*Big story of the night was Derek Fisher. He lined out to left field in his first MLB plate appearance in the 2nd inning, walked in the 5th inning, homered in the 6th inning for his first MLB hit and then singled to right later in that inning to score McCann. He walked again in the 8th inning. So his MLB debut went as such: 2x3, HR, 2RBI, 0K:2BB. Fisher is the first player since Adam Laroche (April 7, 2004) to get his first two MLB hits in the same inning. Fisher:
Something you can dream of. I can't say that I would expect to have something like that my first night. But definitely happy it happened.
Hinch:
Thought he played great, five really good at-bats. He'll never ever forget tonight. His first game to contribute like that and provide some energy and some buzz on a team that's had quite a bit of energy and buzz for the season is pretty remarkable.
*Fisher will give his home run ball to his dad. He was originally taken by the Rangers in the 6th Round of the 2011 draft, but went to the University of Virginia instead of signing.
— patrick (@PatDStat) June 15, 2017
*Via Steve Grande, Fisher was the first Astro since James Mouton (1994) to reach base safely four times in his MLB debut.
*2nd Big Story of the Night was Frankie Tuesday, making his first MLB start. He balled out, throwing 5IP, 3H/1ER, 7K:2BB, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the 5th. Twenty-four of his 55 strikes thrown (in 88 pitches) were non-contact strikes. He got 12 swinging strikes and 12 strikes looking against the Rangers last night. Hinch, on Martes:
It was encouraging to watch Martes battle through really his only tough inning of his outing. He controlled everything up until that point. Then to have the wild pitch that turns into a run, the walk and facing to left-handed hitters, which is the tough part of their order, man, he handed himself really well.
More Hinch:
If he can command the baseball, he can do just about anything he wants.
*Brian McCann was 2x5 with a double and 2RBI. In his last eight games he's 12x32 with three doubles and three home runs, and has raised his OPS from .765 on June 3 to .840 this morning.
*Jake Marisnick hit his 7th home run of the season (the data says it would be a home run 2% of the time), now just two shy of matching his career-high. His .865 OPS is currently 201 points higher than his career-high 2015 season.
*If the Baseball Gods smile upon us, this weekend will feature a Derek Fisher/Matt Barnes matchup.
*Luhnow:
We don't want to watch this opportunity slip away. If we can make the big-league club better, we will. But it's not going to be today.
*The Astros top The Ringer's mid-June power rankings.
*41 years ago today, the Astrodome experienced its only rainout.
*Last night, on Flag Day, the Astros honored Basil Castro, a 100-year old WW2 veteran.
*Seven Corpus players made the Texas League All-Star Team: Garrett Stubbs, Jon Singleton, J.D. Davis, Drew Ferguson, Jack Mayfield, Rogelio Armenteros, and Kyle Smith.
*Ken Rosenthal: The starting pitching trade market has more questions than answers.
*The Cubs drafted Chris Singleton, whose mother was killed by a white supremacist in Charleston.
*That time Lance McCullers became the GOAT:
It's because nobody knows what Arlington is. #Htownproud https://t.co/z3PqshPY1h— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers43) June 14, 2017
Draft Updates:
*Clear Brook's head coach Gene Flores, the former coach of 8th Round pick Corey Julks, thinks Julks will sign, but it's not "etched in stone." Flores:
It looks good for Corey, but it's his decision. I think he'll make the right moves for himself and his family.
*Here's MLB.com with a look at who the Astros drafted in Rounds 11-40 (I wasn't in a position to write those guys up like I was the first 10 Rounds, but they're good players, Brent.)
*35th Round pick Trei Cruz - grandson of Jose Cruz and, stay with me, son of Jose Cruz, Jr. - will likely go on to Rice.
*Updated draft signings and financials can be found here.
