Astros' Farm Headlines: A Perfect Week in Corpus Christi

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Houston Astros Double-A Team is Heating up

After starting the week eight games back of the Frisco Roughriders for first place in the Texas League South, the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros Double-A) used a 6-0 week to bring themselves within three games thanks to plenty of offensive firepower.

Monday: vs. San Antonio, W 8-5

Tuesday: vs. San Antonio, W 5-3

Thursday: vs. Frisco, W 6-5

Friday: vs. Frisco, W 5-2, W 6-0

Saturday: vs. Frisco, W 6-3

Sunday: vs. Frisco, PPD

Current Record: 20-15, 2nd in South Division, three games back of Frisco

Next: Hitting

Hitting

Apr 27, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis (11) hits a two-RBI double during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY SportsIt was the usual suspects plus /

Gattis is hitting .203 with the Astros in 11 games

Evan Gattis, a rental from the big league club, leading the charge for the Corpus Christi offense. Gattis mashed a pair of home runs, finishing the week 7-18 with four RBIs. Although Gattis was sent down to get some work in behind the dish, the four-year vet hasn’t really settled in with the bat so far in 2016. Gattis is hitting .203 with the Astros in 11 games this year with six hits in 64 at-bats. Five of his hits have gone for extra bases, which is great, but the ability to put a ball through the infield is something that will be asked of him at the big league level.

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J.D. Davis led the Hooks this week with a .409/.409/.818 split while driving in six runs and scoring five on his own. Only Alex Bregman had more RBIs this week, driving in 7. Bregman got the start at third base in the front half of Friday’s doubleheader. This situation will be monitored going forward as third base figures to be a position of need for Houston this year and in the future. Colin Moran, currently with the Astros’ AAA affiliate Fresno Grizzlies figures to get the first shot.

The month of May might have been most kind to Derek Fisher. Fisher has reached safely in 11 of the Hooks 14 games this month including a 3 for five outing on Saturday. His five home runs this month lead the team and give him eight long balls on the season. He is on pace to finish close to his home run total from last year, 30, all with the Lancaster Jethawks.

Next: Pitching

Pitching

photo credit to Rich Guill (@QCBanditPhotog) /

The pitcher of the week for the Hooks has to be Canadian southpaw Evan Grills, who made his AA debut on Friday evening at Whataburger Field. Grills allowed just one hit and struck out five in a complete-game victory over Fresno, throwing just 80 pitches in the seven-inning contest. Grills comes to Corpus Christi after spending the last three seasons with Lancaster where he had 5.45 ERA, 89 K, 34 BB.

Francis Martes ranked #34 in MLB’s top 100 prospects, turned in another iffy performance on Tuesday, picking up a win in his five-inning start in which he allowed three runs. The win was his first since April 9th, his only quality start in 2016. The Dominican native’s ERA now sits at 7.06 for the season.

Next: Astros’ Lineup Top Heavy? Bottom Third of Lineup is Struggling

It will be interesting to see who steps up in the rotation following the promotion of Joe Musgrove on Thursday. Musgrove dominated in 6 appearances for the Hooks, allowing just one earned run in 26 and a third innings pitched resulting in a 0.34 ERA. His .834 WHIP was the best mark in the Texas League before his promotion.

*** Stats from Baseball-Reference and MiLB.com ***