Astros Prospect Report: The 2015 playoffs begin

AAA Fresno Grizzlies: 9-1 win over El Paso (SDP)

-> Alex Presley: 4-for-5, RBI, R, 2 2B
-> Tyler Heineman: 2-for-3, BB, RBI, 2 R
-> Matt Duffy: 1-for-3, 2B, R, 2 BB
-> Nolan Fontana: 1-for-3, BB, 2 RBI
-> Tony Kemp: 1-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI
-> Jon Singleton: 1-for-4, BB, R
-> Robbie Grossman: 1-for-4, BB, R
-> Tyler White: 1-for-5, RBI
-> Andrew Aplin: 0-for-2, BB, RBI, 2 R

SP Dan Straily: 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K (win)
RP Kevin Chapman: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K
RP Jordan Jankowski: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
RP James Hoyt: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K

A complete team effort. Everyone got on base at least once, the pitching was good, no errors...and you get a blowout. The one run was a solo shot, so none of Straily's walks came back to bite him.

Fresno hitters combined for seven walks and just four strike outs all night. Hoyt got all three of his outs on the ground. That's something I don't think I mentioned much during the season; for a fly ball pitcher, Hoyt does get some grounders, too, right around 40%. Just goes to help him succeed even more.

It's a five game series, so at least two more games will be necessary.

AA Corpus Christi Hooks: 9-2 win over Midland (OAK)

-> Conrad Gregor: 3-for-3, BB, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
-> Roberto Pena: 2-for-2, BB, R, 5 RBI
-> A.J. Reed: 2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R
-> Danry Vasquez: 2-for-5, R, 2 2B
-> Teoscar Hernandez: 2-for-5, SB, R
-> Jiovanni Mier: 1-for-3, BB, R
-> Jon Kemmer: 0-for-2, BB, R
-> Colin Moran: 0-for-4, RBI

SP Chris Devenski: 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K
RP Aaron West: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K
RP Gonzalo Sanudo: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K

This is arguably the most talent-laden team in the system right now, and it shows.

Corpus plated two runs in each of the first three innings, which was already more than enough. West got four outs on the ground, which means just one came on the fly. And you've got guys like Reed and Vasquez carrying their hot streaks into the playoffs. They're the favorites in this league, without question.

The first round in the Texas League is a more legit five-game series, unlike some of the lower levels. They don't have home field advantage, though, so tonight is their final home game of the series. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (if necessary on those weekend days) will be in Midland.

Look out tomorrow, though; Sean Manaea, now an Oakland prospect thanks to the Zobrist trade, is on the hill for Midland. All he did after the trade was post a 1.90 ERA, 0.00 BB/9 and 10.76 K/9 in 42.2 innings.

A+ Lancaster JetHawks: 9-7 win over High Desert (TEX)

-> Jamie Ritchie: 2-for-3, BB, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
-> Sean McMullen: 2-for-3, BB, 2 R
-> J.D. Davis: 2-for-4, BB, HR, R, 2 RBI
-> Ronnie Mitchell: 2-for-4, BB, 2B, 2 R
-> Alex Bregman: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
-> Chase McDonald: 2-for-4, RBI, R
-> James Ramsay: 1-for-3
-> Derek Fisher: 1-for-4, BB, RBI, R

SP Keegan Yuhl: 0.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K
RP Steve Naemark: 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K
RP Troy Scribner: 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K (win)
RP Kevin Comer: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K (save)

Bit of a see-saw affair here, and certainly a slugfest. Nice to win after the Mavs beat up Yuhl and jacked his lunch money. It was tied at six heading into the seventh, where HD plated a run, but Lancaster came back immediately in the bottom-half of the inning with three (Fisher walk, Davis bomb, then some hits and an error for a third unearned run).

How about Naemark, un-drafted and now tossing clutch ball in the playoffs as a pro. And already in A-Advanced no less. It'll be fun if he and Scribner both become members of the Astros' bullpen at some point. New market inefficiency; UDFA pitchers!

The two remaining games of the series are on the road in High Desert, perhaps the only more-hitter-friendly park on the planet than Lancaster. Should be interesting.

A- Quad Cities River Bandits: 5-2 loss to Cedar Rapids (MIN)

-> Nick Tanielu: 2-for-4, 3B
-> Kristian Trompiz: 2-for-4, RBI
-> Bryan Muniz: 1-for-3, BB, R
-> Drew Ferguson: 1-for-3, BB
-> Ryan Bottger: 1-for-3, RBI
-> Garrett Stubbs: 1-for-3
-> Bobby Boyd: 1-for-4, 2B
-> Ramon Laureano: 1-for-4, R

SP Joshua James: 5.0 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 8 H, 2 BB, 1 K (loss)
RP Andrew Thome: 2.0 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K
RP Jacob Dorris: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

A throwing error in the third did directly lead to a run, the unearned one James gave up. Another scored on a sac fly. It wasn't a bad outing, but it wasn't sharp. Thome's one earned run even came thanks to a pair of wild pitches in the same inning; take those away and the throwing error that led to the unearned run he gave up, and things could have been different. Just a sloppy night in critical situations.

It didn't matter though. The offense couldn't do much. Cedar Rapids' starter fanned seven batters, and their bullpen locked things down. Four of the seven whiffs came from the one and two-hole hitters at the top, not what you're looking for from the table setters. Jason Martin didn't play, as well.

Game two is tonight. It's a three game series, so they'll have to win tonight and tomorrow or that will be the end of the road.

SS Tri-City ValleyCats: 3-2 loss to Staten Island (NYY)

-> Anthony Hermelyn: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
-> Dexture McCall: 2-for-5, R
-> Keach Ballard: 1-for-2
-> Kolbey Carpenter: 1-for-4, R
-> Brooks Marlow: 1-for-5
-> Aaron Mizell: 1-for-5
-> Bobby Wernes: 0-for-4, BB
-> Cesar Carrasco: 0-for-0, BB (pinch-hitter)
-> Arturo Michelena: 0-for-1 (pinch-runner, defensive sub)

SP Chris Murphy: 5.2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 1 BB, 7 K
RP Ryan Deemes: 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K
RP Yeyfry Del Rosario: 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K
RP Scott Weathersby: 0.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K
RP Zac Grotz: 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K

11 innings in this one. Rough way to lose you're first in a playoff series.

Weathersby walked a guy and allowed a double immediately after coming in, so they had him intentionally walk another guy before removing him, thus the wonky line. Miracle they didn't score then in the 10th, but Grotz got some big strike outs. Didn't work out the next inning, though. Lead off man Johnny Sewald took an 0-for-5, too, which never helps, especially considering he's been the spark plug all season.

Like Quad Cities, they need to win two straight now. Fortunately both will be home games for them.

Today's Scheduled Starters

AAA: Asher Wojciechowski vs. Chris Smith
AA: Ruben Alaniz vs. Sean Manaea
A+: David Paulino vs. Trey Lambert
A-: Brock Dykxhoorn vs. Sam Gibbons
SS: Ralph Garza vs. Domingo Acevedo