Here is a weekend summary of the Astro’s Farm Teams.
Round Rock
Friday Night, Jack Cassel went 5 1/3 innings before allowing a base runner and the first reached on hit that the RR fan’s thought could have been scored otherwise.
Feliciano popped up to shallow right field for what appeared to be an out, but the ball was misplayed by the Express defense and landed at the feet of outfielder Victor Diaz and second baseman Ash. Feliciano ended up on second base, and the play was ruled a double, which prompted boos from the crowd.
The Express got the win with 2 runs in the 9th. The winning run was scored on a Josh Paul walk with the bases loaded.
Saturday night, Fernando Nieve had a rougher start than his first of the season, but he didn’t get much help from his teammates. Nieve went 4 innings, surrendering 3 hits, 3 walks and 2 runs but only one run was earned. The offense only mustered 3 hits, the defense committed 3 errors and the bullpen gave up 7 runs for a 9-0 skunking.
“We didn’t swing the bats and made a few costly errors,” said Express manager Dave Clark. “The walks hurt us late in the game but early on I felt we still had a chance to get back in the game.”
Sunday Night, the Express lost in 11 innings to New Orleans. The Express stranded runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs several times in the late innings.
“If you don’t execute you’re not going to win,” Express manager Dave Clark said. “We’ve got to get the bunt down and we’ve got to move guys over. We’ve got to do the little things.”
Corpus Christi
Friday night, Bud Norris, struck out 8 in 5 innings, in the Hooks 7-3 win. Impressive as Norris was, his performance was overshadowed by news that Kaz Matsui was scratched from the line up with a back stain, slowing down his rehab progress.
Saturday night, Chance Douglas set some records he’d gladly trade for a promotion.
Douglass, the only current Hook who was on the 2006 Texas League championship team, fanned four to move past Josh Miller as the Hooks’ career leader in strikeouts. Douglass, who ranks first in franchise history in starts, shutouts and is second in wins and innings pitched,
Douglas got the win in the Hooks 5-1 victory moving the Hooks to 7-2 on the season.
Kaz Update:
Rehabbing Houston Astros second baseman Kaz Matsui was not in the Hooks’ lineup for the second straight night. Matsui sat out Friday’s game with a stiff back and it was not known if he would join the team at Northwest Arkansas or return to Houston.
Sunday, the bats were silent in Arkansas. The Naturals beat the Hooks 7-0 with the Hooks only gathering 2 runners in scoring position.
Salem
Friday night, Salem rallied to tie the game in the 6th but lost the lead on a homer in the 7th. They lost 5-4.
Saturday night, the Avs scored 6 in the 6th en route to a 10-4 victory. Cesar Quintero had 3 hits, all doubles, in his 5 at bats.
Sunday night, the Avs took advantage of some Winston Salem mistakes to come from behind to win 8-4.
Lexington
Friday night, the bullpen let the game get away after Sergio Severino had a solid start. It was 4-1 when he left after 5 and the final was a 9-4 loss.
“We played well for about six innings,” Langbehn said. “Then, miscues defensively. And we were elevating our pitches, and they weren’t missing them.
“We’ve just got to get better. We’ve got to make better adjustments quicker. We’ve got a long way to go.”
Saturday, the Legends fell behind early and could never catch up in a 5-3 loss.
“The bottom line is we gave them runs, and it’s too much to overcome when you get into a funk,” Langbehn said.
Sunday, the Legends made it an 0-3 weekend with a 10-4 loss.