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Astros MiLB Recap: Games of May 22, 2014

Nick Tropeano has another solid start. Fontana leads the Hooks to rally late. Everyone at Quad Cities gets a hit (and most get 2).

By WillieMoose
Bob Levey

On Thursday night the farmers went 2-4 with wins in AA and A-, and losses in AAA and A+. But as is the case with the minors, there's almost always good news to be found no matter what the final score is. Here are a few notables from last night's games:

  • Nick Tropeano (AAA) keeps providing solid starts. Even though his team's offense couldn't push him to a win, he gave up only 3 hits and struck out 8. That's 27 K's in 5 starts. Look out.
  • Nolan Fontana (AA) is on a roll. He's reached on base hits in each of his last 5 games, and last night his 2RBI single was the difference.
  • The entire Quad Cities starting lineup decided to stage a hit parade against Cedar Rapids. Not one batter had a zero in the hit column Thursday.

Here are the details.

AAA: Zephyrs walk off with 10th inning victory against Redhawks

Oklahoma City's 3 errors came at the worst of times Thursday night, and the Zephyrs capitalized. Two errors in the ninth led to a game-tying hit. In the tenth an error by catcher Carlos Perez set the plate for a game-winning double by Jordany Valdespin.

The late-game miscues spoiled an excellent start from Nick Tropeano. He pitched 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball, giving up only 3 hits and striking out 8. In his last four starts, Tropeano has struck out 27 batters and given up six earned runs.

Offense was in short supply for the Redhawks. Their first run came in the fourth inning on a base hit from Andy Simunic. In the top of the 10th Oklahoma City got another run off the bat of Max Stassi. Jon Singleton and Domingo Santana went a combined 1-9 with 4 strikeouts.

The Redhawks remain tied for the lead in their division. David Martinez gets the start tonight against the Redbirds in Memphis.

  • Robbie Grossman, CF: 3-5, R, 3H, 2B, SO
  • Max Stassi, DH: 1-4, R, H, 2B, RBI
  • Andy Simunic: 1-3, H, RBI
  • Nick Tropeano, P: 6.2 IP, 3H, 2BB, 8K
  • Kevin Chapman, P (H, 3): 0.1 IP, K
  • Alex White, P (H, 1): 1.0 IP
  • Rhiner Cruz, P (BS, 1)(L, 1-1): 1.1 IP, 3H, 3R, 1ER, 2BB, K

AA: Great pitching and a big seventh inning pushes the Hooks past Arkansas, 3-1

Nolan Fontana's two-run single in the top of the seventh gave Corpus Christi a two-run lead that they'd keep to earn another road win.

Great pitching was on display from the Hooks throughout the game. Kyle Smith picked up his first win of the season, pitching 6 innings and allowing a lone run on only 4 hits. The bullpen held fast and put the Hooks in a position to win. Neither Urckfitz nor Dimock allowed a run over 3 innings.

Fontana is on a five-game hitting streak that includes two doubles, 7 RBIs and only 3 strikeouts over the course of 18 trips to the plate.

Corpus Christi aims to bring out the brooms tonight in North Little Rock tonight.

  • Nolan Fontana, 2B: 1-4, H, 2RBI, BB
  • Matt Duffy, 3B: 2-4, 2H, SO
  • Leo Heras, LF: 1-3, H, 2B, SO
  • Tyler Heineman, C: 1-4, H, 2B
  • Kyle Smith, P (W, 1-2): 6.0 IP, 4H, R, ER, BB, 5K
  • Pat Urckfitz, P (H, 3): 2.0 IP, 2H, 3K
  • Michael Dimock, P (S, 1): 1.0 IP, H, K

A+: Blaze burns Lancaster, 8-2

The JetHawks could muster only 2 runs on a pair of solo shots from Rio Ruiz and Anthony Kemp (his first of the year), and they lost to Bakersfield 8-2.

Kent Emmanuel earned the loss for Lancaster, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits and a couple of homers. His relief didn't fare much better. Tyson Perez gave up three more runs in two innings.

The JetHawks head back home for a four-game series against Inland Empire. Lance McCullers takes the hill tonight at the Hangar.

  • Anthony Kemp, 2B: 1-4, R, H, HR, RBI
  • Carlos Correa, SS: 1-3, H, BB
  • Rio Ruiz, 3B: 1-4, R, H, HR, RBI
  • Dan Gulbransen, RF: 1-2, H, 2B, 2BB
  • Kent Emmanuel, P (L, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 4K, 2HR
  • Tyson Perez, P: 2.0 IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 2K
  • Jamaine Cotton, P: 1.0 IP, H

A-: Quad Cities rolls over Cedar Rapids, 11-6

Every player in the River Bandits starting lineup got a hit last night, and most had more than one.

Ronnie Mitchell picked up a career-high 4 RBIs after hitting a three-run homer in the third inning. Conrad Gregor earned 3 RBIs on 2 hits. Brett Phillips hit an RBI triple. In his last 5 games, Phillips has gone 6-16 with a double, two triples and 5 RBIs. Catcher Brian Holberton has also been hitting well of late, going 10-21 in his last 5 games with two doubles, a triple, homer and 5 RBIs.

Pitching was steady for the River Bandits on Thursday night. Chris Lee earned his second win of the season after 5 good innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts. Quad Cities looks to do more damage to the Kernels tonight, as Michael Feliz gets the start at home.

  • James Ramsay, CF: 2-5, R, 2H, 2B, 2SO
  • Chan Moon, 2B: 2-5, 2H, 2B, RBI, SO
  • Brett Phillips, RF: 2-4, 2R, 2H, 3B, RBI
  • Conrad Gregor, 1B: 2-5, 1R, 2H, 2B, 3RBI
  • Tyler White, 3B: 2-3, 3R, 2H, 2B, RBI
  • Brian Holberton, DH: 2-4, 1R, 2H
  • Ronnie Mitchell, LF: 1-3, R, H, HR, 4RBI
  • Thomas Lindauer, SS: 1-4, H, RBI
  • Chris Lee, P (W, 2-2): 5.0 IP, 5H, 4R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K
  • Andrew Thurman, P (H, 1): 3.0 IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K, HR

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