It's Sunday and the Astros Minor League Recap series is up for it's second post. Like I mentioned in the previous post, this will cover Friday and Saturday games as well as the top performers of the week before. Sorry to build up your excitement by telling you that this post for Sunday would include the top players of the week, and then not deliver. That won't actually start until next Sunday. But, in order to not completely disappoint you, I will include a short list of short-season players I have been impressed with in this first week of baseball for those teams. Just as a precursor, Friday wasn't the best day in the minors, but Saturday went quite well for the farm teams.
Friday
Round Rock Express won 9-3
Wesley Wright struggled in his first start back from his stint in the majors by pitching just two and two-thirds innings and allowing two runs on five hits and a homerun. The good news, he didn't walk anyone and was able to strikeout three batters. Gary Majewski, Roy Corcoran, and Casey Daigle pitched well in relief. The offense accumulated 16 hits! Newly acquired free agents Ramon Vazquez and Luis Maza performed well in their debuts. Maza went two for five that included a double. Vazquez went one for three and batted in two runs while drawing one walk. But, Bogey and Drew Locke ruled the night. Bogey went three for four with a homerun and a walk. Locke went four for five with two doubles. Tommy Everidge went two for four and walked once. Kevin Cash went three for four as well.
Corpus Christi lost 4-0
Jordan Lyles didn't have his recent dominant stuff, but still manage to have some highlights. He pitched six innings and allowed 10 hits and four runs, all of which were earned. He walked two batters and struck out seven, three of which were swinging. Erik Stiller allowed one walk and struck out one. Nelson Payano struck out two batters. Evan Englebrook struck out one. All three pitched one inning and didn't allow any hits or runs. German Duran, James Van Ostrand, and Jhon Florentino are the only ones who recorded hits. Each had one and Van Ostrand's was a double.
Lancaster lost 9-4
David Duncan continued his struggles in Lancaster. He has pitched well everywhere else. He gave up five earned runs in just two and two-thirds innings. Edwin Walker was the lone pitcher with good results. In three and a third innings, he allowed just one hit and one walk to go with his two strikeouts. Jay Austin went one for three with a walk and two strikeouts, but he stole his 29th base. Freddy Parejo was two for two with a walk. Mark Ori went two for four with two doubles. Felix Hernandez was one for four with a double.
Lexington lost 6-3
Juan Minaya struggled BAD. In just two-thirds of an inning, he allowed one hit, walked three, and hit two hitters, leading to six earned runs. Jose Trinidad struck out three while not allowing any hits or walks during three and two-thirds innings. Wander Alvino struck out two and allowed just one hit in two scoreless innings. Jose Altuve went one for five with a double. Miguel Arrendell went two for five and stole one base. Kody Hinze went one for two and drew two walks. Jonathan Meyer went two for four. Jio went one for three and a walk.
Tri-City lost 9-7
Murillo Gouvea pitched five innings and allowed six hits, 3 runs that were earned, one walk while striking out three. Joan Belliard pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed one hit and struck out two. Michael Kvasnicka continues to have good plate discipline with two walks, but no hits. Ben Heath picked up one hit, his homerun. Nick Stanley went three for four with a double and a walk. Adam Bailey with three for four as well with a double.
Greeneville won 7-6
There's not much to talk about with the pitching. Ricardo Batista pitched four innings while allowing two hits and two runs, only one earned, two walks and two strikeouts. Jonathan Merritt went one for four with a double and a walk. Jhonny Medrano went one for four with a double as well. Bubby Williams also went one for four but with a homerun. Marcus Nidiffer went two for four with two doubles.
GCL Astros lost 9-5
Mark Jones pitched five innings of unlucky but solid baseball. He allowed four hits and two walks and struckout six. The unlucky part was the four runs, only one of which was earned. Rafael Valenzuela went one for four with double and a walk. Ryan Ditthardt went three for four, all singles. Jose Vargas went two for five with a double. Kyle Redinger went two for four with a double and a walk. Roberto Pena went three for five, all singles. Chan Moon played shortstop, originally signed as a 3B, went one for two but picked up THREE walks.
DSL Astros lost 8-7
Roliner Iturralde pitched well in relief for starter Reymin Guduan who allowed five earned runs in one inning of work. Iturralde pitched five innings and allowed five hits, one run (earned), two walks and struck out four. Yonathan Mejia continues to impress me. He went two for five with a double. Kelvin Vizcaino went one for three with a homerun and a walk. Mesac Laguna went one for three with two walks. Ydarqui Marte went two for five. Carlos Alcantara went one for three with two walks.
Saturday
Round Rock suspended early
Polin Trinidad's solid start was suspended early. The game was suspended after three scoreless innings in which he gave up just two hits and struck out three. Tommy Everidge was one for two with a double.
Corpus Christi lost 3-2
Jeremy Johnson had a decent outing. He pitched five and a third innings, he allowed six hits and three runs (all earned) with two walks and six strikeouts. Matt Nevarez was solid in his one scoreless inning of work, he allowed one hit and struck out one. Daniel Meszaros also pitched one scoreless inning. He allowed a leadoff hit and a walk but struck out four. Yes, four. A batter struck out on a wild pitch and reached. There were no extra base hits and only James Van Ostrand had more than one hit (two for four). Jack Shuck was one for three with two walks and a stolen base. Koby Clemens went one for two with two walks.
Lancaster lost 13-6
Ross Seaton's struggles in Lancaster continued in terrible fashion. He pitched two and a third innings and allowed seven runs (six earned). He gave up six hits and three walks and only struck out one. Mike Modica pitched one and two-thirds innings without giving up any hits, walks, or runs and had two strikeouts. Jay Austin went one for four with a triple (his sixth of the year), a walk, and his 30th stolen base on the year. Albert Cartwright went three for five and stole three bases. Brandon Barnes went two for five. Lee Cruz went one for five with a double. Freddy Parejo went three for five with a double and a stolen base. Brandon Wikoff went two for four.
Lexington won 10-6
Jose Cisnero pitched five innings of three hit ball. But, he allowed three runs (all unearned), walked two and struck out five. The little man, Jose Altuve, continues to be a hitting machine by going four for five. Aaron Bray went two for five with a double. JD Martinez went one for four with a walk and strikeout. That hit was big, it was another homerun. Kody Hinze went one for two with a double and three walks. Jake Goebbert went one for five with a double. Jonathan Meyer went one for four with a double and a walk.
Tri-City won 8-0
Thomas Shirley put in another solid performance. It was another short one (just three scoreless innings), but he struck out seven (five swinging) with two walks and three hits. Alex Sogard pitched two scoreless innings and allowed three hits and struck out one. Travis Blankenship pitched two scoreless innings as well and allowed just one hit and struck out one. Ben Orloff went two for four. Tyler Burnett went one for four with a double and a walk. Buck Afenir went one for three with a double. Frank Almonte went one for two with two walks. Jacke Healey went two for four.
Greeneville won 4-3
Folty made his big debut. In his limited pitch count, he pitched one inning and allowed only one hit. Well that one hit didn't last long as the he picked the base runner off. The non-prospect John Frawley pitched in relief and struck out five in the three innings while giving up two earned runs. Travis Smink picked up his second save in one inning of work with one strikeout. Jonathan Merritt, Emilio King, and Jhonny Medrano all went two for four with a double. Medrano also stole a base. Chris Wallace went one for four with a triple. Telvin Nash went one for four with a double.
GCL Astros off
DSL Astros
Jose Montero pitched five innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. Francisco Baso pitched three scoreless innings in relief and gave up two hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Rochi Gutierrez pitched one scoreless inning where he gave up just one hit. Yonathan Mejia went one for four with a double. Kelvin Vizcaino went one for two with two walks and his first stolen base. Jose Solano went one for three with a triple and a stolen base. Carlos Alcantara went one for four with a double but he struck out three times. Andru Sierra went three for three with two triples and a stolen base.
Impressing Short-Season Players
Tri-City
Carlos Quevedo has been strong in two starts. In ten innings, the Venezuelan has stuck out ten and none while allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned).
Thomas Shirley made a very strong debut. It was short, just three scoreless innings, but he struck out five and walked one. His second was also short but he tacked on another scoreless outing with seven strikeouts.
Chris Blazek may just be rehabing, but he has been great. 3 2/3 IP 1 H 0 R 1 BB 9 SO
Michael Kvasnicka has been interesting. He has drawn eight walks but has struck out eight times. But he did show his power with a homerun.
Daniel Adamson was similar with six walks and six strikeouts, but he has hit four doubles.
Ben Heath drew four walks and struck out four times. He also showed some power with a homerun.
Tyler Burnett was solid. He hit three doubles and walked seven times and struck out five times.
Greeneville
Ruben Alaniz was the best pitcher. In just five innings, he allowed one unearned run, four hits, no walks, and struck out three.
Bubby Williams was by far the most impressive batter. In just eight ABs, he hit two homeruns, one double, and struck out once.
Marcus Nidiffer hit four doubles in fourteen ABs.
Jonathan Merritt was solid when he made contact. He hit five doubles, one triple, and a homerun. But, he struck out nine times while walking four times.
GCL Astros
The big 6 ft. 7 in. Mark Jones had one solid start on Friday. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits, four runs (one earned), walked two, and struck out six.
Dieudone Paul pitched great in four scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit, walked two, and struck out six.
The kid in the GCL, Jose Fernandez, was solid. He hit a double and triple.
Kyle Redinger hit two doubles and walked two while striking out two.