Astros

Astros Minor League Recap: August 15th

Jimmy Price

Published

August 16, 2023

Alex Santos | Credit: Joe Dwyer

Another day of minor league action is in the book. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (47-68) lost 6-3 (BOX SCORE)

Blanco got the start and allowed 5 runs over 4 innings of work. Brantley put Sugar Land on the board with a 2 run HR. The pen allowed a few runs as the Express extended their lead. The offense got one back in the 9th on a Whitcomb RBI single but that was it as Sugar Land fell 6-3.

Note: Kuhnel has a 1.26 ERA in Triple-A.

Rylan Bannon, 3B: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, SB
Michael Brantley, LF: 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI
Joey Loperfido, RF: 1-for-4, R
Shay Whitcomb, SS: 1-for-4, RBI
Cesar Salazar, C: 1-for-2, BB

Ronel Blanco, RHP: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Matt Ruppenthal, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Joel Kuhnel, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Seth Martinez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Joe Record, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (54-55) lost 5-3 (BOX SCORE)

Kouba started for the Hooks and allowed 2 runs in the first inning, both unearned, over 4 innings while striking out 6. The Hooks got on the board in the 3rd on a Stevens solo HR. In the 6th, Wagner tied it with a solo HR to right field. The pen allowed 3 runs as the Naturals took a 5-2 lead. Wagner added another solo HR in the 8th but that was it as the Hooks fell 5-3.

Note: Wagner has a .916 OPS this season.

Will Wagner, 2B: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Kenedy Corona, CF: 0-for-2, BB, 2 SB
Zach Daniels, RF: 1-for-4, 2B
Chad Stevens, SS: 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB

Rhett Kouba, RHP: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Ray Gaither, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Jonathan Sprinkle, RHP: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (44-60) won 2-1 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Sandle solo HR. They got another run in the 5th on a Williams sac fly. Blubaugh got the start and allowed 1 run over 5 innings of work. Santos closed it out with 4 no-hit innings to seal the 2-1 win.

Note: Santos has a 2.21 ERA over his last five outings.

Rolando Espinosa, 3B: 1-for-3, R, SB
Michael Sandle, RF: 1-for-2, R, HR, RBI
Austin Deming, DH: 1-for-2, BB
Justin Williams, LF: 0-for-2, RBI

A.J. Blubaugh, RHP: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K (WIN)
Alex Santos, RHP: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (SAVE)

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (47-62) won 3-1 (BOX SCORE)

Chirinos started for the Woodpeckers and tossed 4.1 scoreless innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 2 runs on a wild pitch and a Matthews RBI double. The Woodpeckers got another run in the 6th on a Fisher hit by pitch. Espinosa closed it out allowing 1 run over the final 4 innings.

Note: Loftin has 48 SB this season.