Mark Appel "Meets the Media" - I'll leave the validity of the title for you to make up your own mind about.
Vote Early, Vote Often - Early returns in the Mascot Mania voting aren't good for KaBoom, Rusty, and the gang. Make sure you stop by and cast your vote for your Astros affiliates. Or don't. Do what you want. I'm sorry I tried to pressure you. That was really uncool of me.
You Didn't Vote Early Or Often Enough - Pathetic showing in the #FoodFight for Astros affiliates. In the final voting, the Lakewood Blue Claws' Triple C (Clawd's Crab Cake) was the winner, with my personal favorite - Round Rock's Grilled Cheese Hot Dog - coming in second. The highest finish for an Astros affiliate? That would be 54th, where Oklahoma City's Hong Kong Burger landed. Incidentally, seventh place was the Lansing Lugnuts' Pulled Pork Parfait. We don't deserve nice things.
Hunting For a Good Time? - On August 2nd, the Greeneville Astros (Rk) will be hosting a General John Hunt Morgan Bobblehead Giveaway Night, paying tribute to "a local icon." August 2nd is also the 150th anniversary of Morgan's death at the hands of Union troops right there in Greeneville! Don't worry if you're not on hand for the giveaway; word is, you'll be able to find these bobbleheads as far north as Ohio and Indiana.
Scribner Scribbles - Undrafted free agent Troy Scribner has been nothing short of fantastic this season, and Jake Seiner has a nice writeup on MiLB.com on him. Lots of good stuff in there; I highly recommend giving it a read.
What Happened Was...
Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA) - Oklahoma City RedHawks 7, Round Rock Express (TEX) 3.
You know it's a good day offensively when every single hitter in the lineup gets a hit, and that's what happened in this one, with five different players - Austin Wates, Jonathan Villar, Domingo Santana, Max Stassi, and Joe Sclafani - putting in mutli-hit days. Preston Tucker was a somewhat-unimpressive 1-for-5, but his one hit also happened to be the RedHawks' only extra-base hit of the day, a double. The RedHawks helped out starter Brad Peacock by spotting him a three-run lead in the top of the second inning, and followed it with four more runs, including three in the penultimate frame.
Oklahoma City: 55-57, 3rd - Pacific Coast League American Northern (2.5 GB)
- CF Austin Wates - 3/6, K
- SS Jonathan Villar - 2/5, 2 R, BB, 2 K, SB, E
- 3B Ronny Torreyes - 1/4, R, RBI, HBP
- 1B Matt Duffy - 1/4, 2 RBI, BB, K
- RF Domingo Santana - 4/4, R, 2 RBI, BB
- LF Preston Tucker - 1/5, 2B, RBI, 2 K
- DH Carlos Perez - 1/5, R, K
- C Max Stassi - 2/5, 2 K
- 2B Joe Sclafani - 2/4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K
- RHP Brad Peacock - 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 110/71 Pit/Str, 6/3 GO/FO
- RHP Anthony Bass - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, WP, 20/9 Pit/Str, 0/2 GO/FO
- RHP Richard Rodriguez - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 11/8 Pit/Str, 1/1 GO/FO
- LHP Kevin Chapman - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 21/13 Pit/Str, 0/0 GO/FO
Corpus Christi Hooks (AA) - San Antonio Missions (SDP) 10, Corpus Christi Hooks 4.
You kind of have to feel for Colton Cain. Cain was the only one of the three Hooks pitchers in this game who gave up fewer than four earned runs. In fact, he gave up two (one earned) over three innings. And yet, he earned the loss. Meanwhile, Tony Kemp continues to be abso-freaking-lutely ridiculous, going 2-for-5 and raising his Double-A slash line to .308/.393/.485. M.P. Cokinos homered in the game - a three-run shot in the second inning, coming fresh off the heels of a game where he got beaned by his former teammate, Michael Dimock. Also of some interest: Tyler Heineman squaring off against Missions catcher Austin Hedges, the super-prospect whose draft and subsequent signing by the Padres was one of the primary reasons why Heineman had a chance to start at UCLA. Kyle Weiland, meanwhile, probably wished he was back on the island after giving up back-to-back-to-back homersin the ninth inning.
Corpus Christi: 18-21, 4th - Texas League South (6.0 GB)
- 2B Tony Kemp - 2/5, R, K
- SS Ruben Sosa - 1/4, BB, 2 K, CS
- LF Delino DeShields - 0/4, RBI, 2 K
- CF Andrew Aplin - 0/2, 2 BB, K, SB
- 3B Jonathan Meyer - 0/3, R, BB, 3 K, E
- 1B Conrad Gregor - 1/3, R, BB, 2 K
- RF Brandon Meredith - 1/3, BB
- DH MP Cokinos - 1/4, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 K
- C Tyler Heineman - 0/3
- RHP Brady Rodgers - 5.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 81/63 Pit/Str, 6/4 GO/FO
- LHP Colton Cain - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 62/40 Pit/Str, 2/1 GO/FO
- RHP Kyle Weiland - 1.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 22/17 Pit/Str, 2/1 GO/FO
Lancaster Jethawks (A+) - Lancaster Jethawks 13, High Desert Mavericks (SEA) 5.
Thirty combined hits in this game. Five-run, four-run, and three-run innings by the Jethawks. Seven different Jethawks hitters had multi-hit games. Only Jobduan Morales failed to get a base hit, and he drew three walks (or maybe he drew the same one three times, but brought an eraser). The Jethawks have already clinched the playoffs; with promotions and injuries, this roster is kind of a hodgepodge right now. But they just keep hitting, and they just keep scoring runs. Big credit in this one, too, to Brian Holmes, who tossed four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and no walks to earn the win.
Lancaster: 20-18, 3rd - California League South (2.0 GB)
- SS Chan Moon - 2/6, 2 R, K, SB
- CF Teoscar Hernandez - 2/6, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K
- 3B Rio Ruiz - 2/6, 2B, R, RBI, 2 K, SB
- C Jobduan Morales - 0/3, 3 R, 3 BB, K
- RF Jon Kemmer - 2/6, 2 R, RBI, 3 K
- 1B Tyler White - 3/4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K
- LF Tanner Mathis - 3/5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, BB, K
- 2B Jack Mayfield - 3/5, RBI, BB, K, CS
- DH Catfish Elkins - 1/6, 2B, R, K
- LHP Evan Grills - 4.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 5/1 GO/FO
- RHP Juan Minaya - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, WP, 2/1 GO/FO
- LHP Brian Holmes - 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 4/3 GO/FO
Quad Cities River Bandits (A) - Quad Cities River Bandits 7, Clinton LumberKings (SEA) 5.
Among A-ball rivalries, Quad Cities/Clinton may be one of the best, and this game was a classic in the series. Down three runs before they ever even took the field, Quad Cities battled in this one, putting up two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning. They followed with two in the second, one in the third, and another two in the fourth. But even that four-run lead wasn't safe, as Clinton added runs of their own in the fifth and eighth innings. Frederick Tiburcio led off the ninth inning by walking Jeff Zimmerman, but with the tying run at the plate, he was able to get Isaiah Yates to ground into a double play, then got Luis Caballero to strike out looking, ending the game and securing the 7-5 victory. Meanwhile, Brett Phillips didn't do anything but extend his home run streak to four games, while Chase McDonald went 3-for-4 with his sixth home run of the month. Not too shabby. On the downside, J.D. Davis was hit by a pitch in the first inning, and was pinch-run for.
Quad Cities: 21-16, t-2nd - Midwest League Western
- RF Brett Phillips - 2/4, 2B, HR, R, RBI, K
- CF James Ramsay - 1/1, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB
- DH Chase McDonald - 3/4, HR, R, 3 RBI, K
- 1B A.J. Reed - 0/3, BB
- 3B J.D. Davis - 0/0, HBP
- PR/2B Dayne Paker - 0/3
- LF Ryan Bottger - 0/3, RBI
- 2B/3B Marc Wik - 1/4, R, K, SB
- C Brett Booth - 0/3, R, HBP
- SS Thomas Lindauer - 0/4, R, K
- RHP Andrew Thurman - 7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 8/4 GO/FO
- RHP Tyler Brunnemann - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO
- RHP Frederick Tiburcio - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0/0 GO/FO
Tri-City ValleyCats (A-) - Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL) 2, Tri-City ValleyCats 1 (10 inn.)
Randall Fant pitched five innings, striking out eight and allowing a single run on five hits and no walks. Meanwhile, the ValleyCats offense had trouble getting going against Ubaldo Jimenez, who went 4.2 innings in his rehab assignment and held Tri-City's hitters to one unearned run. The pitchers who followed him picked up where he left off, unfortunately, shutting them out long enough for Aberdeen to pull out a walkoff victory in extra innings.
Tri-City: 31-14, 1st - New York-Penn League Stedler
- CF Bobby Boyd - 2/5, SB
- SS Mott Hyde - 0/3, 2 BB, K
- DH Derek Fisher - 1/4, R, 2 K, SB
- 3B Nick Tanielu - 1/4
- RF Jose Solano - 0/4, K
- 1B Ariel Ovando - 0/4
- LF Terrell Joyce - 0/2, 2 BB, CS
- 2B Alex Hernandez - 0/2, BB, K
- PH/2B Juan Santana - 0/1, E
- C Alfredo Gonzalez - 2/4, 2B, K
- LHP Randall Fant - 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 2/1 GO/FO
- RHP Francis Ramirez - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/FO
- RHP Ryan Thompson - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 IBB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/FO
Greeneville Astros (Rk) - Greeneville Astros 4, Elizabethton Twins (MIN) 2.
Everyone jumped onto the Jason Martin bandwagon and broke it. On July 23rd, the young center fielder went three-for-five with a double. Unfortunately, he hasn't had a hit since, and that includes his 0-for-5 performance in this game. Fortunately for the Astros, other hitters were able to step up. After clinging to a 1-0 lead, Greeneville gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh. They got one back in the eighth and two more in the ninth to leg out the 4-2 victory.
Greeneville: 20-19, 2nd - Appalachian League West (3.5 GB)
- CF Jason Martin - 0/5, K
- 2B Antonio Nunez - 1/2, R, 3 BB, K, 2 E
- LF Ydarqui Marte - 1/5, R, K
- 1B Yonathan Mejia - 1/4, 2 R, BB, K
- RF Hector Roa - 0/5, 2 K
- DH Bryan Muniz - 1/4, 2 K, HBP
- 3B Luis Reynoso - 1/4, RBI, K
- SS Kristian Trompiz - 2/4, 2B, RBI, K
- C Brett Clements - 1/4, K, PB
- RHP Brock Dykxhoorn - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/5 GO/FO
- RHP Keegan Yuhl - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, WP, 5/1 GO/FO
- RHP Dean Deetz - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, WP, 2/0 GO/FO
- RHP Eric Peterson - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO
GCL Astros (Rk) - GCL Yankees2 5, GCL Astros 1.
GCL Astros: 18-16, 3rd - Gulf Coast League Northeast (1.0 GB)
- RF/CF Alexander Melendez - 1/3, 2B, R, BB, K
- CF Edwin Medina - 1/3, SB
- RF Luis Payano - 0/1, K
- LF Brauly Mejia - 0/3, BB
- 3B Randy Cesar - 0/4, 2 K
- C Richard Gonzalez - 0/3, PB
- C Ruben Castro - 1/1
- DH Connor Goedert - 2/4, K
- 1B Dexture McCall - 0/4, K, E
- 2B Arturo Michelena - 1/4, 2 K
- SS Joan Mauricio - 1/4, 3 K
- RHP Harold Arauz - 4.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2 WP, 2/2 GO/FO
- RHP Samil De Los Santos - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, WP, 3/0 GO/FO
- LHP Kyle Gehrs - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2/0 GO/FO
- LHP Alejandro Solarte - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO
- RHP John Gatlin - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0/0 GO/FO
DSL Astros Blue (FRk) - DSL Astros Blue 8, DSL Dodgers (LAD) 2.
DSL Astros Blue: 24-26, 4th - Dominican Summer League Boca Chica Northwest (6.5 GB)
#FreeJakeBowey #CallAMup
- SS Marcos Almonte - 2/5, 2B, R, RBI, 2 K, E
- 2B Jonathan Matute - 1/3, R, BB, HBP, K, SB
- LF Rodrigo Ayarza - 1/5, R
- 1B Jake Bowey - 3/3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
- DH Cristopher Luciano - 1/4, R, RBI
- RF Luis Vasquez - 1/3, R, RBI, BB, K
- 3B Wander Franco - 0/3, BB, K, E
- C Carlos Canelon - 0/2, 2 K
- PH/C Oliver Toribio - 1/2, 2 RBI, CS, PB
- CF Andy Pineda - 0/3, R, BB, K
- RHP Erasmo Pinales - 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, WP, 4/4 GO/FO
- RHP Juan Cuevas - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 7/0 GO/FO
- RHP Yan De La Cruz - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO
DSL Astros Orange (FRk) - DSL Marlins (MIA) 10, DSL Astros Orange 9 (11 inn.)
DSL Astros Orange: 18-32, 9th - Dominican Summer League Boca Chica North (24.0 GB)
- SS Wilson Amador - 1/4, R, BB, K, E
- CF Juan Fuentes - 1/5, 2 R, BB, 2 K
- 2B Frankeny Fernandez - 1/5, RBI, 2 K, SB
- 3B Reiny Beltre - 1/1, R
- C Orlando Marquez - 2/4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K, E
- C Ihan Bernal - 1/1, HR, R, 2 RBI
- LF Edgar Lorenzo - 0/5, BB
- RF Jose Benjamin - 0/4, R, BB, HBP, CS
- 1B Jesus Bermejo - 1/6, R, K
- DH Felix Lucas - 1/5, R, RBI, K
- 3B/2B Anardo Peralta - 2/3, R, RBI, BB, HBP, K
- RHP Carlos Sanabria - 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 6/4 GO/FO
- RHP Ramon Rodriguez - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP, 4/1 GO/FO
- RHP Bryan Abreu - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/0 GO/FO
- RHP Tomas Lopez - 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 6/0 GO/FO