple. But what really stood out was his 50 walks to 48 strikeouts and his 32 stolen bases to 14 caught stealing. It is little wonder that Carrasco was given a $480,000 bonus when he signed in 2016. At that time he was lauded for his athleticism, speed and plus arm.
Key: Improve defensively and build on that initial offensive success as he moves to the more advanced levels of competition.

Yorbin Ceuta (S/R)
Ceuta, who won't be 18 until the 14th of this month, signed for a reported 1 to 1.2 million in 2016. He was ranked #11 in that signing class by Baseball America with his hit and fielding tools projected to be his best assets. He did not disappoint on either front, showing excellent fielding skills and a bat that improved as the season continued. His .248/.349/.293 batting line (with 27BB:39SO) in 60 games in the Dominican Summer League matched the scouting reports of a disciplined bat with little power projection. Although his speed was said to be average or a little lower, he managed to steal 11 bases and was caught six times.
Key: Build on his early success. At this point, he hits considerably better from the left side of the plate. Any improvements he can make as a right-handed hitter will increase his stock even more.

Kristian Trompiz (R/R)
Trompiz originally signed with the Astros in 2012 for a $320,000 bonus and just completed his fifth season in the system. However, he just turned 22 in early December and finished his 2017 season with the full season A Quad Cities squad, an appropriate level for his age. Trompiz can play (and has played) at any of the infield positions so I considered placing him on my list of utility players, but his solid defense and improving bat keeps him on this list for now, particularly considering the dearth of true shortstops at the higher level of the system. Trompiz started his 2017 season at Corpus Christi and was demoted to Tri-City after only 17 games. But he was way too advanced for short season A and ended up at Quad Cities for the final 40 games of the season where he hit a very respectable .261/.331/.310 and .258/.324/.258 in nine postseason games (.275/.340/.322 for the season as a whole). He also managed to swipe 22 bases while getting caught 8 times in only 82 games. The one thing that has eluded Trompiz has been consistency with his bat and it feels as though he had a breakthrough with that this past season. In addition, Trompiz is one of the most respected players in the system for his work ethic, selflessness and leadership by example. Those intangibles help all of his other skills play up.
Key: Going into his 6th season, time is not on Trompiz's side. He will need to show (quickly) that the improved consistency at the plate was not a fluke and he will need to be able to display that consistency at AA and possibly AAA.

Next up: Second Base

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Saturday, August 12, 2017

Doubleheader day in the minors.

Game 1: Fresno 2, Albuquerque 1

W- Rogelio Armenteros (6-1, 8-4 season)
L- Ryan Carpenter (7-9)
S- Brendan McCurry (4)

Fresno home runs: Tyler White (20, 2-run in 3rd)

Both teams scored in the same inning; Fresno's scoring play produced more runs, so they won. I like it when baseball is simple.

Tyler White's 2-run homer in the 3rd opened up the scoring. He and Tony Kemp were the offense in game 1; White had two of the three hits. Kemp singled and scored on White's blast.

Rogelio Armenteros allowed a run on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 10 in 5 innings. It's the second time this season that Armenteros has recorded double-digit strikeouts. Brendan McCurry pitched the final 2 innings to get the save, allowing 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 1.

Game 2: Fresno 5, Albuquerque 3

W- Jordan Jankowski (2-3)
L- Thad Weber (1-6)
S- Jumbo Diaz (2)

Fresno home runs: None.

Both clubs scored in the same number of innings in game 2, but the Grizzlies put up the only crooked numbers in their scoring innings to sweep the twinbill.

Fresno opened the scoring on a Garrett Stubbs RBI single in the 1st inning. They scored twice in the 3rd on a Preston Tucker RBI groundout and an RBI single from A.J. Reed and got two more in the 5th thanks to a 2-run single from Stubbs. Kemp went 3-4 with a double, a stolen base (21), and scored twice. Stubbs went 2-3.

David Martinez went 4.1 innings and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Jordan Jankowski extracted Martinez from a bases-loaded predicament by getting the final two outs of the inning, one via strikeout. Kevin Comer and Jumbo Diaz followed with a scoreless inning; Comer allowed a hit and struck out 1, while Diaz struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

Trent Thornton takes on Yency Almonte in game 3. First pitch is at 6:05 Mountain.

Springfield 6, Corpus Christi 5

W- Sandy Alcantara (7-5)
L- Alex Winkelman (1-7, 3-7 season)
S- Tyler Bray (2)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks almost erased a 6-2 deficit. Almost. They scored 3 in the 8th to make it a one-run game, but left the bases loaded to end it.

Alex Winkelman went 5 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits (2 solo homers), walked 3, and struck out 4. Ralph Garza Jr. and Riley Ferrell followed with 2 innings apiece, with contrasting results. Garza allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 2. On the other hand, Ferrell struck out 5 in a perfect outing.

Jason Martin opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 1st inning. Kyle Tucker drove in another run with a sac fly in the 2nd to tie the game at 2. Tucker's sac fly would be the last Corpus scoring play until the 8th; in the meantime, Springfield put up 2 in the 4th and the 6th to take a 6-2 lead.

Martin drew a 1-out walk, advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, and scored on a double from Colin Walsh. Walsh moved to 3rd on another wild pitch and came home on a Tony Nuñez groundout. Arturo Michelena drew a walk following a pitching change. He went to 2nd on a Rico Noel single and two wild pitches later, scored to make it a 6-5 game.

Jamie Ritchie got plunked with one out in the bottom of the 9th, and then Ryne Birk came on to run for him. Martin singled and Walsh walked to load the bases. Birk was thrown out at home under questionable circumstances, which Hooks manager Rodney Linares disagreed with, and his dissent resulted in him getting the heave-ho.

Martin (RBI, R) and Michelena (2 R) both finished with 2 hits on the night.

Brock Dykxhoorn takes on Chris Ellis in the series finale. First pitch is at 6:05.

Down East 9, Buies Creek 3

W- Emerson Martinez (3-8)
L- Ryan Hartman (2-4, 5-5 season)

BC home runs: None.

The Wood Ducks busted this open late with 5 runs over the last 2 innings.

Ryan Hartman went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits (2 solo homers), walked 1, and struck out 5. Hector Perez was the first man out of the Buies Creek bullpen and allowed 4 runs on 3 hits (3-run homer), walked 4, and struck out 2 in 2.2 innings. Carlos Sierra allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on a double and walked 3 in 1.1 innings of work.

Both teams scored a run in the 1st; the Carolina Stros got theirs on a Yordan Alvarez sac fly. Alvarez hit an RBI single in the 6th, and Anibal Sierra scored on a Myles Straw groundout in the 8th. Stephen Wrenn went 3-4 with a stolen base (9, 17 season).

Jorge Alcala will face Brett Martin in the series finale. First pitch is at 2:00 Eastern.

Cedar Rapids 9, Quad Cities 1

W- Anthony Marzi (4-2)
L- Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 2-4 season)

QC home runs: None.

The Kernels blew the Banditos away by scoring in 6 out of 8 innings.

Daz Cameron doubled to lead off the 4th and scored Quad Cities' only run when Chas McCormick grounded into a force out.

Patrick Sandoval went 4 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits (2-run homer), walked 3, and struck out 5. César Rosado was the first man out of the bullpen and allowed 2 hits, one of which was a solo homer, in the 5th. Ronel Blanco went 2 innings and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Robert Corniel struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th.

Gabriel Valdez will start the series finale against Charlie Barnes at 2:05.

Game 1: Tri-City 4, Williamsport 3

W- Leovanny Rodriguez (1-0, 4-0 season)
L- Zach Warren (0-3)
S- Luis Ramirez (2)

TC home runs: None.

The ValleyCats edged the Cutters thanks to a run in the 6th that broke a 3-3 tie.

Leovanny Rodriguez won in his return to the New York-Penn League; he went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5. Luis Ramirez walked 1 and struck out 3 in the last 2 innings.

Jonathan Arauz and Gabriel Bracamonte both singled to start off the 4th, and Adrian Tovalin ripped an RBI double to put Tri-City on the board. Bracamonte scored on a Colton Shaver sac fly. Jake Meyers scored on a balk in the 5th and Corey Julks smacked an RBI double in the 6th. Bracamonte finished 2-4.

Game 2: Tri-City 3, Williamsport 0

W- Matt Ruppenthal (1-1)
L- Connor Brogdon (1-1)
S- Diogenes Almengo (1)

TC home runs: None.

Tri-City took the division lead with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday. Now, it's just a 0.5 game lead and everyone in their division is separated by just 2.5 games, but they're looking to keep their momentum going. Winning both games in a doubleheader is a good starting point...

Matt Ruppenthal and Diogenes Almento combined on a 2-hit shutout. Ruppenthal allowed 2 hits and struck out 5, while Almengo struck out 3 in a perfect final 2 innings.

All three Tri-City runs in the second game came in the 6th. Bracamonte tripled and Adrian Tovalin walked to start things off. Bracamonte scored the first run on a single from Shaver. Mike Papierski walked to load the bases, and then Kyle Davis walked Tovalin home. Shaver scored on a botched force attempt. Bracamonte, who went 2-4 in both games, hit two triples in game 2.

The ValleyCats and Crosscutters will conclude their series at 5:05 Eastern.

Game 1: Kingsport 2, Greeneville 0

W- Christian James (2-3)
L- Yhoan Acosta (0-1)
S- Billy Oxford (1)

Greeneville home runs: None.

The Appy Astros couldn't really get much going in the first game of the doubleheader. Jose Benjamin went 2-2 with a double.

Yhoan Acosta allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in the 1st inning. Tim Hardy allowed a hit and struck out 4 over 5 scoreless, and Ian Hardman struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 7th.

Game 2: Kingsport 3, Greeneville 0

W- Marbin Montijo (2-1)
L- Jairo Solis (0-1, 2-2 season)
S- Aaron Ford (1)

Greeneville home runs: None.

Rough day for the Appy Astros. Wilson Amador went 2-2 with a walk.

Noel Pinto allowed a hit and struck out 2 in a scoreless 1st inning. Jairo Solis went 1.2 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Johsson Arias allowed 3 hits and struck out 6 in 2.1 innings, and Willy Collado allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 over the final 2 innings.

Francisco Villegas will start game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 6:00 Eastern.

Game 1: DSL Dodgers1 5, DSL Astros Blue 4

W- Maykel Rabsatt (1-0)
L- Jonger Ochoa (1-1)
S- Joan Valdez (3)

Blue home runs: None.

Yorbin Ceuta finished a home run shy of the cycle in 4 at-bats. He opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the 3rd and added an RBI double to his ledger in the 7th which cut the Blue team's deficit to one run. Wilyer Abreu and Kendy Moya both drove in a run.

Jean Reyes went 4.1 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits (2-run homer), walked 2, and struck out 1. Jonger Ochoa got the last two outs of the 5th and came out for the 6th, but ran into trouble. Luis Garcia took ownership of the last 2 innings. Ochoa, who walked 3, had 2 inherited runners charged to him. Garcia allowed 3 hits and struck out 2.

Game 2: DSL Dodgers1 4, DSL Astros Blue 0

W- Jeronimo Castro (6-2)
L- Jervic Chavez (1-1)

Blue home runs: None.

Having an equal amount of errors and hits usually does not bode well for a baseball team.

Kilvio Peralta allowed a hit and fanned 3 in 3 scoreless innings. Jervic Chavez went 3.1 innings and allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and fanned 3. Jose Antonio Hernandez got the last two outs of the 7th, allowing a hit and striking out 1.

DSL Astros Orange 7, DSL Indians 5

W- Jesus Bernaez (2-4)
L- Diarlin Jimenez (3-6)
S- Cristofer Melendez (3)

Orange home runs: None.

Team Orange had to stave off a late charge from the Indians to win this one.

Deury Carrasco (2 R) and Luis Barajas (R) both had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Jeury Castillo also had 2 hits on the day; he scored twice and stole a base (7).

Elian Rodriguez and Jesus Bernaez threw 3 innings apiece and were both relatively successful. Rodriguez allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1, while Bernaez allowed a hit and fanned 3 in a scoreless outing. Fabricio Reina allowed 4 runs (2 inherited runners charged to him) on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Cristofer Melendez took ownership of the 9th, allowing a hit and striking out 2.

Saturday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Yorbin Ceuta, SS, DSL Astros Blue: 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R in game 1 of doubleheader

Deury Carrasco, IF, DSL Astros Orange: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R
Jesus Bernaez, RHP, DSL Astros Orange: W (2-4), 3 IP, H, 3 K

Rogelio Armenteros, RHP, Fresno

W (6-1, 8-4 season), 5 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K in game 1 of doubleheader

Tyler White, IF, and Tony Kemp, 2B, Fresno

White: 2-3, 2-R HR (20) in game 1 of doubleheader

Kemp: 1-3, R in game 1 of doubleheader

3-4, 2B, 2 R, SB (21) in game 2 of doubleheader

Tim Hardy's and Johsson Arias' photos are their mugshots on MiLB.com.

Ian Hardman's photo taken by Bryan Green.

Greeneville Astros bullpen

Tim Hardy: 5 IP, H, 4 K in game 1 of doubleheader

Ian Hardman: IP, 2 K in game 1 of doubleheader

Johsson Arias: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 6 K in game 2 of doubleheader

Matt Ruppenthal's photo is his mugshot on MiLB.com.

Tri-City ValleyCats pitchers: W 4-3, 3-0 @ Williamsport in doubleheader

Matt Ruppenthal: W (1-1), 5 IP, 2 H, 5 K in game 2 of doubleheader

Diogenes Almengo: Save (1), 2 IP, 3 K in game 2 of doubleheader; perfect outing

Luis Ramirez: Save (2), 2 IP, BB, 3 K in game 1 of doubleheader

Gabriel Bracamonte, C, Tri-City

2-4, R in game 1 of doubleheader

2-4, 2 3B, R in game 2 of doubleheader

Riley Ferrell, RHP, Corpus Christi

2 IP, 5 K; perfect outing

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Monday, July 3, 2017

A couple of top arms and yet another under-the-radar arm all appeared in a new league for the first time.

Fresno 4, Sacramento 1

W- Rogelio Armenteros (1-0, 3-3 season)
L- Andrew Suarez (2-2)
S- Kyle Smith (1, 3 season)

Fresno home runs: Max Stassi 2 (10; solo in 3rd, solo in 5th)

Rogelio Armenteros had an excellent AAA debut and Max Stassi launched a couple of solo shots. The Grizzlies took their 11th consecutive game and swept the RiverCats. Since switching affiliations from the Giants to the Astros, Fresno has gone 34-14 against Sacramento (per Paul Braverman).

Armenteros allowed 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 8 over 6 shutout innings. The RiverCats spoiled the shutout with a sac fly off of Kyle Smith in the 7th. Smith went 3 innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 2.

Max Stassi whacked his first solo homer of the evening in the 3rd to open the scoring, then launched another one in the 5th. Tyler White and Reid Brignac hit RBI singles in the 6th and the 7th, respectively. Stassi's two hits were the solo blasts; he was the only player on either side to finish with a multi-hit game.

Tonight, the Grizzlies will take the field as the Tacos on a special Taco Tuesday on this Fourth of July. Trent Thornton starts the first of a 3-game set with Salt Lake at 6:35 Pacific.

Arkansas 4, Corpus Christi 0

W- Lindsey Caughel (5-7)
L- Cy Sneed (7-5)

CC home runs: None.

This tour of Arkansas has been rough on the Hooks.

Kyle Tucker went 2-4. Jason Martin's double was Corpus Christi's only extra-base hit.

Cy Sneed allowed 4 runs on 10 hits and struck out 4 in 4.2 innings. Andrew Walter allowed a hit and struck out 3 over 2.1 scoreless, and Jacob Dorris struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 8th.

Framber Valdez takes the mound as the Hooks look to avoid getting swept out of Arkansas. He'll face Justin DeFratus at 5:30.

Buies Creek 6, Potomac 0

W- Forrest Whitley (1-0, 3-3 season)
L- Hector Silvestre (7-3)
S- Justin Ferrell (2)

BC home runs: Ryne Birk (7, solo in 1st), Stephen Wrenn (2, 5 season; solo in 2nd)

The Potomac Nationals were not ready for Forrest Whitley, who along with Justin Ferrell, rendered their offense useless.

Whitley went 5 innings, walking 1 and striking out 9 in a dominant Carolina League debut. Ferrell completed the shutout by allowing 3 hits, walking 1, and striking out 4 over the final 4 innings. Whitley now has 76 strikeouts in just 51.1 innings this season.

Ryne Birk got things started in the 1st when he whacked a solo homer. Stephen Wrenn began the 2nd inning with the first inside-the-park home run in Buies Creek/Fayetteville franchise history. Two batters later, Randy César ripped a double and scored on Anibal Sierra's single. César scored on an error that allowed Birk to reach in the 7th, and finally in the 8th, Alex De Goti drew a bases-loaded walk and Sierra beat a double play attempt which allowed Spencer Johnson to score. César had 1/3 of the Carolina Stros' hits, finishing 3-4 and scoring twice.

Buies Creek will spend this Fourth of July in Myrtle Beach. Brett Adcock takes on Ryan Kellogg in the first of a 3-game series at 7:05 Eastern.

Quad Cities 8, Burlington 6

W- César Rosado (1-0, 2-0 season)
L- Joe Gatto (5-7)

QC home runs: Josh Rojas (2, solo in 2nd)

The Banditos bashed 16 hits and César Rosado was a winner in his Midwest League debut.

Gabriel Valdez got the start and went 4.2 innings, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits, walking 2, and striking out 2. César Rosado threw the final 4.1 innings and allowed his first run of the season when Richard Fectau took him deep for a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th. Other than that, Rosado continued his dominant start to his season, allowing one other hit and striking out 6.

Quad Cities scored two in each of the first two innings of this one. Troy Sieber hit an RBI single in the 1st to open the scoring and an error on the play allowed Chuckie Robinson to come home with another run. Josh Rojas led off the 2nd with a homer and Carmen Benedetti ripped an RBI double later in the frame. Both teams scored 3 in the 4th; Quad Cities' 3 came on a Jonathan Arauz single, Benedetti's 2nd RBI double of the evening, and a groundout from Sieber. Robinson scored on a Wander Franco sac fly in the 6th.

Benedetti turned in the first 5-hit game of his career. Sieber finished 3-5, while Arauz and Rojas both went 2-5.

The Banditos are back home and they'll start a 3-game series with Kane County at 6:35. Yohan Ramirez will face Emilio Vargas.

Staten Island 5, Tri-City 0

W- Jorge Guzman (3-0)
L- Juan Robles (0-1, 1-1 season)

TC home runs: None.

The ValleyCats were absolutely helpless against Jorge Guzman, who racked up double-digit strikeouts against (most of) his old teammates.

Connor MacDonald doubled and J.J. Matijevic singled. That was all she wrote for Tri-City's offense.

Juan Robles went 4 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits, walked 1, and struck out 4. The one run that Nathan Thompson allowed in his 3 innings came on a solo homer hit by Nelson Gomez in the 6th. Thompson allowed 2 other hits, walked 1, and fanned 4. Robert Corniel worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 8th, striking out 1.

The ValleyCats are back home to start a 3-game series with Brooklyn. Cristian Javier will start game 1, which begins at 6:30 Eastern.

Greeneville and Kingsport was postponed

Due to rain. This game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 12.

The Appy Astros will kick off a 3-game series with Johnson City at 7:00 Eastern.

From June 15: DSL Astros Blue 5, DSL Royals 1

W- Antonio Pujols (2-0)
L- Brian Abreu (0-1)

Blue home runs: None.

I guess this game wasn't made official because they went ahead and finished it up. It had been suspended due to rain back on June 15 with the Blue team leading 2-1 in the top of the 6th.

César Cortez hit a sac fly to put the Blue team on the board in the 3rd inning. Ronaldo Urdaneta walked in the go-ahead run in the top of the 7th. When play resumed, Kendy Moya tacked on a couple of more runs with a double, and Leonardo Gonzalez hit an RBI single in the 9th.

Angel Macuare went 4 innings and allowed an unearned run on 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 7. Antonio Pujols allowed a hit and struck out 5 over 5 scoreless.

DSL Astros Blue 9, DSL Royals 3

W- Jonger Ochoa (1-0)
L- Adan Frias (0-1)

Blue home runs: None.

Yorbin Ceuta and Freddy Chirino both went 2-4 with 2 RBI. Leonardo Gonzalez also turned in a 2-4 day for the Blue team with a double and an RBI.

Jose Antonio Hernandez allowed one scoring play in his 4 innings, a 2-run homer to Ismaldo Rodriguez in the 5th. Hernandez allowed one other hit, walked 1, and struck out 3. Jonger Ochoa allowed a hit and struck out 1 over 2 scoreless, and Nathanael Ventura hit a batter with the baess loaded, walked 3, and struck out 2 in the 9th.

DSL Pirates 9, DSL Astros Orange 8

W- Wilmer Contreras (4-0)
L- Diosward Gonzalez (2-2)

Orange home runs: None.

Ramiro Rodriguez went 3-5 with 3 RBI and a stolen base (3). Deury Carrasco and Jose Alvarez both scored twice. Sean Mendoza went 2-2 with an RBI and scored a run.

Carlos Perdomo and Luis De Paula started with 2 innings apiece, with varying results. Perdomo allowed 3 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 2 hits, walked 5, and struck out 1, while De Paula struck out 1. Diosward Gonzalez went 4.1 innings and allowed 6 runs (2 earned, 2 inherited runners charged to him) on 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6. Fredy Medina walked 1 and got the last two outs of the 9th.

Monday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Yorbin Ceuta, SS, DSL Astros Blue: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (6)
Ramiro Rodriguez, OF, DSL Astros Orange: 3-5, 3 RBI, SB (3)

Buies Creek Astros pitchers: W 6-0 vs. Potomac

3 H, 2 BB, 13 K

Forrest Whitley: W (1-0, 3-3 season), 5 IP, BB, 9 K

Justin Ferrell: Save (2), 4 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K

Fresno Grizzlies pitchers: W 4-1 @ Sacramento

5 IP, ER, 3 BB, 10 K

Rogelio Armenteros: W (1-0, 3-3 season), 6 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K

Kyle Smith: Save (1, 3 season), 3 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 K

Max Stassi, C, Fresno

2-3, 2 solo HR (10)

When they say it's only 30 degrees because there's a heat wave. #applyextrachapstick pic.twitter.com/1A8IDyQZyA

— Joshua Rojas (@JoshRojass) March 1, 2017

 Carmen Benedetti, OF, Troy Sieber, 1B, and Josh Rojas, IF, Quad Cities

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

Sieber: 3-5, 2 RBI

Rojas: 2-5, solo HR (2)

Photo by Bryan Green

César Rosado, RHP, Quad Cities

W (1-0, 2-0 season), 4.1 IP, 2 H (solo HR allowed), ER, 6 K

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Appy Astros sweep!

Fresno 6, Albuquerque 3

W- Kyle Smith (1-0, 3-1 season)
L- Matt Flemer (2-6)
S- Tyson Perez (3)

Fresno home runs: D.J. Fisher (17, 3-run in 1st), Tyler White (12, solo in 5th)

Charlie Morton had a very nice outing as he continues to work his way back to full strength.

Morton allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 over 4 scoreless innings. Kyle Smith got the next 4 innings and did alright until he ran into trouble in the 8th. He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits and struck out 1. Tyson Perez struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

The Tacos got a 3-run blast from D.J. Fisher (17) in the opening frame and got 1 each in the 4th, 5th, and the 6th to come away with the victory. Reid Brignac smacked an RBI triple in the 4th, Tyler White launched a solo homer in the 5th, and Preston Tucker brought in Fresno's final run of the night with an RBI single in the 6th. Brignac (3B, RBI), Tony Kemp (2B, R), and Colin Moran (2B) turned in 2-hit performances.

Trent Thornton will take on Barry Enright in game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 7:05 Pacific.

Texas League All-Star Game

The South All-Stars erupted for 7 runs in the 4th to run away with a 10-3 win.

Drew Ferguson started in RF and went 2-3 with 2 walks and scored a run out of the leadoff spot. J.D. Davis got the start at 3B and went 2-4 with a 2-run single in that massive 4th inning. Jon Singleton went 0-4 as the starting 1B, and Garrett Stubbs, who started at catcher, hit a bases-clearing triple in the 4th and scored twice.

Rogelio Armenteros got the start and allowed a 2-run homer to Chuck Taylor, one of 3 hits that he allowed in the 1st inning. He struck out 2.

Corpus Christi returns to action on Thursday in Northwest Arkansas.

Carolina 6, Buies Creek 5 in 15 innings

W- Eric Hanhold (5-2)
L- Sebastian Kessay (4-2)
S- Quintin Torres-Costa (1)

BC home runs: Alex De Goti (1, 4 season; solo in 3rd), Stephen Wrenn (1, 4 season; 2-run in 9th)

Stephen Wrenn smacked a 2-run homer to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th and that's how the game remained until the Mudcats broke through with a run in the 15th.

Both teams scored 2 runs in the 3rd; Buies Creek got theirs on an Alex De Goti solo blast, and then Myles Straw followed with a triple and walked home after a balk was called. Straw, who finished 3-7 with a stolen base (18), added an RBI single to his ledger in the 8th. Wrenn connected for his first Carolina League homer to tie the game with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th. Jake Rogers finished 2-4 with a double and scored on Wrenn's homer.

Matt Bower went 2.2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 2. Howie Brey was the first man out of the Carolina Stros bullpen and threw 3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits (solo homer), walking 1, and striking out 3. Sean Stutzman followed with 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, walking 1, and striking out 3. Not sure why he's in Buies Creek when he's been doing relatively well in Corpus; it was probably just for him to get work during the Texas League All-Star break.

Anyway, Nick Hernandez was next and he struck out 7 over 4 perfect frames. Sebastian Kessay allowed a run on 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 in 2 innings.

Buies Creek and Carolina will continue their series at 7:00 Eastern as Framber Valdez faces Kodi Medeiros.

Quad Cities 6, Wisconsin 5

W- Gabriel Valdez (2-0)
L- Miguel Sanchez (2-4)
S- Erasmo Pinales (4)

QC home runs: Ronnie Dawson (7, solo in 4th)

Erasmo Pinales had a nice outing of the bullpen and the Banditos got a run in the 6th to break a 5-5 tie.

Wander Franco opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 1st. Ronnie Dawson started off the 4th with a homer. Quad Cities got 3 in the 5th after Gabriel Bracamonte scored on a wild pitch. Dawson then added an RBI single to his ledger and Franco scored on an error. Jonathan Arauz scored the go-ahead run on another wild pitch in the 6th inning.

Arauz (HR shy of cycle, 2 R) and Dawson (solo HR, 2 RBI) both finished 3-5 on the day, while Franco went 2-5.

Gabriel Valdez went 6 innings and allowed 5 runs on 9 hits (2 solo homers), walked 1, and struck out 4. Erasmo Pinales shut it down over the last 3 innings, walking 2 and striking out 2 for the save.

Forrest Whitley will take the mound in game 3 of this series. He takes on Zach Brown at 7:05.

Tri-City was off

The ValleyCats will play a doubleheader to start a new series in Connecticut with game 1 beginning at 6:05 Eastern.

Greeneville 8, Bristol 5

W- Juan Robles (1-0)
L- Domingo Robles (0-1)
S- Ian Hardman (1)

Greeneville home runs: None.

The Appy Astros scored in 6 of 9 innings and withstood a 3-run 9th from the Pirates to earn the sweep.

Austin Kerns allowed a run on a double and struck out 1 in the 1st inning. Cole Watts allowed 2 hits and walked 2 in 2 scoreless innings. Juan Robles tagged in for 5 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 9. Willy Collado got 2 outs in the 9th, but he also allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and walked 1. Ian Hardman walked the first man he faced to load the bases but got the last out of the evening with a strikeout.

Both teams scored a run in the 1st; Greeneville's came on a Brody Westmoreland RBI double. Chas McCormick ripped a 2-run double in the 2nd inning. Gilberto Celestino scored on an error in the 4th. The Appy Astros got RBI singles from McCormick in the 7th and another from Joan Mauricio in the 8th. Cody Bohanek ripped an RBI double and came around to score on a Frankeny Fernandez single in the 9th inning.

McCormick (2B, 3 RBI, R), Bohanek (2B, RBI, 2 R), and Roman Garcia (2B, 3B, R) all finished with 2 hits on the evening.

Tim Hardy will start the first of a 3-game series in Johnson City. He'll face Franyel Casadilla (I'm suddenly hungry) at 7:00 Eastern.

GCL Marlins 14, GCL Astros 9

W- Karl Craigie (1-0)
L- Johsson Arias (0-1, 0-2 season)

GCL home runs: Richard Slenker (1, 2-run in 5th)

The Marlins got 4 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to seize control of this one.

Vicente Sanchez finished 3-4 and scored 3 runs. Richard Slenker hit a 2-run homer in the 5th for his first pro home run. Juan Piñeda (2 RBI) and Enmanuel Valdez had 2 hits apiece. Orlando Marquez drove in 2, while Ihan Bernal and Hector Martinez both drove in a run.

Jheyson Caraballo allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4 in 3 innings. The bullpen.... struggled, and I think I'll leave it at that. Tanner Duncan was the only GCLstros pitcher to turn in a scoreless outing, striking out 2 over 2 perfect innings.

DSL Astros Blue 7, DSL Marlins 4

W- Christopher Javier (2-0)
L- Franklin Brioso (0-2)
S- Oscar Severino (1)

Blue home runs: None.

The Blue team took advantage of 5 Marlins miscues on Tuesday.

Ronaldo Urdaneta stole 2nd base in the 2nd inning and scored thanks to a couple of errant throws. In the 3rd, Yorbin Ceuta smacked an RBI double and trotted home on an Anthony Rodriguez triple. Rodriguez wound up scoring on a balk. Nerio Rodriguez doubled and eventually scored on an error that allowed Urdaneta to reach. In the 5th inning, Rhandall Sanchez drew a bases-loaded walk to score Anthony, and Nerio scored on a wild pitch.

Ceuta finished 4-5 on the day, while the Rodriguezes both finished with 2 hits.

Angel Macuare allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 in the 1st inning. Christopher Javier was the first man out of the bullpen and allowed 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 over 3 scoreless. Nathanael Ventura got 2 strikeouts in the 5th and allowed a single; the runner eventually scored on a wild pitch. Ventura also issued 2 walks and hit another batter. Antonio Pujols allowed a run on 2 hits, walked 2, and fanned 2 in 3 innings. Yulian Frontado got the last out of the 8th. Oscar Severino worked around a couple of hits to finish the game, striking out 1.

DSL Astros Orange 12, DSL Cubs 10

W- Diosward Gonzalez (2-1)
L- Yovanny Cruz (1-1)
S- Luis De Paula (2)

Orange home runs: None.

The Orange team stormed out to a 12-0 lead and then had to withstand a massive charge from the Cubs that included an 8-run 9th inning.

Diosward Gonzalez allowed 3 hits and fanned 4 over 5 shutout innings. The bullpen almost suffered a meltdown of epic proportions, but Rafael De Paula finally managed to get that elusive final out.

Jose Carrillo didn't have a hit, but that didn't prevent him from scoring 3 runs. The first run came on a Michael Garcia groundout in the 2nd inning. Fildex Perfecto drove in the first of 5 runs in the 3rd with a double. Perfecto scored on a Freudis Nova single. Nova wound up scoring on an error, and then Luis Barajas and Garcia followed with an RBI single and a sac fly, respectively.

Team Orange scored 3 in the 5th on RBI singles from Garcia and Sean Mendoza and an RBI double from Renaigel Martis. Garcia hit a 2-run single in the 6th and Mendoza hit another RBI single later in the frame.

Mendoza went 3-4 out of the #9 spot in the order, while Martis (2 2B, RBI, R) and Alvarez (2B, RBI, 3 R) had 2 hits apiece.

Tuesday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Yorbin Ceuta, SS, DSL Astros Blue: 4-5, 2B, RBI, R
Sean Mendoza, IF, DSL Astros Blue: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R

Juan Robles, RHP, Greeneville

W (1-0), 5 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 9 K

Photo from MiLB.com

Chas McCormick, OF, Greeneville

2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R

Erasmo Pinales, RHP, Quad Cities

Save (4), 3 IP, 2 BB, 2 K

Ronnie Dawson, OF, Quad Cities

3-5, solo HR (7), 2 RBI

Sean Stutzman, LHP, and Nick Hernandez, RHP, Buies Creek

Stutzman: 3.1 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K

Hernandez: 4 IP, 7 K; perfect outing

Myles Straw, OF, Buies Creek

3-7, 3B, RBI, R, SB (18)

Derek Fisher, OF, and Tyler White, IF, Fresno

Fisher: 3-R HR (17) in 1st)

White: solo HR (12), 2 R