Astros Minor League Recap July 17-22: Fresno widens division lead

Despite an uninspiring week, the Houston Astros‘ Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies stretched their division lead.

Posting a 4-3 record for a week is not spectacular. Yet in spite of that, the team’s division lead doubled. Following July 16’s games, Fresno’s lead was 3.5 games. Thanks to a losing streak from Tacoma, the lead is now at seven games. The Grizzlies were able to play well enough this week to take advantage.

For those Astros fans keeping tabs, Ken Giles allowed one run on five hits in his first 3.1 innings for Fresno. He struck out six and walked one. That’s good for a 2.70 ERA and 1.80 WHIP.

Split in Sacramento

After dropping the first game of a four-game home series against Sacramento on July 16, Fresno won Tuesday’s game 8-3. Josh James gave up three runs in six innings, striking out 12. Jake Marisnick had three hits, including a two-run homer. Giles made his first appearance, allowing two hits and striking out two in a scoreless frame.

The Grizzlies dropped Wednesday’s game 12-2. Cy Sneed coughed up eight runs on eight hits in four innings. Yordan Alvarez hit a solo homer, but the offense managed just three hits.

Fresno salvaged a series split with an 8-7 victory on Thursday in 10 innings. Mike Hauschild gave up six runs (five earned) in 5.2 innings. Derek Fisher hit a grand slam, while Alvarez had two hits and two walks.

Arriving in Albuquerque

The Grizzlies opened a road series at Albuquerque with an 8-5 win on Friday. Brock Dykxhoorn went six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) to improve to 5-1. A.J. Reed homered and drove in five, while Tyler White reached base four times. Marisnick went 4-for-4 with a walk, finishing a homer shy of the cycle. Giles allowed a run on two hits and a walk, recording just one out.

Fresno lost the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader 7-4 in seven innings. Brady Rodgers gave up six runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Alvarez hit a two-run homer, while Taylor Jones and Jamie Ritchie also went deep.

Saturday’s second game was the completion of the suspended game started on June 3. Fresno lost that game 10-3. Pitching both before and after the game was suspended, Rogelio Armenteros threw an eight-inning complete game, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits with 11 strikeouts. Myles Straw drove in two runs and stole a base.

The Grizzlies again salvaged a split, winning Sunday’s game 10-4. Trent Thornton fanned 10 batters in five innings, allowing just one run. Jack Mayfield finished a triple shy of the cycle, driving in two. Garrett Stubbs had two hits and two RBIs, while White homered and drove in two.

Player of the Week: Tyler White

He only played in three games this week following his return to Fresno, but White gets the nod. He posted three hits, five walks and three RBIs in those games, making an impact in all of them. The Fresno lineup will surely benefit from White’s returned presence.

Next: How the Astros can acquire Zach Britton

What’s Next

Following a day off on Monday, the Grizzlies open a seven-game home stand against Iowa and Omaha. Thanks to a six-game losing streak by second-place Tacoma, the Grizzlies’ division lead has been stretched to seven games. Their record on the season is 58-43.