Astros Wednesday Minor League Recap

Stop me if you have heard this before.  J.D. Martinez hit another homerun!  J.D. has now passed up Kody HInze for the team lead in home runs and is second in the league.  He easily is the top hitter in the league.  I know this will probably generate some discussion about promoting J.D. so I am going to throw in my two cents now.  This is probably going to be controversial.  With how he is dominating and Steele and Gaston aren't, promote him anyway.  Skip Lancaster now! Hear me out!  Shuck needs to work in some more time in CF and Steele is on the DL.  Gaston has also been getting time in CF.  So, my solution, CF is Shuck/Gaston.  LF is Shuck/Gaston.  RF is Gaston/J.D.  When Steele Gets back it'll be CF Steele/Shuck LF Shuck/Gaston and RF will be Gaston/J.D.  Who ever isn't playing can be DH.  That kind of sucks for Van Ostrand but he doesn't have the upside the others do and can still get a start at DH and 1B a couple times a week.  Not optimal, but I don't see how you can ignore that bat anymore and he can still learn in the OF in CC.  His OPS is 1.340 in the last 10 games and thats not even factoring in his two hits and a walk to his OBP and a double to his SLG!

Oh yeah, Mike Foltynewicz and Vincent Velasquez combined for seven scoreless innings of work in Greeneville.  Folty pitced four with five strikeouts and no walks.  He also kept the ball on the ground with five groundouts to two flyouts and two hits.  Vincent Velasquez pitched the other three with one hit, no walks, and four strikeouts.  He also kept the ball on the ground with three groundouts to two flyouts.

Round Rock-Off

Corpus Christi-Off

Lancaster lost 14-11

Kyle Greenwalt was pitching great until the fifth when he allowed two runs and three more in the sixth.  He gave up a total of five runs on eight hits (one homerun) and two walks while striking out five in five and two-thirds innings.  Brandt Walker struck out two, walked one, and allowed on hit in two scoreless innings.  When a team collects 15 hits there is going to be some offensive notables.  Jay Austin went 2 for 5 with a stolen base.  Albert Cartwright went 2 for 4 with a homerun, walk, and two strikeouts.  Brian Pellegrini went 2 for 5 with a homerun and two strikeouts.  Lee Cruz went 1 for 5 with a homerun.  Federico Hernandez was hitless but drew two walks.  David Flores went 2 for 5 with two doubles.  Barry Butera went 2 for 5 with a strikeout. 

Lexington won 7-4

Juan Minaya pitched very well, good strikeouts and a few walks, which is expected from him.  He allowed just two hits and walked three while striking out five in the five scoreless innings.  Well I'm going to go ahead and take credit for Zachary Grimmett's bad outing.  I mentioned in a comment that he hadn't given up a run since mid June and last night he gave up three on four hits (one homerun) and a walk in three innings.  But, he still got his strikeouts with three.  Jose Altuve went 2 for 5 with yet another stolen base (32 on the season).  Jonathan Meyer went 2 for 5 with a double.  Aaron Bray went 2 for 4.  Jio Mier went 2 for 3 with a double, a strikeout, and a walk.  As mentioned in the introduction, J.D. Martinez went 2 for 4 with a homerun and a walk. 

Tri-City won 11-2

Carlos Quevedo allowed just two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four in six innings.  Alex Sogard struck out one in an inning of work.  Jason Chowning struck out one and allowed a hit in an inning of work.  Jorge De Leon also struck out one in an inning of work.  The ValleyCats have one heck of an offense when everyone is clicking.  The only person to not get a hit was Nick Stanley and Ryan McCurdy, but they only got one at-bat each as a pinch hitter.  McCurdy got on base by getting hit by a pitch though.  Ben Orloff went 2 for 6.  Enrique Hernandez went 1 for 5 with a double.  Tyler Burnett had one ridiculous night.  He went 3 for 3 with a double and his first homerun.  He also drew two walks which now brings him up to three more walks than strikeouts on the season.  Ben Heath went 2 for 4 with a double and a homerun as well but struck out once.  Michael Kvasnicka went 2 for 5 with a double and a strikeout.  Jacke Healey went 1 for 5 with a double but struck out three times.  Wilton Infante went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout. 

Greeneville won 6-0

I already mentioned the first two pitchers in the intro. Folty and Vincy (not the best nicname but its all I got) combined for some impressive innings.  Jeiler Castillo struck out one in an inning of work.  Brian Streilein also struck out one in an inning.  Ricardo Garcia went 2 for 4 with a double, stolen base, and a strikeout.  Jhonny Medrano went 2 for 3 with a double, walk, and a homerun. Chris Wallace went 1 for 4 with a homerun and a strikeout.  Marcus Nidiffer went 2 for 4 with a homerun and a strikeout.  Emilio King went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a strikeout. 

GCL Astros lost 3-0

Mark Jones struck out six and walked just one while allowing five hits in six scoreless innings.  Jose Fernandez went 2 for 4.  Jordan Scott went 1 for 3 with a double.  Not much else happened in a 3-0 game. 

DSL Astros won 9-8 in the 12th

I'm not going to talk about Felix Ramirez's start.  Six runs is ugly.  Xavier Baso was the best reliever with four scoreless innings.  He allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out three.  Luis De La Rosa went hitless in five at-bats but did draw two walks.  Kenny Diaz went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, and two strikeouts.  Ydarqui Marte went 1 for 6 with a double, a stolen base, and a strikeout.  Raymer Lopez went 2 for 3 with two walks.  Kelvin Vizcaino went 2 for 4 with a double and two walks.