*The Astros rallied from 3-1 down against Tampa Bay - all of the Rays' runs came on solo homers off Mike Fiers - to win 6-3 and win for the 8th time in their last nine games.
*The Astros are 10-1 when they score 3+ runs, and already have seven comeback wins through 17 games.
*Fiers, who has allowed six homers in 15IP this season:
I think I kind of tipped my pitches a little bit early so in the fourth and fifth I started throwing everything pretty much as hard as I could and being really aggressive with every pitch. It made a big difference.
Through three starts, 33.3% of fly balls off Fiers have left the yard - far higher than the 15.2% HR/FB rate he posted last season.
*Carlos Beltran, who will turn 40 on Monday, went 2x4 with a homer and two runs scored, is just happy to be part of the (really good) team:
I'm just happy to help the younger guys. I love to study the game. I like to come early and look at the pitchers and see tendencies, and if I see something they're doing, I want to use that to my advantage and at the same time pass it on to the younger guys.
Sign Beltran to a lifetime contract now.
*After starting the season 2x21 in his first six games (.095/.095/.095), Yulieski Gurriel is 13x26 (.500/.536/.769) in his last eight games.
*The bullpen threw four shutout innings last night to preserve the Astros win. Hinch:
These guys are really good, and we've got a lot of them, which is a good feeling.
*Joe Musgrove has been working on a mechanical adjustment in his delivery.
*Washington Post: The bullpen revolution is underway in Houston.
*Fresno busted out Kris Kross-themed unis.
*The Rangers DFA'd Mike Hauschild, a Rule 5 pick from the Astros last December. If Hauschild passes through waivers, the Rangers must offer him back to the Astros.
*Imagine feeling low-balled when someone offers you approximately $100m. (Note: Correa will do the same thing).
PreStros Report for games of April 21
I swear it feels like Fresno has only played Las Vegas this season. Anyhow, Fresno (8-8) were down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th and a couple of big innings, including a 5-run 8th, gave the Grizzles an 8-5 win. Brian Holmes' early struggles continued with 4IP, 6H/5ER, 4K:1BB but the bullpen of Aaron West, Sean Stutzman, Reymin Guduan, and Jordan Jankowski threw a combined 5IP, 2H/0ER, 4K:2BB. Tony Kemp and Colin Moran had two hits each; A.J. Reed hit a three-run homer in the 6th and Teoscar Hernandez knocked a grand slam in the 8th.
Corpus Christi (10-4) scored the final six runs of the game to defeat Frisco 8-3. Joshua James threw 5IP, 4H/3ER, 3K:2BB while Rogelio Armenteros - who is a freaking stud - threw 4IP, 3H/0ER, 4K:2BB. Jon Singleton was 2x4 with a stolen base, a walk, and 3RBI, J.D. Davis was 2x5 and homered in his 3rd straight game, Alejandro Garcia was 2x4 with two doubles, and Drew Ferguson was 2x4 with two stolen bases, a walk, and three runs scored.
Buies Creek (12-4) is really good, y'all. The BCA put up a six-spot in the 1st and rode it out for a 9-4 win over Carolina. Yoanis Quiala allowed 8H/3ER, 4K:0BB in 3.2IP and Framber Valdez threw 3.2IP, 4H/1ER, 3K:2BB. Catcher Eduardo de Oleo was 3x4 with three home runs and 5RBI. Ryne Birk was 2x4 with a walk and an RBI; Myles Straw was 2x5 with an RBI and an outfield assist at home plate; Kyle Tucker was 1x3 with a walk, two stolen bases, and an RBI.
Quad Cities (9-6) won their fifth straight game, holding Clinton to two hits in a 3-1 win. Brett Adcock threw 4.2IP, 2H/1ER, 6K:1BB while Edgardo Sandoval closed it out with 4.1IP, 0H/0ER, 4K:0BB. All three runs came via the home run, with Spencer Johnson hitting a solo bomb in the 2nd and Marcos Almonte hitting a two-run shot in the 5th. Alex De Goti lowered his batting average to .340 after "only" getting a double in four ABs.
As Jayne at WTHB notes, this is the third straight day all four affiliates won.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
