Minor League Recap: April 9, 2013

Sweep it Off

The top four levels of the Astros organization all won yesterday, but the sweep was halted by the least-likely to not succeed Quad Cities River Bandits, who collected their first loss of the season.

A Legend of Lexington

Once Upon A Time, in 2009, the Lexington Legends had a rotation comprised of Jordan Lyles, Ross Seaton, Brad Dydalewicz, Robert Bono, and Kyle Greenwalt. All five had been drafted out of high school in the previous two drafts. And they were good. A lot of people thought they might grow up together and become a big league rotation, leading the Houston Astros to the postseason together. Alas, it was not to be. Only Seaton and Lyles remain in affiliated ball, both still with the Houston organization. And last night, they teamed up as piggyback partners in Oklahoma City, which couldn't help but make me nostalgic for those good ol' days down in Lexington. Seaton got the start and surrendered six hits, no walks, and one run over five innings. Lyles followed him onto the mound, earning the win after going 3.2 innings with one earned run on five hits and one strikeout.

One Up, One On, One Up, One On

The Hangar, home of the Lancaster Jethawks, has never hurt for offense, and last night was no exception, as Lancaster put 13 runs up against Lake Elsinore (SDP), winning 13-8. One of the more impressive stats of the night was that Lancaster's leadoff hitter reached base safely in all eight innings.

Faulty Folty

RHP Mike Foltynewicz, the Astros' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2012, hasn't found his footing in Lancaster just yet. He surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking three and striking out three over 2.1 innings. It's been a rough start to the season for Folty, as he's only managed 5 innings in two games, giving up 9 ER (16.20 ERA) on 10 hits, 7 walks, and 7 strikeouts.

Flawless Piggyback

This is how the piggyback system is supposed to work: The first pitcher goes 5 innings, or 75 pitches, whichever comes first. The second pitcher goes 4 innings or 60 pitches, whichever comes first. It worked flawlessly last night in Corpus Christi, with RHP Bobby Doran and RHP Nick Tropeano combining to shut out the Tulsa Drillers (COL.)

What Happened Was...

Oklahoma City Redhawks (AAA): Brandon Laird has no mercy for Brett Wallace. While the latter struggles at the big league level, the former kept the pressure on with two doubles, 3 RBI, and a partridge in a pear tree as the RedHawks topped the Nashville Sound (MIL) 5-3.

• LF Trevor Crowe - 2/3, R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• 1B Brandon Laird - 2/4, 2 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI
• 2B Jake Elmore - 2/3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• RHP Ross Seaton - 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• RHP Jordan Lyles - 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• LHP Kevin Chapman - .1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Corpus Christi Hooks (AA): The Hooks earned a series sweep over the Tulsa Drillers (COL) with a 6-0 shutout. OF Domingo Santana tied a team record with 3 doubles, and SS Jiovanni Mier hit his first home run of the season.

• DH Austin Wates - 2/5, 2B, 2 R, SB
• SS Jiovanni Mier - 3/3, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB
• CF George Springer - 2/5, 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI
• RF Domingo Santana - 3/4, 3 2B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB
• 2B Enrique Hernandez - 2/4, 2B, RBI
• RHP Bobby Doran - 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• RHP Nick Tropeano - 4 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Lancaster Jethawks (A+): 3B Zachary Johnson went five-for-five for Lancaster, just a home run shy of the cycle, and drove in 4 RBI, and RHP Alex Gillingham, the half of the Wilton Lopez trade that isn't headed for Tommy John surgery, became the first Lancaster pitcher to go a full five innings in the Piggyback Era, collecting the win and the save, respectively, with the final score of 13-8.

• SS Nolan Fontana - 1/3, 2B, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB
• CF Andrew Aplin - 0/4, 3 R, 1 BB
• 1B Zach Johnson - 5/5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI
• DH Preston Tucker - 1/5, 2B, 1 RBI
• 3B Matt Duffy - 3/5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
• RF Drew Muren - 2/4, 2B, 3 R, RBI
• 2B Delino DeShields - 1/3, CS
• RHP Alex Gillingham - 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• RHP Micheal Foltynewicz - 2.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• LHP Blair Walters - .2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• RHP Travis Ballew - 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Quad Cities River Bandits (A): Quad Cities suffered their first loss of the young season, 6-4, to the Burlington Bees (LAA). After two scoreless innings as the second half of a piggyback, RHP Lance McCullers allowed the first batter to reach base on a single in the 8th inning. The next batter laid down a bunt, which McCullers fielded and threw wide of first. A stolen base and an out later, McCullers intentionally walked the bases loaded, gave up a double, and exited the game with the loss.

• CF Teoscar Hernandez - 1/3, 2B, 1 R, 2 BB
• SS Carlos Correa - 1/2, 1 R, 3 BB
• DH Chase Davidson - 1/5, 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI
• 1B Jesse Wierzbicki - 2/4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• RHP Daniel Minor - 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• RHP Lance McCullers - 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• LHP Mitchell Lambson - .2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K