A look back on last week and how each level in the Astros organization performed
Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (4-2)
Sugar Lans won their series in Albuquerque this week and put up some big offensive numbers in the hitter-friendly park. Jesus Bastides and Shay Whitcomb continued their great seasons at the plate collecting double-digit hits in the series. Bastides and Whitcomb also combined for 7HR and 19 RBIs. Leon stays hot as well, contributing 9RBIs himself. The bats are hot and will continue to stay hot this week.
Note: Sugar Land scored a league high 51 runs this week (13 HR)
- Bastides: 13-24, 9R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 3BB(3K), 1 SB
- Hamilton: 7-22, 4R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0BB(4K)
- Leon: 8-26, 5R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2BB(6K)
- Whitcomb: 14-25, 9R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2BB(4K)
On the flip side, in a park where the ball flies, the pitching struggled a bit. Despite the high team ERA this week, AJ Blubaugh had another great pitching performance, allowing just one unearned run in his 5+ innings of work. Colton Gordon also had a good start with just 1 earned run but some shaky defense behind him allowed more damage than he warranted. The pitching will look forward to a more friendly park this week.
Note: The staff had a 6.23 ERA this week in Albuquerque
- Blubaugh: 1GS, 5.1 IP, 2H, 1R(0ER), 8K(3BB)
- Contreras: 3G, 3.0 IP, 2H, 1R(1ER), 1 HR, 6K(0BB)
- Diaz: 3G, 3.0 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 2K(1BB)
- Gordon: 1 GS, 5.2 IP, 7H, 5R(1ER), 1 HR, 6K(0BB)
Double-A: Corpus Christi Hooks (2-4)
After one of their best weeks last week, the Hooks bats came back to earth with just 11 extra-base hits this series. Jacob Melton continued to produce at the plate but the team as a whole struggled with runners in scoring position all week. The team K/BB ratio this week was also close to 4, which is rarely a good recipe for success. Better discipline and situational hitting should be a focus moving forward.
Note: The Hooks collected 51 hits this week but struggled to bring them in with just 18 runs
- Barber: 3-11, 3R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1BB(0K)
- Espinosa: 6-16, 2R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 3BB(5K)
- Ferreras: 7-14, 2R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1BB(2K)
- Melton: 6-17, 1R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1BB(5K), 2 SB
The trend of solid pitching continues in Corpus as the staff put together 3 starts of 2 or fewer earned runs in 5+ innings, the best coming from Michael Knorr. Jake Bloss continues his great season with just 2 earned runs in his start. The Hooks bats and arms have not been in sync this year when it comes to series performances and they will hope to change that narrative going forward and play more complete games as a team.
Note: Corpus posted a league-best 11 ER (17R)
- Bloss: 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 2H, 2R(2ER), 1 HR, 4K(3BB)
- Brown: 1G, 4.0 IP, 3H, 1R(1ER), 4K(2BB)
- Knorr: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 2H, 0R(0ER), 6K(2BB)
- Ullola: 1GS, 5.2 IP, 3H, 1R(1ER), 1 HB, 6K(2BB)
High-A: Asheville Tourists (4-2)
Asheville won their series this week with a good mix of hitting and pitching. Despite lacking in the homerun department this week, the Tourists still scored 33 runs and had good plate discipline drawing 20 walks. Luis Baez is on a heater and has raised his season average back over .300 after a 10 hit series. Jeron Williams also continues to impress at the plate, leading the team with 2HR and 10 RBIs this week. A good all around team week for the Tourists.
Notes: The Tourists stole 8 bases and we caught just once this week
- Baez: 10-23, 3R, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 1BB(4K), 1 SB
- Cerny: 5-16, 6R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5BB(7K), 2 SB
- Encarnacion, L: 7-13, 2R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2BB(1K), 1 SB
- Williams: 8-25, 3R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 0BB(5K), 1 SB
Just like the bats, the pitching performed well this week, posting near the top marks of the league in most categories. James Hicks produced the best start where he surrendered just 1 run on a solo shot, while striking out 7 and no free passes. While not Hicks, Guedez and Bautista also turned in great starts of 5 innings and 2 or fewer earned runs allowed. It’s always good to win a series, but it’s got to feel great when the hitting and pitching are both producing. They head to Hickory this week.
Note: Like Corpus, Asheville tied for league low this week with 13 ER
- Bautista: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 1H, 2R(2ER), 1HB, 5K(4BB)
- Guedez: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 4H, 1R(1ER), 6K(1BB)
- Hicks: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 4H, 1R(1ER), 1 HR, 7K(0BB)
- True: 1G, 4.0 IP, 5H, 2R(2ER), 1 HR, 7K(0BB)
Low-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-5)
Fayetteville won just one game this week, in what was their worst series of the year so far. Nehomar Ochoa shared the team lead with just 5 hits. They sit second for home runs on the season but managed just one long ball this week and a league low 11 runs. They also struggled with plate discipline, a common theme this year, striking out 48 times to just 13 walks. A lineup that has produced well all season will look to bounce back this week as they stay on the road in Salem.
Note: Despite the rough week, Fayetteville is still second in HRs
- Bush: 5-15, 0R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1BB(3K)
- Caldera: 1-4, 0R, 2 RBI, 2BB(3K)
- Nunez: 4-13, 1R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2BB(6K), 2 SB
- Ochoa: 5-17, 1R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1BB(5K)
Despite the rough series, the Woodpeckers still produced some solid pitching performances. Jackson Nezuh had the best start allowing just 1 run and striking out 6 in his five innings of work. Pena and Pecko each had good outings in relief going five and four innings of 2-run ball or better in their appearances. The staff also did a good job keeping the ball in the park, just 2 home runs, but struggled with command, giving up too many free passes this week. Control should be a focus going into this next series.
Note: Fayetteville walked a league-high 31 batters this series
- Nezuh: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 3H, 1R(1ER), 6K(1BB)
- Pecko: 1G, 4.0 IP, 3H, 1R(1ER), 1 HR, 3K(1BB)
- Pena: 1G, 5.0 IP, 6H, 2R(2ER), 6K(0BB)
- Treadwell: 1GS, 4.0 IP, 5H, 3R(3ER), 4K(3BB)
Question of the Week: Almost two months into the season, which hitter and pitcher have surprised you the most with their performances (good or bad)?
