Leo Heras hit an RBI triple for Corpus to open the scoring in Tulsa. It's 1-0 Hooks heading into the bottom of the 2nd.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>First three pitches by Mike Foltynewicz tonight: 101, 100, 101. Yes, it's according to a stadium radar gun, but still. Wow.</p>— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/statuses/451902439802040321">April 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>This Correa kid is pretty good. Now 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI singles. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23JetHawks&src=hash">#JetHawks</a> up 2-1 in B3</p>— Eric L. Smith (@Eric_L_Smith) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_L_Smith/statuses/451906575074988032">April 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Lordy <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Official scorer rules Correa drove in both runs on his single w/ no error. He now has 5 RBIs and is 3-for-4. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23JetHawks&src=hash">#JetHawks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Eric L. Smith (@Eric_L_Smith) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_L_Smith/statuses/451926188949123072">April 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Thursday Stories It's Minor League Opening Day! Recap Oklahoma City 7, Round Rock 6 in 11 innings W- Josh Zeid (1-0) L- Cory Burns (0-1) S- Jason Stoffel (1) OKC HRs: Adron Chambers (1, 3-run in 3rd) After giving up a 5-spot to the former AAA club in the 2nd, the RedHawks responded with 5 of their own in the 3rd, as Adron Chambers was the first Astros farmhand to hit a home run. The 3-run shot (1) put OKC on the board, down 5-3. They got 2 more on a Max Stassi groundout and a Domingo Santana single. This game would remain tied at 5 from the 4th to the 10th. In the 11th, Ronald Torreyes legged out a 1-out infield single and advanced to 3rd on a pop fly single from Austin Wates. George Springer brought Torreyes home with a 3rd consecutive single, putting OKC up 6-5. After Jon Singleton flied out for out #2, Stassi poked a single through the left side of the infield to make it 7-5. Everyone in the lineup had a hit: Chambers, who left the game with an injury, Springer, and Jonathan Meyer had 2 hits; Torreyes went 3-5 and scored twice. Rudy Owens went 4 innings and allowed 5 runs on 3 hits (grand slam), walked 2, and struck out 7. Jose Cisnero struck out the side in order in the 5th. Mike Foltynewicz announced his arrival by throwing 3 triple-digit fastballs for his first 3 pitches of the season. He ended up going 3.1 scoreless, allowing 2 hits, walking 2, and striking out 3. Folty was also rather close to a loss, as he left the game with the bases loaded with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th. But, Josh Zeid lent a helping hand as he punched out Chris Snyder and got Jared Hoying to fly out to send this game into extras. Zeid went 1.2 scoreless, allowing a hit and fanning 2. Darin Downs got an out in the 11th, but not before he issued a walk and gave up a single. He gave way to Jason Stoffel, who issued 2 walks (one of which scored a run that was charged to Downs), but was able to close the door by getting 2 strikeouts to end the game. In game 2 of this 4-game set, Jake Buchanan will be teaming with Paul Clemens to take on Nick Tepesch. First pitch is 7:05. Tulsa 5, Corpus Christi 4 in 11 innings W- Ken Roberts (1-0) L- Alex Sogard (0-1) CC HRs: None. The Hooks walked off with a loss as Travis Ballew uncorked a wild pitch to condemn Alex Sogard to an L. Corpus got on the board first in the 2nd inning as Leo Heras ripped a triple to bring home Enrique Hernandez. Tulsa tied the game with a solo homer in the 4th, but Preston Tucker untied it in the 6th with an RBI single. After a 2nd solo homer for the Drillers, Andrew Aplin put the Hooks back in front with an 8th-inning RBI single. Both Aplin and Tucker went 2-5; Aplin stole 2 bases. Jio Mier had a sac fly in the top of the 11th to put CC in the lead, but the bullpen was unable to hold that lead. Brady Rodgers had 5 solid innings as he took one of the Rockies' prized prospects in Eddie Butler. Rodgers allowed a run on a solo homer to Eddie Butler, 4 other hits, walked 1, and struck out 3. Colton Cain tagged in for 3 innings and struck out 4. The only hit (and run) he gave up was a solo homer to Dustin Garneau in the 7th. Jorge De Leon gave up a solo homer (Tulsa's 3rd of the evening) to Cristhian Adames to lead off the 9th, which tied the game at 3. That was the only hit (and run) he gave up in 2 innings of work, walking 1 and striking out 3. Alex Sogard got an out in the 11th as he got Adames to ground into a force out, but he issued a leadoff walk, and a single (and subsequent error from Delino DeShields) put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Travis Ballew came on to try an escape attempt and got Murphy for the 2nd out, but the tying run scored on the play, and one batter later, he went wild. In game 2 of this series, David Rollins and Aaron West will take on Dan Winkler. First pitch will be at 7:05. Lancaster 8, Lake Elsinore 2 W- Kyle Westwood (1-0) L- Joe Ross (0-1) Lancaster HRs: None. The JetHawks came out on top in game 1, thanks to 2 in the 5th and 4 in the 6th, which broke open a 2-1 game. It didn't take long for Carlos Correa to get going. All he did was go 3-4 with 4 RBI. All 3 of his hits were RBI singles. In fact, he drove in a run in all 4 of his plate appearances! He singled in the 1st, the 3rd, and the 6th, and in his other plate appearance, had a groundout that scored Teoscar Hernandez in the 5th. On his 6th-inning single.... 2 runs scored on the play. He was originally credited with an RBI, while the 2nd run scored on an error. Then, they changed it to a 2-run single, so he briefly had 5 RBI. And then they reverted to the RBI single/error call. Tony Kemp was 2-3 with a double, 2 walks, and 4 runs scored. Danry Vasquez was 2-4. Teoscar Hernandez had an RBI triple in the 5th. And finally, Justin Gominsky, in his first game since August 31, 2012, went 1-4 with an RBI single in the 6th and scored a run. Vince Velasquez went 4 innings and allowed a run on 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 7. He also hit a batter. Mitch Lambson worked around a double and a walk to throw a scoreless 5th, striking out Hunter Renfroe to end the inning. Kyle Westwood finished it off, allowing a run on 4 hits and striking out 1 in 4 innings. Game 2 of this series features Lance McCullers and Kyle Smith taking on Zach Eflin. First pitch will be at 6:30 Pacific. Kane County 8, Quad Cities 4 W- Nathan Dorris (1-0) L- Andrew Thurman (0-1) Quad Cities HRs: None. The River Bandits began their Midwest League title defense on a little bit of a down note. Both teams had 11 hits, but the Bandits got doubled up in the column that matters. After the Cougars got a pair off Andrew Thurman in the 1st, QC got one back in the bottom of the inning on a Conrad Gregor groundout. They got 3 in the 3rd thanks to a Chase McDonald RBI double and a 2-run triple from Austin "Catfish" Elkins. Elkins wound up finishing 2-4 with that triple and added a steal (1). Chan-Jong Moon and Brett Phillips also had 2-hit nights, while James Ramsay went 3-5 with a double and a run scored. Thurman went 4 innings and gave up 6 runs (5 earned) on 7 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Zach Morton allowed a hit in a scoreless 5th. Chris Lee was all over the place in his 2 innings, allowing a run on a hit, but he walked 4 and only struck out 1. Tyler Brunnemann pitched the final 2 innings, allowing a run on 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 2. This evening, Kent Emanuel will make his start of the season as he and Jandel Gustave will take on Tyler Skulina. First pitch is at 7:00. Three Stars 3. Mike Foltynewicz, P, Oklahoma City 3.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K Three pitches, two numbers: 101, 100, 101. 2. Tony Kemp, 2B, Lancaster 2-3, 2B, 4 R, 2 BB This Kemp/Correa middle infield should be tons of fun to watch/listen to as long as they're together. 1. Carlos Correa, SS, Lancaster 3-4, 4 RBI Welp, so it begins. Honorable Mentions Adron Chambers, CF, Oklahoma City: I got a chance to see him in action during the exhibition game on Sunday and I came away rather impressed by his defense. Vince Velasquez, P, Lancaster: Despite the walks, he had a very fine outing. Brady Rodgers and Colton Cain, P, Corpus Christi: Rodgers basically battled Eddie Butler, the Rockies' #2 prospect, to a draw. Cain literally made one mistake in dominant outing after tagging in. Goat Opening Day; everyone's exempt.
And here are the Quad Cities pairings: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23qctimes&src=hash">#qctimes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits">@QCRiverBandits</a> will again use a tandem pitching system. Andrew Thurman/Chris Lee go Thurs, Kent Emanuel/Jandel Gustave Fri ....</p>— Steve Batterson (@sbatt79) <a href="https://twitter.com/sbatt79/statuses/451117086744387584">April 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23qctimes&src=hash">#qctimes</a> (2/2) ... Michael Feliz and Evan Grills take the mound Sat, followed by Adrian Houser/Gonzalo Sanudo on Sun. Andrew Walter closes.</p>— Steve Batterson (@sbatt79) <a href="https://twitter.com/sbatt79/statuses/451117418358661120">April 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Honestly, he could. He'd probably struggle, but I think he'd be as good as Villar. I hope this team can show improvement so the team is tempted to call him up in 2015 (of course, it would be even better to see Dominguez & Villar to elevate their games to keep him down).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Way to start the season... <a href="https://twitter.com/okcredhawks">@okcredhawks</a> I'll be ok <a href="http://t.co/gETBMDBanO">pic.twitter.com/gETBMDBanO</a></p>— Adron Chambers (@adron_chambers) <a href="https://twitter.com/adron_chambers/statuses/452183984328286208">April 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Friday Stories Welcome to The Hangar, Lance McCullers. Power outage. Recap Round Rock 5, Oklahoma City 0 Just 4 hits for the RedHawks: Max Stassi had 2 of them, and Austin Wates and George Springer had 1 each. Jake Buchanan went 4 and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits (3-run homer), walked 2, and fanned 3. Chia-Jen Lo tossed a 1-2-3 5th, striking out 2. And, Paul Clemens pitched 3 innings, allowing a run on 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 3. In game 3, Nick Tropeano and Collin McHugh will take on Scott Baker at 6:05. Corpus Christi 2, Tulsa 1 There was no scoring until the 9th. Preston Tucker finally opened the scoring by coming home on a wild pitch, and Jio Mier added another run with an RBI double. Delino DeShields went 1-3 with 2 steals. David Rollins started it off with 4 scoreless, allowing 3 hits, walking 2, and striking out 6. Aaron West followed that up with 4 more scoreless frames; he allowed a hit, walked 1, and fanned 2. West retired 7 straight to wrap up his outing. Alex Sogard got 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, then gave up 2 straight doubles that resulted in Tulsa's run, but recovered to get a strikeout to end the game. The series finale has Luis Cruz and Ross Seaton taking on Jonathan Gray at 7:05. Lake Elsinore 6, Lancaster 1 The JetHawks were held to just 3 hits in this one. 2 of those 3 hits came off the bat of Tony Kemp, who has reached base safely in all but 2 of his plate appearances this season. One of those two hits was a double. Kemp was also hit by a pitch and scored the only Lancaster run of the game on a groundout from Carlos Correa in the 6th. Teoscar Hernandez, who also had a stolen base, had Lancaster's only other hit. Lance McCullers went 4 innings and allowed 2 runs (both on solo homers) on 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 7. Juan Minaya allowed a 2-run homer to Hunter Renfroe in the 5th; both of those runs were unearned, as Correa committed an error earlier. Kyle Smith pitched the final 4 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, walked 2, and fanned 5. Josh Hader and Chris Devenski will be on the mound for game 3; they'll take on Colin Rea. First pitch is at 6:00 Pacific. Quad Cities and Kane County was postponed Due to cold weather. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Due to cold weather, Friday night's game has been postponed. The <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits">@QCRiverBandits</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCougars">@KCCougars</a> will play a 3 p.m. Saturday doubleheader.</p>— QC River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits/statuses/452156496114380800">April 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Three Stars 3. Jio Mier, 3B, Corpus Christi 1-4, RBI double in 9th Big hit at a big moment in the game from Mier. He's looking to put that awful 2013 behind him. 2. Tony Kemp, 2B, Lancaster 2-3, 2B, R, HBP I can't seem to put my finger on why I like him, but he's easily my favorite 2013 draftee. 1. David Rollins and Aaron West, P, Corpus Christi Rollins: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K West: W (1-0), 4 IP, H, BB, 2 K The Lancaster survivors were absolutely brilliant in their first action of the season. Honorable Mentions Max Stassi, C, Oklahoma City: For having 50% of OKC's hits, I suppose. Chia-Jen Lo, P, Oklahoma City: For being the only OKC pitcher to not give up a run. Lance McCullers, P, Lancaster: Other than the 2 solo shots, I thought he actually had a pretty good outing. Paul Clemens, P, Oklahoma City: Very effective after tagging in. He'll vie to be one of the first reinforcements in case someone falters. Goat Jon Singleton, for a hat trick.
I like Kemp too. Very little power, but works the count and provides solid contact. Good, not great, on the bases once on. Astros have a ton of guys that project to be a MLB reserve or fringe starter (I.e. Somewhere between Hoes and Altuve's ability).
It's the Cardinals model. Ensure a steady stream of talent to the bigs (2-3 guys a year) and take a few shots on upside. Luhnows said in the past once they get past the first couple rounds they look for guys with 1-2 tools that are certain to be ML level vs chasing high-risk/high-upside prospects. That's why we end up a lot of college guys in the middle rounds (4-10). Guys like Aplin (defense), Kemp (hit tool), Rodgers, Thurman, etc... Can't argue with the Card's success.
