The GCL team has yet to put Ruiz in the field. He's DH'ed every game so far. Wonder what the deal is.
Eight of twelve hits being doubles, I don't think I've seen anything like that before. I'd have to see the BIP distribution but sounds like he's not making use of his speed or opposite-field skills to get more singles.
Tuesday Stories Can Brett Wallace come to Houston now? Jose Cisnero has pretty much picked up where he left off in June. Now I'm thinking that I might have underrated him. Epic comeback in Lexington!!! Could Tri-City keep this current streak alive? Greeneville breaks out the bats!!! Recap In their series opener, OKC outlasted Omaha 7-6 in 10 innings, as Fernando Martinez came through with the go-ahead solo shot (10) in the 10th off Jeremy Jeffress. In regular time, Brett Wallace sparked the gradual comeback with a 3-run homer in the 6th, his 14th of the season. If you're wondering, he was starting at 1B today. He finished 3-5 at the plate, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Brandon Barnes had a solo shot in the 3rd, his 4th with OKC and 11th of the season. Jimmy Paredes went 3-5 with an RBI single in the 7th that tied the game at 6. Matt Dominguez had an RBI single. Paul Clemens' struggles continue. Time for a switch to the bullpen? In 4 1/3 innings, he allowed 6 runs on 8 hits (2-run homer), walked 2, and struck out 5. The bullpen was excellent as they shut out the Storm Chasers the rest of the way. Juan Abreu got the win by retiring all 7 men he faced, striking out 3. David Carpenter got the save, allowing a hit and striking out 1. Corpus took care of business as they dropped Midland 9-3. Everyone had a hit in the game except for Ben Orloff, who still drew 2 walks in his Corpus debut. Jonathan Singleton went 2-4 and kicked things off with an RBI double scoring Jose Martinez in the 1st. He also drew a bases-loaded walk in the 4th. Chris Wallace went 2-3 with 2 RBI singles and scored twice. Jose Martinez continues to tear everyone apart, crushing a 3-run homer to left in the 6th, his 13th of the year. Andy Simunic was 2-5 with an RBI single in the 9th for the Hooks' final run. Jose Cisnero tossed 6 2/3 solid innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits (solo homer), walking 4, and striking out 8. Lancaster topped San Jose 4-3 in the series opener. Domingo Santana and Rafael Valenzuela had RBI groundouts. Grant Hogue scored in the 5th when Santana grounded into a double play. Roberto Pena, in his Lancaster debut, went 2-4 with an RBI single in the 8th. Also making his Lancaster debut, Chan-Jong Moon went 1-4 with a run scored. Bobby Doran, in his return to Lancaster, went 6 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, walked 3, and struck out 4. Pat Urckfitz pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to get the save. He served up a solo shot to Alex Burg in the 9th that made things a bit interesting. Other than that, he allowed one other hit and struck out 2. Down 5-0? Not a problem for Lexington as they erased that deficit and defeated Hagerstown 10-7. Delino DeShields got the day off. Just a rest day. Everyone had a hit except for Justin Gominsky, who reached on a force play. Mike Kvasnicka, Ryan McCurdy, and Nolan Fontana each drove in 2. Kvasnicka, Brandon Meredith, Zach Johnson, and Matt Duffy all had 2 hits apiece. Duffy, Meredith, and Jordan Scott drove in 1 each. Luis Ordosgoitti was ineffective in his 5 innings, as he allowed 5 runs on 8 hits (2-run homer), walked 2, and struck out 5. Tom Shirley, despite serving up a 2-run shot to Brian Goodwin, got the win with 2 2/3 innings of relief. The 2 runs on the homer were the only ones he allowed. Dayan Diaz walked 2, but still got his 14th save of the season. Unfortunately, Tri-City's streak was stopped at 7, as they dropped a tough 3-2 game to Lowell. There was no scoring until the top of the 8th, when David Chester took Jeremiah Meiners deep for a 2-run shot. But in the bottom half of the inning, Jobduan Morales answered with a 2-run homer of his own (4) to tie the game. The ValleyCats lost this one in rather painful fashion, as Kenny Long couldn't catch Dreily Guerrero's pop-up, which allowed Mookie Betts to score. The run was charged to Jamaine Cotton, who got the loss. Joe Bircher, despite throwing 6 shutout innings, had to settle for a no-decision. He allowed 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 3. Greeneville's bats were devastatingly effective as they outgunned Pulaski 13-8. The Appy Astros withstood a 2-homer game from Pulaski's Phillips Castillo (the Mariners' #10 prospect) by hitting a club-record 8 doubles in this game, with Terrell Joyce, Jean Carlos Batista, and Ernesto Genoves hitting 2 each. Everyone had a hit, and everyone drove in 1 except for Ariel Ovando, who still went 2-5 with a double and scored twice. D'Andre Toney went 3-4 with a solo homer (2) in the 2nd, an RBI single, and scored 3 times. Brian Blasik was 3-5 with an RBI double and an RBI single. Batista hit a 2-run homer in the 3rd, his 4th of the season. Richard Rodriguez allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 in 3 innings. Christian Garcia got the win despite allowing one of Castillo's homers. Both were 2-run shots; the other came off Tanner Bushue, whose job security has become dangerously low. Euris Quezada got the 3-inning save. The GCLstros lost to the Cardinals 5-3, as Juan Mojica failed. Teoscar Hernandez took former Aggie Michael Wacha deep in the 2nd, his 2nd of the season and in as many days. Darwin Rivera had an RBI single and Kenny Diaz went 2-3 with an RBI. Carlos Correa doubled yet again. Jose Valdez struck out the side in order in the 1st. This after Wacha struck out 2 in the top of the 1st. Mojica allowed 3 in the 8th to get the loss. Ricardo Batista allowed 1 hit in his 2 1/3 innings, striking out 3. Enderson Franco allowed 2 runs on 7 hits in 3 2/3, walking 3 and fanning 1. The Academy fell to the Rays 5-1 as Mesac Laguna's solo homer (4) was the only run they scored. Edwin Villarroel went 6 1/3, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, walking 3 and striking out 3.
Chris Wallace is salvaging his season with a little hot streak. It'd be really nice if he finished with a .280 avg and double-digit homers. I'm really rooting for this guy.
As I'm bored, my Top 30: 1) Carlos Correa 2) Jonathan Singleton 3) George Springer 4) Lance McCullers 5) Delino DeShields Jr. 6) Jonathan Villar 7) Domingo Santana 8) Mike Foltynewicz 9) Rio Ruiz 10) Nick Tropeano 11) Jarred Cosart 12) Matt Dominguez 13) Nolan Fontana 14) Ariel Ovando 15) Vincent Velasquez 16) Jiovanni Mier 17) Adrian Houser 18) Ross Seaton 19) Brady Rodgers 20) Jose Martinez 21) Austin Wates 22) Kevin Chapman 23) Brett Phillips 24) Andrew Aplin 25) Jose Cisnero 26) Brett Oberholtzer 27) Tyler Heineman 28) Chris Wallace 29) Francis Ramirez 30) Carlos Quevedo Probably leaving somebody out. There are so many guys that are right there. Our team lacks 5-star prospects, but it has grown incredibly deep and now has at least 3 4-star prospects, and another handful of 3-star guys with a buttload of 2-stars. If only I like Jarred Cosart.
Finally. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Astros">#Astros</a> officially sign University of Florida senior OF Preston Tucker (7th round). He has been assigned to Class A Tri-City @<a href="https://twitter.com/ValleyCats">ValleyCats</a>.</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/225634319123742722" data-datetime="2012-07-18T16:53:08+00:00">July 18, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> And he's playing tonight! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-in-reply-to="225634319123742722"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/astros">astros</a> Tucker will make his pro debut tonight, as he is in the 'Cats starting lineup. He will be the DH batting 8th.</p>— Tri-City ValleyCats (@ValleyCats) <a href="https://twitter.com/ValleyCats/status/225642562856292352" data-datetime="2012-07-18T17:25:53+00:00">July 18, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In addition to Tucker being in the lineup, Andrew Aplin is back in action after battling a sore ankle after getting plunked by a pitch last Saturday. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-in-reply-to="225658122767826944"><p>Aplin back in the lineup; Tucker making debut RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/ValleyCats">ValleyCats</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523lineups">#lineups</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523NewStreakStartsToday">#NewStreakStartsToday</a> <a href="https://t.co/TNF9f7uu" title="https://twitter.com/ValleyCats/status/225658122767826944/photo/1">twitter.com/ValleyCats/sta…</a></p>— Bryan Trostel (@The_Batguy) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Batguy/status/225659048010342400" data-datetime="2012-07-18T18:31:24+00:00">July 18, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> From the 7/14 PreStros Farm Report on Astros County:
