Down on the Farm - 5/31/13

AA - Arkansas 5 Corpus Christi 3

The Hooks (33-21) suffered a rare loss at the hands of the Arkansas Travelers, 5-3. George Springer hit a pair of doubles, Drew Muren had 3 hits, and Max Stassi scored a pair of runs, but the Hooks bullpen faltered allowing runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings. Bobby Doran started the game for the Hooks, but got a no-decision despite allowing just 1 run on 2 hits in 5 innings of work. The Hooks were just 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position in the loss and left 12 men on base.

Advanced A - Visalia 12 Lancaster 10

The Rawhide scored 8 times in the 4th inning and held on late as they snapped Lancaster's 9-game winning streak in a wild 12-10 affair. Lancaster (33-21) got homers from Brandon Meredith and Matt Duffy and 3 hits apiece from Duffy and Andrew Aplin, but couldn't overcome the big 4th inning. Jonas Dufek allowed 6 runs in just a third of an inning to take the loss. Aaron West pitched well out of the pen though fanning 6 and allowing just a run on 3 hits in 4 innings of work. Joe Sclafani went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks and scored 3 times to raise his average to .367 while Preston Tucker added a pair of rbis to give him 52 on the year.

Low A - Quad Cities 6 Beloit 3 (14 innings)

Jonathan Singleton started the night 0 for 5 with 3 strikeouts, but ended the night a hero as his 14th inning 2-run homer helped the River Bandits (30-23) to an extra inning win over the Snappers. Singleton's homer was his third in as many games for Quad Cities. Carlos Correa added 3 hits and an rbi to raise his average on the year to .292. The River Bandits got solid pitching from Jordan Jankowski (5 IP 1 ER), Cameron Lamb (3 scoreless innings) and Gerardo Sanchez (4 scoreless innings, 6 Ks) in the win. John Neely got the final two outs for his 9th save.

Down on the Farm - 4/15/13

AAA - Oklahoma City 11 Memphis 0

Brandon Laird had 3 hits, Marc Krauss drove in 3 runs, and Jake Elmore extended his hitting streak to 10 games as the RedHawks (6-5) blew out the Redbirds 11-0. Wes Musick made his first start of the year and tossed 5 scoreless innings while Jarred Cosart and Kyle Hallock completed the shutout. Cosart, who worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings, has now allowed just one earned run in his first 12 2/3 innings this season. He's allowed just 7 hits and fanned 15.

AA - Tulsa 3 Corpus Christi 2

Asher Wojciechowski extended his scoreless innings streak to 14 with 5 more solid innings, but the Hooks (7-4) bullpen surrendered solo home runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings and lost on a walkoff blast by a score of 3-2. Austin Wates was 2 for 3 with a walk and two more stolen bases giving him an organization high of 7 this season. George Springer added his 10th run batted in of the year and Carlos Perez had his third straight 2-hit game in a losing effort.

Advanced A - Lancaster 15 High Desert 5

The JetHawks (8-3) banged out 12 hits and drew 10 walks as the cruised to a blowout win over the High Desert Mavericks. Andrew Aplin tripled, homered and drove in 5, and Drew Muren and Preston Tucker added home runs to lead the route. Starter Tyson Perez was knocked out of the game in the 4th inning after allowing 5 runs in 3 2/3 innings, but Theron Geith tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, and David Rollins slammed the door with 4 scoreless innings in which he struck out 6 to earn his first save.

Week 2 in Review

The Astros went 3-3 on the first six games of their 9 game West Coast road trip, and they certainly played a much more competitive brand of baseball. Here's a rundown on some of the numbers for both the big league club, and the up-and-comers:

Weekly Results

4/8     L Mariners 3-0
4/9     W Mariners 16-9
4/10   W Mariners 8-3
4/12   W Angels 5-0
4/13   L Angels 5-4
4/14   L Angels 4-1

Overall Record: 4-8
Team Batting Average: .254
Runs For: 51
Runs Against: 60
Home Runs: 12
Strikeouts/Walks (Hitting): 121/31
Stolen Bases: 1
Caught Stealing: 2
Team ERA: 4.26
Team WHIP: 1.37
Starters ERA: 3.39
Bullpen ERA: 5.72
Strikeouts/Walks (Pitching): 62/39
Times Shutout: 3
Shutouts: 1

Team Leaders (Hitting):

Average: Jose Altuve .333 (17/51)
Runs: Justin Maxwell/Chris Carter 8
Hits: Jose Altuve 17
Doubles: Carlos Pena 4
Triples: Justin Maxwell 2
Home Runs: Chris Carter 4
Runs Batted In: Rick Ankiel 8
Walks: 5 tied with 4
Stolen Bases: J.D. Martinez 1

Team Leaders (Pitching):

Games: Rhiner Cruz 8
Innings: Philip Humber 18 2/3
Wins: Bud Norris 2
Saves: Erik Bedard 1
Holds: 3 tied with 1
Strikeouts: Bud Norris 14
Quality Starts: Philip Humber 2
ERA:  Bud Norris 1.96
WHIP: Bud Norris 1.09

On the Farm:

Oklahoma City (AAA) - 5-5
Corpus Christi (AA) - 7-3
Lancaster (AdvA) - 7-3
Quad Cities (LoA) - 7-2

Minor League Leaders:

Runs: Drew Muren (AdvA) - 10
Hits: Jake Elmore (AAA) - 19
Walks: Robbie Grossman (AAA) - 11
Home Runs: Matt Duffy (AdvA) - 4
RBIs: Matt Duffy (AdvA) - 14
Stolen Bases: Austin Wates - 5
Wins: 3 tied with 2
Saves: Jason Stoffel (AA) - 3
Strikeouts: Nick Tropeano (AA) / Luis Cruz (AdvA) - 15

Farm Report - 4/11/13

AA - Corpus Christi 5 Springfield 0

David Martinez and Asher Wojciechowski combined on a 3-hit shutout as the Hooks (6-1) defeated the Springfield Cardinals 5-0. Through 7 games the Hooks have allowed just 11 runs and have a team ERA of 1.57. Wojciechowski has been particularly impressive allowing just 2 hits in 9 scoreless innings of work. Austin Wates was 3 for 4 and a double away from the cycle to lead the offensive attack. Domingo Santana added his second home run of the season.

Advanced A - Lancaster 5 Modesto 1

Lancaster (6-1) continued its fast start to the 2013 season with a 5-1 win over Modesto behind the strong pitching of David Rollins and Tyson Perez. Rollins pitched around three errors and allowed just one unearned run to earn the win while Perez retired all 12 hitters he faced in 4 perfect innings of work to earn the save. Preston Tucker, Drew Muren and MP Cokinos all had two hits to lead the offense.