So the Astros were off today, but the affiliates weren't. On Springer Eve, let's see how everyone in the upper minors - players that could potentially Reinforce the Astros - are going...
Corpus Christi: Corpus was scheduled to play against Tulsa, but their game was cancelled with rain. Booo!! They will send Brandon Bielak to the bump tomorrow against Springfield.
Fresno: So Fresno copped a bit of an away shellacking at the hands of the 60-62 Tacoma Rainiers by an overall score of 10-6. As you can imagine, the pitching was not good - especially Brady Rodgers (four-and-two-thirds, 9H, 1BB, 6R/ER, 7K) and Ralph Garza (2IP, 4H, 4R/ER. 4BB, 3K). Reymin Guduan cleaned up (1.1IP, 1H, 1BB, 2K), recording his second scoreless outing in a row. So there is that!!
On the offensive side of the ledger, things were healthy, just not quite healthy enough. Brian McCann got the start at DH and in the two-hole, and we went 1-4 with a walk. 1B AJ Reed had a good night (2-4, 2x2B) whereas RF JD Davis had a great night (2-3, BB, 2xHR). C Jamie Ritchie also homered (1-3, BB, HR) 3B Nick Tanielu went 2-3 with a walk. So good to see McCann back, and note that JD Davis has homered 5 times in the six games since his most recent demotion, with 12 RBI. He has also been playing RF regularly, too, so I wonder whether they have plans to spell Josh Reddick for periods between now and the end of the season.
Trent Thornton will start tomorrow against the Rainiers.
Let's look at spot starters tomorrow, then...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith