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Astros’ Hooks Hope to Use Extra Inning Theatrics to Spur Winning Streak

By Matthew Bartlett |
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Saturday night might prove to be the catalyst the Astros’ Corpus Christi Hooks need to get back on the right foot and climb out of a five-game deficit in the South division.

Down by a run to the Frisco Roughriders in the 9th inning, on Saturday Conrad Gregor‘s homered to center field, tying the game in dramatic fashion. Things were quiet until the 14th inning when Albert Minnis allowed a solo home run to Luis Martes. Nick Tanielu led off the bottom of the inning with a home run. The Hooks would load the bases on a dropped third strike, hit batter, and an intentional walk before Garrett Stubbs knocked in the winning run with a single to right field.

Then there was the brawl on Sunday night. After being hit by a pitch from Frisco pitcher Yohander Mendez, Danry Vasquez charged the mound, inciting a benches-clearing fracas. See the video below:

Alejandro was activated from the seven-day disabled list. Gonzalo Sanudo and Chase McDonald was placed on the temporary inactive list. Right-handed pitcher Trent Thornton and outfielder Ramon Laureano both joined the Hooks this week. Chan Moon rejoined the Fresno Grizzlies on Thursday.

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Game Results

Monday: @ Midland W 3-2

Tuesday: @ Midland L 2-14

Wednesday: @ Midland L 4-5

Thursday: Frisco L 6-7

Friday: Frisco W 4-3

Saturday: Frisco W 8-7

Sunday: Frisco L 6-7

Second Half Record: 14-16, 3rd in the South Division, five games behind Midland

Next: Offense

Offense

After several weeks of inconsistency, the bats have started to wake up again thanks in part to the newest additions to the lineup: Stubbs, Laureano, and Nolan Fontana. These new Hooks combined for a .433 on-base percentage in 51 collective at-bats.

Related Story: Corpus Christi Player Spotlight: Nolan Fontana

Laureano’s promotion from the Lancaster Jethawks this week was well deserved. The 22-year-old outfielder was a 16th round pick by the Astros in 2014 and was hitting .317 with 34 extra base hits in the California League this season. In three games with the Hooks, he’s three for nine with a pair of doubles.

The biggest punches came from Tanielu and J.D. Davis. Tanielu’s 14th inning long ball was just one of his eight hits in the six games he participated in this week. He has helped solidify the Corpus Christi infield instead of the recent promotions of Alex Bregman and Moon. Tanielu has spent most of his time at second base. At third base, Davis has been the rock for this team.  He and Derek Fisher are the only current players that have played at least 30 games with Corpus Christi and had an OPS above .780, .790 and .822 respectively.

Next: Pitching and Defense

Defense and Pitching

More from Prospects

After a rough stretch, the Hooks pitching staff has continued to be up and down. Collectively the starters posted a 5.89 ERA. That large number masks some gems thrown by

Kent Emanuel

and

Edison Frias

. Frias has posted his second consecutive quality start, providing some semblance of stability among rocky starts this week from the often reliable

Keegan Yuhl

and

Cy Sneed

.

Emanuel, a third-round pick of the Astros in 2014 joined the Hooks late last year, posting a 3.68 ERA in four appearances. In 10 appearances in 2016, the lefty holds a 3.88 ERA – inflated by a disastrous two-inning, eight run drubbing by the Tulsa Drillers in early July. On Monday Emanuel worked seven innings of shutout baseball, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out five. He wasn’t as lucky the second time around, giving up three earned runs in five and two-thirds innings.

Next: The Alex Bregman Watch is Over

Out of the bullpen Chris Cotton and Albert Minnis picked up their first saves of the season. Aaron West, the club’s closer after the promotion of Brendan McCurry has struggled recently, the last recording a save on July 13th against Frisco, blowing a save in the same series. West has not appeared in a save situation since, but he has picked up two holds.

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

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