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Astros Minor League Recap July 30-Aug 5: Rough trip for Fresno

Andrew Gleinser|
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 09: Kyle Tucker #3 of the Houston Astros flies out in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on July 9, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 09: Kyle Tucker #3 of the Houston Astros flies out in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on July 9, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros‘ Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies slogged through a rough week, posting a 2-4 record.

Some struggles on offense held the Fresno Grizzlies back this week, contributing to a poor 2-4 record after last week’s strong performance. The struggles came on the road, as the team was swept at the hands of the Nashville Sounds. The team will look to right the ship this week and get some consistency on offense.

Salvaging a Split

In the finale of a four-game series, Fresno salvaged a split with a 5-3 victory over Omaha on July 30. Josh James tossed 6.1 innings, surrendering three runs and striking out eight. Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer while Taylor Jones doubled twice and drew a walk.

Wrong End of the Broom

Following an off day Tuesday, the Grizzlies opened a three-game series at Nashville with a 5-2 loss on Wednesday. Cy Sneed took the loss, giving up three runs in five innings. Nick Tanielu hit a two-run homer and a double, while Garrett Stubbs went 4-for-4.

Fresno dropped Wednesday’s game by a 2-1 margin. Rogelio Armenteros hurled five scoreless innings, but the bullpen gave up runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Jack Mayfield had two hits, and A.J. Reed singled and drew two walks. The team as a whole managed just five hits.

The Grizzlies lost the series finale 6-2 on Thursday as Nashville completed the sweep. Brady Rodgers took the loss, giving up three runs in 5.2 innings. Stubbs hit a two-run homer, while Kyle Tucker had three hits.

Walking in Memphis

Fresno opened a four-game series at Memphis with a 9-3 victory on Saturday. Trent Thornton authored seven solid innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits. Alvarez hit a grand slam, while Tucker added two hits and two RBIs. Derek Fisher reached base four times, drove in a run and stole a base.

The Grizzlies lost Sunday’s game 6-5 in 10 innings. James tossed six innings, allowing three runs and striking out seven. Reed had three hits and three RBIs, while Myles Straw had two hits and stole two bases.

Player of the Week: Nick Tanielu

The often-overlooked Tanielu has quietly been on a hot streak. He hit safely in all six of the team’s games this week, including three multi-hit efforts. His week’s numbers come out to a .391 average with a homer and three RBIs.

The versatile infielder has played both second and third base this season for Fresno, becoming an everyday player with Tyler White and J.D. Davis in Houston. After a slow start, he’s been a strong contributor for a team needing some offensive punch.

What’s Next

The Grizzlies play two more at Memphis on Monday and Tuesday to conclude the road trip. Following a day off Wednesday, they open a four-game home series against Albuquerque. Fresno sits at 64-49 on the season, six games ahead of second-place Reno.

Schedule