Back doing the PreStros today, to allow the Constable to closely examine Bud Norris' twitter account.
Summary
* Astros Affiliates went 1-2 on the day, with a combined record of 128-106.
* Oklahoma City lost to Memphis, after giving up four early runs.
* Corpus lost late to Midland, on a ninth inning walk-off.
* Lancaster won late over Inland Empire, digging themselves out of a bit of a hole at the end to score the go-ahead run in the eighth.
Oklahoma City (32-28)
Oklahoma City got behind early (4-0 after three), and was unable to escape from that hole, losing to the Memphis Redbirds (29-30) by a score of 6-3. My educated guess is that they were mourning the loss of Jon Singleton, who homered for his first ML hit.
Stitched Leather: Rudy Owens got the start, and pitched seven innings, allowing the following line: 7IP, 6H, 4R/ER, 4K. Interestingly, the last runs he gave up were in the third inning - the held the Redbirds scoreless (allowing one hit) for the next four. Eight groundouts versus four flyouts.
Owens was relieved by Ross Seaton, who proceeded to allow two runs on a double-strikeout-runner advancing flyout-walk-steal of second-2 run single-pop out sequence. Jason Stoffel then worked around a one-out triple to record a scoreless top-of-the-ninth.
Smooth Wood: Domingo Santana (2-4, R), Max Stassi (1-3, HR, BB, R, RBI), Erik Castro (1-3, BB) and Austin Wates (1-4, BB) were all on base twice. Ronald Torreyes (1-4, R) stole a base.
Man of the Match: Lets go with Max Stassi, awaiting a call-up to the Bigs. Trade Corporan now!!
Corpus Christi (29-28)
This game was in Corpus' control after a 2-0 opening inning. No further runs were added until the bottom of the seventh, when the 30-27 Midland team opened their account with a home run to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Corpus returned the advantage to that of a 2-run variety with a run in the top of the eighth, but the rest of the game went Midland's way, and they walked off with a 4-3 win in the bottom of the ninth.
Stitched Leather: Astros AA Pitcher of the Month, Thomas Shirley, got the start, and threw seven dominant frames. His final line was spoiled by a Josh Whitaker home run in his last inning: 7IP, 2H, R/ER, BB, 4K.
The game got out of hand with Tyson Perez (0IP, H, 2R, 1ER, BB) allowing a single and a walk. Andrew Robinson relieved, and got a force at third, then walked Billy Burns, then plunked Hiroyuki Nakajima with a breaking ball to force the first run in. A line out, then a mishandled grounder to third for the error. 3-3 after eight.
Andrew Robinson started the ninth with a quick out, then plunked another batter. A groundout (runner to second) and RBI single ended the game.
Smooth Wood: Nolan Fontana reached in all five plate appearances (2-2, 3BB, 2B, R), and Delino DeShields also walked twice (0-2, R, 2BB, SB). Jio Meyer was on base twice (1-4, BB, 2B).
Man of the Match: Nolan Fontana, on base all five plate appearances. His triple-slash stands at .291/.437/.417, with 45BB versus 50K's.
Lancaster (37-23)
Lancaster recovered from an early deficit to record a tight, 6-5 win over Inland Empire (21-39) at home. The JetHawks tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a run, and scored the game ahead-run in the following frame.
Stitched Leather: Kent Emanuel got the start, and gave up all the runs that the Inland Empire team was to concede. His line: 5IP, 7H, 5R/ER, 2K. He gave up one home run - a two-run shot in the fifth. Matt Heidenreich relieved - and dominated - earning the win: 3IP, H, R/ER, 3K. Jamaine Cotton got the save with a scoreless ninth (IP, BB).
Combined groundout-flyout ratio?? 13:5.
Smooth Wood: Perhaps celebrating Draft Anniversary Week, Carlos Correa (3-4, BB, 2B, 2R, RBI, SB) and Rio Ruiz (2-4, BB, 2B, R) had very strong nights. Also on base four times was Ruben Sosa (1-1, 2B, 3BB, CS), and on base twice was Anthony Kemp (1-4, BB, 2B, R) and Conrad Gregor (2-4, 2B).
Man of the Match: Carlos Correa had himself a nice night, and also perfectly executed his half of a hit-and-run which allowed Teoscar Hernandez to score the winning run in the eighth.
Quad Cities (30-27)
Quad Cities was off today.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
