ASTROS DAILY CLIPSFriday, August 21, 2015

McHugh gets out despite tripping during pitchAstros righty induces ground ball back to the mound to end fourthBy: Chandler Rome / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- With a run already allowed in the fourth and his team facing Rays aceChris Archer, Astros starter Collin McHugh could ill afford another slip up. It's what happened, though, on an 0-1 pitch to Kevin Kiermaier.

McHugh's spike got caught in his delivery, but the righty recovered to throw a 54-mph cutter. Kiermaier grounded it harmlessly back to McHugh, who tossed to first baseman Marwin Gonzalez for the third out of the inning, stranding Desmond Jennings at first. The Astros lost, 1-0, after Archer fired a complete-game one-hitter.

"I don't know if I'm more impressed that he threw it for a strike or that he fielded his position," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "I think both are rarities when it comes to that. That was a very effective pitch."

McHugh was more impressed with Kiermaier.

"I was impressed he swung at it," McHugh said. "More of a reaction thing."

It was deja vu of sorts for McHugh, who had a similar mishap at home last season against the Rays. Trailing 2-0 in the fourth inning on June 13, 2014, McHugh fell off the mound while throwing a curveball to Matt Joyce, who took the called strike to run the count full.

The strange inning-ending play was preceded by another unusual out from McHugh, who backhanded James Loney's sharp grounder back to the mound on the first pitch of the inning. Loney hit the ball at 80 mph, per Statcast™, but McHugh got his glove up just in time to snare it and toss to Gonzalez for the first out.

After the zany inning, McHugh retired nine of the next 11 hitters he faced, allowing just two singles -- a valiant effort to keep the Astros within reach of Archer.

"No margin for error with Archer and the way he was throwing tonight, and McHugh was matching him inning by inning and had good stuff, good finish on his pitches," Hinch said. "He had all of command. A true pitchers' duel that their guy was just better."

Astros held to one hit in loss to RaysBy: Bill Chastain and Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Chris Archer threw four consecutive balls to start his outing on Thursday night, walking leadoff hitter Jose Altuve. The Rays' ace was nearly untouchable after that, sending down 26 of the final 27 batters while throwing a dazzling one-hit shutout to beat the Astros, 1-0, at Minute Maid Park.

Archer struck out 11 batters en route to throwing his third career shutout, his first in more than two years. He faced one batter over the minimum and threw the Rays' first complete game in nearly a year (Aug. 22, 2014), needing 98 pitches. Archer also became the fifth pitcher in the Wild Card era to strike out 11 or more batters on fewer than 100 pitches in a nine-inning complete game.

"They're an aggressive team also," Archer said. "Right out of the gate I was mixing my pitches a little bit better. I had my changeup going. And that was a difference-maker."

The Astros, who had posted walk-off wins the previous two nights, squandered a chance to add to their lead in the American League West over the second-place Angels and third-place Rangers, who both lost. Houston has a 2 1/2-game lead over Los Angeles and a four-game lead over Texas.

"That lineup over there is no joke," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "They have the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark throughout that lineup. And Arch just navigated his way through it."

Archer didn't allow a baserunner after the walk to Altuve until Colby Rasmus led off the fifth with the Astros' lone hit. It was the third time this year the Astros have been held to one hit.

"He's the story of the game," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He was in complete control. He's the real deal. He's got every pitch and he had it tonight. I don't know if that was his best because I'm not around him on a day to day basis, but it's the best we've seen and certainly he was in total command. His first four pitches were his worst four pitches, and after that he was very dominant."

Astros starter Collin McHugh pitched well in defeat, allowing one run, five hits and two walks in seven innings. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 outings, going 7-4 with a 2.84 ERA in that spanMOMENTS THAT MATTEREDMcHugh on the spot defensively: McHugh pitched well in defeat, and he made a pair of eye-popping defensive plays in the fourth. He reached behind his back to snag a James Loney grounder to start the fourth, and he ended the inning by tripping while he was throwing a pitch, a soft toss that Kevin Kiermaier tapped back to the mound for the third out. More >

Jennings back on track: Desmond Jennings went 6-for-13 when he first returned from the 60-day disabled list (left knee bursitis), but carried an 0-for-7 mark since then entering Thursday night's game. Jennings snapped that skid with singles in his first two at-bats. The second one came in the fourth and drove in Logan Forsythe to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.

QUOTABLE"It feels good. We played some good baseball games here. To split the series, that team is a very talented team. We can say coulda, shoulda, woulda all day long. We're happy with the way we played here. We just have to carry it into Oakland." -- Cash, on earning the series split with the Astros

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDSThe Rays won their third 1-0 game this season. The win marked their 69th game this season (35-34) that has been decided by two runs or fewer. Fourteen of their last 19 games have been decided by one or two runs.

WHAT'S NEXTRays: Drew Smyly (0-2, 4.35 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season and second since returning from the 60-day disabled list (torn left labrum) on Friday against the A's at 10:05 p.m. ET. He came through his first outing healthy but had some command issues, mostly with his offspeed stuff. When Smyly is in charge, he commands the strike zone and changes speeds well.

Astros: Right-hander Mike Fiers (5-9, 3.87 ERA) will make his third start with Houston since coming over in a trade with the Brewers when the Astros open a three-game series against the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. CT on Friday at Minute Maid Park. He's posted a 0.75 ERA over 12 innings in two starts with the Astros.

Wrist improving, Springer takes dry swingsAstros outfielder could participate in batting practice next weekBy: Chandler Rome / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Though he's yet to swing a regular bat, Astros outfielder George Springer is pleased with the rehabilitation of his right wrist fracture and hopes to begin hitting balls soon.

In addition to shagging balls, lifting weights and staying in shape, Springer has swung a fungo bat in the cages for the last few days, though they were dry swings that didn't involve making contact with balls.

"It feels good, I like the progression of my hands so far," Springer said of the swings. "We'll obviously take it one day at a time and whatever happens, happens."

Springer, who was hit by an Edinson Volquez fastball on July 1 and placed on the disabled list the next day, was cleared to resume baseball activities last Friday. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said when he was cleared that Springer had exceeded doctors' expectations.

Before Thursday's series finale against the Rays, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the goal was to get Springer back on the field relatively soon. The success of the Astros' farm system also aids the process, as both Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Corpus Christi appear primed for playoff runs, meaning more games for Springer to use as possible rehab assignments.

"The progression of his swings are going to increase in intensity and create some resistance by hitting an actual ball," Hinch said. "You know, obviously if we need that much time it's always nice to have available games [in the Minor Leagues], but I'm not sure how the timing collides yet until we really get George into a BP session to where we know when he's ready to play."

Hinch said Springer's first batting practice would likely come during the team's upcoming six-game road trip to New York and Minnesota. Springer said he's felt some "standard" soreness since he's resumed baseball activities, but it's come more from his six weeks of immobilization and the need to shake off some cobwebs.

For now, Springer said he'll continue to bring the same levity and energy to the ballpark each day, continuing his rehab and playing video games -- he claimed working the controllers also help his wrist.

"I understand I have to be even more patient now and be smart about it," Springer said. "Just continue to support the guys."

Astros call up Velasquez, option FieldsRookie to pitch in relief with bullpen needing a fresh armBy: Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- With their bullpen having thrown nine innings the previous two nights, the Astros on Thursday called up rookie right-hander Vincent Velasquez from Double-A Corpus Christi for his third stint with the club. That was bad news for Josh Fields, who was optioned to Double-A because he had pitched in four of the previous five games and wouldn't have been available for a few days.

Fields improved to 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA by getting the win in Wednesday's 3-2 victory and was simply the odd man out. He has 54 strikeouts in 41 innings with a 0.95 WHIP, so he's been pitching well. He'll have to stay in Corpus Christi at least 10 days unless there's an injury, and manager A.J. Hinch said he would appear in a couple of games.

"We needed a fresh arm, and Josh is the guy with options," Hinch said. "So it's fallen to him."

Velasquez went 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA in nine games (seven starts) with the Astros in June, July and August and was sent back to Double-A following his Aug. 1 outing against the D-backs because the Astros are limiting his innings. He's thrown in four games in August for the Hooks, allowing three earned runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. MLBPipeline.com ranks him as the Astros' No. 5 prospect.

"When there's probably one guy you have to go and get out, it changes the whole game, the whole situation, so you can't just go out there and throw the fastball the first pitch," Velasquez said of pitching in relief. "They might swing and hit it and hit a home run, and that changes the whole game. You just have to be a student of the game while you're out there. You have to watch the game, you have to watch the hitters. That's pretty much what I learned."

Hinch said the club talked about possibly sending down a position player instead of Fields, but outfielder Carlos Gomez has been under the weather, outfielder Colby Rasmus is dealing with various aches and third baseman Jed Lowrie isn't playing every day after missing three months with a thumb injury.

"Those guys aren't obviously in the conversation, but they affect how the rest of the roster is needed," Hinch said. "The way Marwin [Gonzalez] is playing, the way that [Jake] Marisnick can come off the bench, they all add something different. You're taking somewhere, something out of your team whenever you make a move like this. With Fields being down for a few days and the 'pen needing a jolt of freshness, we felt like that was the better option."

Fiers looking for first Minute Maid Park winBy: Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

Chase Utley has worn a Phillies uniform for every one of his 1,551 career games. But on Friday night, he'll take the field in Dodger blue for the first time.

Utley, who was acquired from the Phillies in exchange for Minor Leaguers Darnell Sweeney and John Richy, spent the first 13 years of his career in Philadelphia, and figures to slot in at second base for the Dodgers, who are without Howie Kendrick (hamstring).

Los Angeles sends Brett Anderson to the mound against the Astros' Mike Fiers. Anderson has allowed one earned run in nine innings against the Astros in his career with 13 strikeouts. He last faced them on Sept. 8, 2013, in a three-inning save while with Oakland.

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig's availability could be a game-time decision. He left Tuesday night's game against the A's with a slight hamstring strain, missed Wednesday's game and rested on the off-day Thursday. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Puig might be used as a designated hitter.

Things to know about this game• Fiers battled control issues in his last start on Sunday against Detroit, nearly walking the bases loaded in the third before rebounding to go 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. He got a no-decision. It will be just his second start in Minute Maid Park since he was acquired as part of the Carlos Gomez deal.

• In their last 15 games, the Astros have a 2.42 team ERA but are hitting just .201 -- fresh off Rays ace Chris Archer's one-hit shutout to end their series with Tampa Bay.

• The Dodgers are 8-6 in Interleague Play.

Chris Archer dominates Astros as Rays pull off series spiltBy: Evan Drellich / Houston Chronicle

At some point, the Astros need to beat the best pitching again. On Thursday, there was just a lifeless lineup in a lifeless stadium.

There was no walk-off or much else redeeming for the Astros outside of Collin McHugh’s start opposite Rays All-Star Chris Archer in a 1-0 loss at Minute Maid Park, where Archer had full control over a lineup that typically makes opponents work at least a tiny bit harder.

Colby Rasmus’ single to start the fifth inning was the Astros’ lone hit as Archer struck out 11 and allowed just two base runners in a complete game. The other runner came on a walk to Jose Altuve, Archer’s first batter of the evening.

“He’s the story of the game,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He was in complete control. He’s the real deal. He’s got every pitch and he had it tonight. I don’t know if that was his best, because I’m not around him on a day-to-day basis, but it’s the best we’ve seen and certainly he was in total command. His first four pitches were his worst four pitches, and after that he was very dominant.”

Archer, who throws 96 mph, is undoubtedly one of baseball’s best. He became just the fourth in his franchise’s history to eclipse 200 strikeouts in a season Thursday.

He made greater history, though, by virtue of his pitch count. From 1914 on, he’s just the eighth pitcher to go nine innings and strike out at least 11 hitters on fewer than 100 pitches. He’s the fifth to do so from 2011 on.

Not many were around to witness brilliance. For the second time in this midweek series, the Astros drew fewer than 20,000 fans, with an announced tickets sold figure of 18,177. Tuesday’s game brought 17,749 sold seats, with 26,001 announced Wednesday.

The game’s only run came in the fourth, on Desmond Jennings’ two-out single. Logan Forsythe scored after he singled with one out and moved up to second on a wild pitch.

Even if the Astros are content to tip their caps to Archer, there should be disappointment in how few tosses he needed to dominate.

“You watch the game?” Carlos Gomez said.

“Were you here?” Marwin Gonzalez said. “You could see, one hit. It was a ground ball. It wasn’t even hard. It was his night. … Tomorrow’s another day, another pitcher.”

With an 89-mph slider that drew 11 swings and misses, Archer had his most taxing inning in a 17-pitch first, which Altuve led off with a walk. Two strikeouts followed before Altuve was thrown out at second base. He was caught stealing for all intents and purposes, although it was not officially scored that way because the pitch he ran on bounced.

The Astros had only one runner the rest of the night, Rasmus, and Archer finished three of the final five frames on fewer than 10 pitches.

Archer took a picture with Hinch’s two daughters at the All-Star game in Cincinnati this year, and started off his post-game press conference Thursday by playfully saying he was motivated to impress the skipper’s kids.

“I was in their hometown and I wanted to perform well for two of my biggest fans,” Archer said.

Even if it seems the Astros don’t take a lot of pitches, they usually do. (It requires at least three pitches to strike out, after all.) Since the All-Star Break, the Astros and Mets entered Thursday virtually tied for the second-most pitches per plate appearance in the majors, 3.95. The Cubs were leading at 4.04.

“In hindsight looking back, we could have just taken pitches and saw what happened, but pitch recognition is pretty hard when a guy is throwing 90-mph sliders,” Hinch said. “It’s hard to fault he hitters. They’re battling, they’re trying. It was 11 punchouts, one walk. He wasn’t missing with his command. A couple of balls we hit pretty hard, a couple of good swings, but we didn’t do as much.”

The Astros have been shut down by more than one top arm lately. The Tigers’ Justin Verlander pitched well on Saturday in seven innings of three-hit ball. The Giants’ Madison Bumgarner allowed one run in a complete game last week, not long after the A’s Sonny Gray did the same.

The Rays and Astros split this four-game series. In the seven-game season series, the Astros went 2-5 and scored just 12 runs.

McHugh’s gone seven innings in three of four outings this month, on the upswing after tougher times in the first half. He has a 1.66 ERA on the month, plus 26 strikeouts and eight walks. Five of the Ks came Thursday along with two of the free passes.

The righty also had an impressive behind-the-back snag on a comebacker for the first out of the fourth inning Thursday.

The next comebacker, on the final out of the fourth inning, was nearly a stumble for the pitcher. It came on a pitch where it looked like McHugh skipped to his left before throwing a 54 mph cutter to lefthanded hitting Kevin Kiermaier.

McHugh last year made a very similar slow pitch while facing another lefthanded Rays hitter at Minute Maid Park, on June 13. Matt Joyce took it for a called strike and ended up walking.

Apparently, it’s not trickery. McHugh said Thursday that the pitch both times was unintentional. His spike got caught.

“I don’t know if it was — was it against? It was, it was Joyce,” McHugh said when asked about the previous slow pitch. “I was thinking Joyce when he played for the Angels. But yeah, it was Joyce against the Rays. And he took it. So I assumed that Kiermaier’s going to take it and he didn’t. It was pretty much the exact same thing happened, except it was a curveball that one. This was a cutter.”

A night after recording his 15th homer and later his first career walk-off hit a night earlier, Carlos Correa was hitless. According to Elias, only two players have hit at least 15 homers in fewer big leagues game before turning 21 years old: Willie Mays (55 games in 1951) and Frank Robinson (58 games in 1956).

Scouting report: Astros vs. Los Angeles DodgersBy: Cory McCord / Houston Chronicle

Three things to watch in the series:1. The Astros’ trade with the Marlins last deadline that sent Jarred Cosart out and brought in Jake Marisnick as well as surging pitching prospect Francis Martes looks great for the Astros. But quietly, Kiké Hernandez, traded alongside Cosart to the Marlins and now with the first-place Dodgers, has had an excellent season. The 23-year-old is on a six-game hit streak filling in for Howie Kendrick at second base, going 11-for-25 in that stretch. In 19 games and 15 starts from July 21 on, he’s batting .382 with a 1.070 OPS. The trouble for Hernandez is that the Dodgers plan to have a new second baseman debuting Friday, Chase Utley, just traded over from the Phillies, pushing the Dodgers payroll near $300 million.

2. Houston native Carl Crawford had a five-game hit streak snapped Wednesday but is still hitting .333 with a .381 on-base percentage and .462 slugging percentage since he returned from the disabled list July 21.

3. Losers of two straight, the Dodgers are the best homer hitting team in the National League with 148. Rookie center fielder Joc Pederson has 23. But their pitching is equally scary. Closer Kenley Jansen has converted 17 consecutive save opportunities, and starters Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw are as good a 1-2 punch as can be found. “We try to play with a lead against guys like that, get out in front of it, hunt for mistakes,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “They might only make one every now and then. The good thing: we have guys throughout the lineup that can capitalize on them. But we’re going to have to scratch and claw. We did last road trip. We faced Sonny Gray and Madison Bumgarner. It doesn’t get any easier.”

Pitching matchups:Friday: RHP Mike Fiers (5-9, 3.87) vs. LHP Brett Anderson (7-7, 3.48)

Saturday: LHP Scott Kazmir (6-8, 2.43) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (13-2, 1.58)

Sunday: RHP Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.17) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.34)

Tony Sipp has been sterling since early JulyBy: Evan Drellich / Houston Chronicle

There was only one Astros reliever who didn’t make it into Wednesday’s 13-inning, 3-2 win, although he certainly would have had the game progressed. He happens to be one of four relievers in the majors with at least 10 innings thrown from July 7 on and no earned runs allowed.

Lefty Tony Sipp was bit by the home run earlier this year, but he’s been lights out for a month and a half now. Going into play July 7, he had a 3.26 ERA. Fourteen scoreless innings in 14 appearances later, he’s dropped that mark to 2.23 with a stretch of 13 strikeouts, four walks, six hits and a .128 batting average against.

“I think I’ve mixed it up good and I think location’s been better. Spotting fastballs,” Sipp said. “I’m setting guys up a little better. I’m throwing a lot more splits to righties. My slider’s been a little better to lefties. … I think I’m giving batters more to think about now, as far as, now you can’t eliminate pitches, because I have everything working.”

Sipp, 32, and in his second year with the Astros, is still one of the best pick-ups this front office has made. He acknowledged that he’s made mistake pitches lately — everyone does — but, as is the case when things are going well, they haven’t been capitalized on as they were before.

“I’ve just been lucky and it’s been hard work on my part,” Sipp said.

Oliver Perez’s arrival following Joe Thatcher’s departure means the Astros again can use Sipp freely against lefties and righties. He’s slider heavy against lefties and splitter-heavy vs. righties, with a funky grip on his splitter.

Perez, it turns out, is one of the four pitchers without an unearned run in the same span. Brett Cecil of the Blue Jays and Burke Badenhop of the Reds are the other two.

Pitching coach Brent Strom said Sipp’s funky (but effective) mechanics aren’t anything he’s changed since earlier in the season. Sipp feels he’s had better focus.

“You know, most important thing in life, right now, is to make this down and away pitch,” he said of the mound mindset. “Just taking it slow — not trying to bring more effort, but just more focused. A lot of times, you try to do more with effort when situations are a little more tense. We should have more focus. I think that’s at least what I’m telling myself the difference between myself (is from now and earlier). You know, more focused then ever.”

It’s a big year for Sipp personally because he’s a free agent after the season, but he said he’s put pressure on himself before, when he was first eligible for arbitration, and it got him nowhere.

“All the extra free agency, us chasing playoffs, everything, it’ll take care of itself if I make that down and away pitch,” Sipp said.

Vince Velasquez never felt fatigued but understands need for restBy: Evan Drellich / Houston Chronicle

Vince Velasquez was going to come back. This is just a little sooner than expected.

The reliever brings a fresh arm to the Astros bullpen ahead of the Sept. 1 roster expansion, when he was roughly expected back in the fold. Velasquez, like fellow rookie Lance McCullers, was sent to Class AA Corpus Christi so his workload could be limited.

For Velasquez, there was an added goal of transitioning to the bullpen as well.

“When there’s probably one guy you have to go and get out, it changes the whole game, the whole situation, so you can’t just go out there and throw the fastball the first pitch,” Velasquez said. “They might swing and hit it and hit a home run, and that changes the whole game. You just have to be a student of the game while you’re out there. While you’re out there in the game, you have to watch the game, you have to watch the hitters. That’s’ pretty much what I learned.”

Both Velasquez and McCullers likely would have preferred never to have gone down to the minors. The rest, Velasquez said, wasn’t something he felt he needed — although he knows why it was afforded to him.

“I threw one day, then I would have probably a day off or two,” Velasquez said of his usage in four outings since he was optioned Aug. 1. “There was one time I threw three innings and then I had three days off. But, the rest — I wasn’t tired. I wasn’t fatigued or anything like that. Even throughout this whole season I haven’t been tired or anything. I’ve been on the go. I’ve been ready to go either way, whatever the role was. … I’m just ready to play.

“(Lance and I are) just taking it as it is. We have no say in anything like that. I mean, we could give our opinions but it’s not going to matter. I mean, they’re just looking out for us. … I just got to make the best of it.”

Velasquez’s usage could be anything while he’s here. He’s still stretched out and said he could go seven or eight innings were he asked to.

“At this point I feel like I could go even nine,” Velasquez said.

“May be similar to (Josh) Fields,” manager A.J. Hinch said of his usage plan for Velasquez. “He can extend his outings a little bit if we get into a long-man situation. He can stretch out to 50, 60, 70 pitches. But you know… roles are out the window when it comes to how the bullpen has been taxed the last couple of days. So you may see guys, including Velasquez, out of their normal role, just trying to make sure that we get reset.”

Josh Fields optioned with roster bind and tired bullpenBy: Evan Drellich / Houston Chronicle

The blessing and curse that are minor league options hurt Astros reliever Josh Fields on Thursday, when he was sent to Class AA Corpus Christi to make room for a fresh arm in rookie Vince Velasquez.

Because the righty Fields can still freely be sent to the minor leagues, he was the odd man out after a 13-inning game on Wednesday night when six of seven relievers were used. It was the third extra-innings game the Astros have played in their last five.

The Astros are carrying a 12-man pitching staff and seven-man bullpen and could have returned to 13 pitchers and optioned a position player instead. Manager A.J. Hinch said that path was considered.

“A little bit,” Hinch said. “But we’re not completely 100 percent on the position-player side either. (Carlos) Gomez being under the weather in the last (few days) — and Colby (Rasmus) both have been banged up a little bit. I’m obviously being very cautious with Jed (Lowrie who is coming back from thumb surgery). Those guys aren’t obviously in the conversation, but they affect how the rest of the roster is needed.

“The way Marwin (Gonzalez is) playing, the way that (Jake) Marisnick can come off the bench, they all add something different. You’re taking somewhere, something out of your team whenever you make a move like this. With Fields being down for a few days and the ‘pen needing a jolt of freshness we felt like that was the better option.”

The Astros still look likely to option a position player to make room for Lance McCullers’ planned return to the rotation Sunday. Dropping down to a six-man bullpen is not expected.

Fields (and any optioned player) cannot return to the majors until 10 days have passed unless there’s an injury situation. Hinch said Fields would pitch with Corpus.

Although Chris Carter has struggled greatly, the Astros are clearly intent on keeping him at this point. When rosters expand Sept. 1, situations like these — debates about the merits of the 25 spots on the roster — will no longer be a problem because the Astros can carry anyone on their 40-man roster.

George Springer swinging, but not at a baseball for nowBy: Evan Drellich / Houston Chronicle

George Springer has been swinging a fungo bat in the cage but is unlikely to take standard batting practice (indoor or outdoor) before the Astros’ six-game, seven-day road trip through New York and Minnesota next week.

As Springer swings a fungo right now — which is lighter than a regular bat — there isn’t any ball or contact involved. It’s a dry swing, so to speak.

“It feels good, I like the progression of my hands so far,” said Springer, who’s on his sixth day strengthening his right wrist following a fracture. “There really isn’t any medical reason to why I can’t progress. It’s all about how I feel. I’ve been immobilized for six weeks so I have to get my hand in shape and my wrist in shape.”

Both Class AAA Fresno and Class AA Corpus Christi’s regular seasons end on Sept. 7. Both teams should be in the playoffs if Springer still needs to be playing rehab games at that point. Manager A.J. Hinch indicated the Astros hope Springer is ready before then.

“Depends how much time George needs,” Hinch said. “We’re going to try to get him on the field here hopefully relatively soon. Not today, not tomorrow. The progression of his swings are going to increase in intensity and create some resistance by hitting an actual ball. You know, obviously, if we need that much time, it’s always nice to have

available games, but I’m not sure how the timing collides yet until we really get George into a BP session to where we know when he’s ready to play.”

The bone that suffered a non-displaced fracture is called the pisiform bone near the base of the pinky finger, and it’s completely healed, Springer said. The wrist is made up of several small bones.

Springer said he feels some expected discomfort as he goes through exercises.

“Just your standard stuff,” Springer said. “I was kind of immobile for six weeks so you have to shake off the cobwebs.

Carlos Gomez returns to lineup, working on posture at plateBy: Evan Drellich / Houston Chronicle

Carlos Gomez said he caught the flu a couple days ago and it left him weak with a fever. He was well enough to return to the lineup Thursday, batting fifth in center field, after sitting out Wednesday.

“OK today. I’m back,” Gomez said. “I sweat a little bit outside running. But I can play.”

If he’s able to be on the field, the Astros need him to perform better than he has.

“His swings the last couple games have been fine,” manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday. “The results still haven’t come as consistently as he’s liked and we would like. You’re always tweaking things, whether it’s posture or the pace of his swing. He puts about everything into his game … as much as anybody. He swings hard, he runs hard. He plays with his hair on fire in the outfield.

Gomez’s posture at the plate has him closed. As he starts his swing steps and steps forward, he tends to become even more closed, which might be adding to the violence of his swing.

“I think finding that happy medium of where he can be the most productive is probably the best bet,” Hinch said. “But he has one speed and that’s full speed. So we’ve got to make sure mechanically and posture-wise he’s in a good position to recognize pitches and put a good swing on the pitch.”

Rays' Chris Archer 1-hits Astros after allowing 11 hits, 8 runs in last startBy: Associated Press / espn.com

HOUSTON -- Tampa Bay's Chris Archer gained a pair of young fans at this year's All-Star Game and gave them a shout-out after pitching a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over their father's team on Thursday night.

"I was motivated by Haley and Kaitlin, A.J. Hinch's two daughters, who ever since we took a selfie together at the All-Star Game, they've adored me," Archer said before flashing a huge grin. "So I wanted to -- I was in their hometown and I wanted to perform well for two of my biggest fans."

Archer, allowed only a fifth-inning single by Colby Rasmus, and struck out 11 to lead the Tampa Bay Rays over the Houston Astros.

Hinch had talked about the affinity his daughters had for Archer all week and said they weren't allowed to root for him against the Astros. Archer, who sent over signed copies of the Baseball America he's on the cover of to the girls, laughed when told of Hinch's comments.

"I'd like to have them ... at least watching every game I throw from here on out because the outcome is good when they're watching," Archer said.

It was Archer's third career shutout and second against the Astros, having also blanked them in 2013. Archer's complete game ends a streak of 154 games without one for the Rays, which was the longest span in the AL. Their last one came when Drew Smyly did it against the Blue Jays on August 22, 2014.

Archer (11-9) retired the final 15 batters, fanning five. Rasmus led off the fifth with a groundball single and was the last runner for the AL West leaders.

"His pitches were low, he was extremely efficient," manager Kevin Cash said. "He was efficient even with the high strikeouts. It was going to be his ballgame."

Archer walked Jose Altuve on four pitches to begin the first. Later, Altuve tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt and was thrown out. That was Archer's only walk.

"He was in complete control," Hinch said. "He's the real deal. He's got every pitch and he had it tonight. I don't know if that was his best because I'm not around him on a day-to-day basis. But it's the best we've seen and certainly he was in total command. His first four pitches were his worst four pitches After that, he was very dominant."

In his previous start, Archer allowed 11 hits and eight runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 12-4 loss to Texas. Cash thinks he had a little something extra on Thursday because of that start.

"He takes a lot of pride in every five days going out there and giving us an opportunity to win, and by knowing what he says and what he's about, he was definitely motivated simply because he expects a lot of himself to help this team," Cash said.

Desmond Jennings got two hits for Tampa Bay and drove in the lone run with a single in the fourth off Collin McHugh (13-7).

McHugh yielded five hits in seven innings of his second straight loss.

This was the ninth start this year Archer hadn't allowed a run, which tops the AL.

Archer reached the 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career when he fanned Altuve in the fourth. Archer ended the night with 205 -- he joined Scott Kazmir, David Price and James Shields as the only pitchers in franchise history with 200 Ks in the a season.

"There's really no better feeling than when you accomplish your goals and it happens so infrequently that it's very exhilarating," Archer said.

McHugh escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third. Logan Forsythe singled with one out in the fourth and moved up on a wild pitch with two outs. The Rays took a 1-0 lead on the single to center field by Jennings.

TRAINER'S ROOMRays: Reliever Jake McGee will have surgery on his left knee Friday and could miss the rest of the season. The Rays said McGee is expected to miss from six to eight weeks. The regular season ends on Oct. 4. McGee was injured on Tuesday night and an MRI on Thursday that revealed a meniscus tear in his knee.

Astros: George Springer (broken right wrist) could take batting practice early next week. There isn't a timetable for the return of the outfielder, who has been out since July 1.

UP NEXTRays: LHP Smyly opposes Oakland's Chris Bassitt when the Rays open a three-game series with the Athletics. It will be Smyly's second start since returning from a more than three-month stint on the disabled list because of a torn labrum in his shoulder. He allowed seven hits and five runs in just four innings in his last start, a 5-3 loss to Texas.

Astros: Mike Fiers will face Los Angeles LHP Brett Anderson when the Astros open a three-game interleague series with the Dodgers. It will be the third start for Fiers since a trade from Milwaukee.

Fortune Favors the Bearded: Ranking Evan Gattis’s Nine (Nine!) TriplesBy: Michael Baumann / Grantland

Evan Gattis is a bunch of fun. I used to bag on him because Braves fans thought he was better than Jason Heyward, which he wasn’t and isn’t, but I’ve come around. He bats barehanded from a strange stance, with his butt sticking almost all the way out of the right-handed batter’s box and his torso extending back toward the plate like the head of a cow trying to lean through a barbed-wire fence.

He hits for a lot of power, but never walks, and, despite being a nominal catcher, he doesn’t defend any position well. But he’s been a perfect fit this season in Houston, where right-handed power hitters have theCrawford Boxes to aim for, and where there are plenty of good defensive outfielders to lean on.

Gattis wears probably the tightest uniform in the game, and while Dan Uggla deservedly endures a lot of mockery for wearing extra-small jerseys, Gattis doesn’t. This is because, at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Gattis is larger than we could have reasonably expected a baseball player to be. He has a beard not because it’s cool, but because men like him have beards the way most of us have a liver or kidneys — as a necessary life function.

Gattis, as it’s well known, took a circuitous path to the big leagues, and along the way, he played college ball at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, which sounds like an episode of Star Trek in which the crew of the Enterprise has to make first contact with the rock creatures of the Permian Basin on the planet Gattis Five.

So it’s become a source of great joy that on a team with quite a few guys who can both hit and run — Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Carlos Gomez, Colby Rasmus, and the now-injured George Springer — Gattis leads the Astros in triples, with nine. In fact, he has more triples than the rest of the Astros combined. He’s tied for the second-most triples in baseball.

Gattis had tripled only once in his career coming into this season, and the closest we’ve ever come to seeing a player this big tripling this often was when Yasiel Puig tripled nine times last year. But Puig looks like a ballplayer; Gattis looks like the truck from Duel with a bat.

So in honor of this ungainly colossus, this anthropomorphic barbecue smoker, this Iowa-class human being having hit nine triples this season, let’s rank them. And because these triples are beautiful testaments to human creativity, I’ve named each one after the work of art, music, or literature that it most resembles.

No. 9: July 26, off Yordano Ventura (“Mariana”)There’s a reason that this is the only one of Gattis’s triples not to have a stand-alone highlight (go to the 2:46 mark to see it).

I love Lorenzo Cain. Outside of the obvious guys — Puig, Trout, McCutchen — he’s probably my favorite position player to watch right now, in large part because he’s a sublime defensive center fielder. But he runs a mile to get this ball, then drops it, then kind of staggers after it for a while like a toddler chasing a kitten. Not a great moment for anyone.

No. 8: August 11, off Madison Bumgarner (“The Battle of Zama”)Bumgarner thought this one was gone off the bat. And as much as I don’t like giving outfielders a hard time for not robbing home runs, Gregor Blanco probably should’ve had this one. This triple’s fine, but it was kind of fluky without being particularly funny.

The highlight of this video is how Gattis’s left quad is bulging out of his pants leg as he’s waiting for the pitch. He’s got to get some bigger clothes or one day they’ll tear, like when one of the kids from Animorphs turned into an elephant or something.

No. 7: August 14, off Alfredo Simon (“The Inspector General”)There’s nothing particularly special about this, except one bit in the commentary.

There’s a line from The West Wing that always makes me laugh. It comes right after Will Bailey joins the senior staff, and his new colleagues are giving him a hard time, and he complains to C.J., “You put olives in my jacket again!”

It’s the “again” that really makes the line, because the idea of putting olives in someone’s jacket is bizarre and hilarious, and that one word adds a layer to the joke — this ridiculous thing has now become so routine that it’s tiresome.

For that reason, it’s hard to hear, “Gattis is going to try for three again!” without feeling particularly immersed in the hilariousness of the whole situation.

No. 6: June 28, off Michael Pineda (“Adagio in D Minor”)This one’s OK. Gattis obviously thought it was gone off the bat, and things could’ve gotten ugly if the Yankees had made a cleaner set of relay throws to third base. We do see a staple of the Big Guy Triple here: Brett Gardner bounces off the wall, then has to run like crazy after the ball as it rolls away. But the next one on this list is a much better example.

No. 5: July 28, off Fernando Salas (“The Death of Marat”)This play is nearly identical to the one from a month earlier. But this time, the center fielder who gets bamboozled by the weird carom is Mike Trout, who essentially misread a fly ball, got wrong-footed, and fell over. If Shane Victorino hadn’t been Johnny-on-the-Spot backing Trout up, Gattis could’ve gone for an inside-the-park home run. But because Trout is Trout, this humiliating spectacle involves only a momentary slip before he catches and rights himself. Ridiculous.

No. 4: May 21, off David Price (“Elijah Ascends to Heaven”)The play itself is pretty much a textbook triple, but two things get me about this video.

First, the juxtaposition of Gattis and Springer running the bases: Springer looks like he’s built for speed, while Gattis shuffles along as fast as his legs will carry him.

Second: Gattis gets to third base and seems to appreciate the humor of the situation. He chats with Nick Castellanos and even breaks enough of a smile that we can see it through his James Longstreet beard. This is not always the case.

No. 3: July 17, off Martin Perez (“Reflections on the Revolution”)

This is a good one. Perez hangs a curveball and Gattis crushes it the other way. Leonys Martin makes a great play to even get a glove on it, at which point we cut to the big man haulin’ ass around second base. Once again, Gattis would’ve been out if not for a janky relay throw, as Elvis Andrus hit him in the back.

No. 2: May 24, off Anibal Sanchez (“The Pennsylvania Polka”)This isn’t really all that funny, but I love it because of the hit itself. Detroit has Gattis shifted all the way to pull, so he sticks the bat out and pokes the ball the other way. And because Gattis has the strength of 10 men, that ball squirts all the way into the right-field corner. Rajai Davis has to run from right center to get there, so he can’t return the ball to the infield before Gattis is popping up from his slide at third base.

You’ll also notice that Gattis, who’d tripled once in his first 251 career games, has by this point pretty much stopped celebrating his triples, abandoning the tomfoolery he displayed after the season’s first triple just three days prior. Instead, Gattis fist-bumps Gary Pettis and goes back to staring off into space, pointing his beard at people like this is now routine.

No. 1: June 30, off Danny Duffy (“Fern Hill”)And we come full circle with poor Lorenzo Cain.

This one isn’t Cain’s fault, because in a normal ballpark he wouldn’t have to try to make this catch. In most normal ballparks, this ball would be four rows deep in the seats, and in the other stadiums in which it would be in play, there’s no topography in fair territory. Cain isn’t the first outfielder to eat it on Tal’s Hill, but because the powers that be have decided that watching stuff like this isn’t fun, they’ve decided to flatten Enron Field’s greatest defining characteristic.

By this point, Gattis has hit four triples in six weeks. This is what he does now. So when he sees Cain fall, he coasts into third, pulls up, and delivers three solid claps before staring off into space, like a stone statue of a lion in front of a bank’s headquarters.

What a majestic hit from a majestic man. I hope he triples every time up.

Grizzlies win their 10th in a rowFresno continues homestand on Friday night with a 7:05 PM gameBy: Fresno Grizzlies

FRESNO, Calif. - There's never been a better Triple-A Baseball team in the city of Fresno than the 2015 Fresno Grizzlies (77-48), who won their 10th in a row on Thursday night at Chukchansi Park with a 6-3 victory over the Round Rock Express (68-58). Lefty starter Brett Oberholtzer allowed two runs over eight innings, while infielder Tyler White added two more RBI and now has 16 runs batted in over his last four games. The Grizzlies are 18-1 in the month of August and will continue their homestand in Downtown Fresno on Friday night with a 7:05 PM game that includes postgame fireworks, courtesy of Fresno Madera Farm Credit.

All six runs by the Grizzlies tonight came with two outs as the three through six hitters combined for eight of the 10 total hits and five of the six runs scored.

Fresno jumped on Round Rock in the bottom of the first with a two-out rally. Matt Duffy beat out an infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double to left-center field by Tyler White. After a walk to Jon Singleton, Robbie Grossman lined an RBI double into the corner in left to plate White and put the Grizzlies up 2-0.

Round Rock tied the game up at two in the third, but the Grizzlies countered with a four-run fifth to recapture the lead. Express starter Ross Wolf retired the first two batters of the bottom of the fifth, but surrendered a hit to each of the next five batters he faced before leaving after he was struck in the foot by a Robbie Grossman liner.

Alex Presley singled and scored the go-ahead run when Matt Duffy pelted a double into the gap in left center. Tyler White continued to come through with runners on base as he drove in Duffy once again, this time on a sharp single to left. Then Jon Singleton followed with a towering two-run homer (19) to right to provide some extra cushion.

Oberholtzer retired the side in order four times and wrapped up his 8.0 IP outing by retiring 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. Over six starts at Chukchansi Park, he's 5-1 with a 1.64 ERA (7 ER/38.1 IP), and 32 strikeouts.

Fresno takes aim at tying their franchise-best mark of 11 straight wins on Friday night at Chukchansi Park with a 7:05 PM start. The team will be hosting a pregame water forum in the Phoenix Club at 5 PM with Congressman Devin Nunes, California Senator Andy Vidak and Chowchilla Water District and Families Protecting the Valley Board Member, Kole Upton. KMJ Radio's Christina Musson will moderate the forum, which is open to anyone holding a Friday, August 21st game ticket. For more information on Friday night's game, contact the box office starting at 9 AM at 559.320.TIXS.

Travelers Capture SeriesArkansas Wins Sloppy Rain-Delayed ContestBy: Corpus Christi Hooks

CORPUS CHRISTI - Arkansas scored three times in the 10th inning Thursday to defeat Corpus Christi 10-7 and win the rubber match of their Texas League series at Whataburger Field before 3,799.

Jandel Gustave (5-2) allowed consecutive singles to Erick Salcedo and Ruben Sosa before striking out Cal Towey. Chad Hinshaw walked to load the bases, and Gustave was lifted for Chris Cotton. Anthony Bemboom lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right field for the go-ahead run, and Brian Hernandez's double to left tallied two insurance runs.

The Hooks loaded the bases against Austin Adams in the home 10th on three free passes, but he recovered to strike out A.J. Reed for the game's final out after four hours and 21 minutes. Adams earned his first save and Danny Reynolds improved to 2-3 after blowing a save in the ninth.

Corpus Christi forced bonus baseball when Conrad Gregor stroked a ninth-inning, two-strike, two-out single to right field, enabling Jon Kemmer to score from second. Kemmer reached on a hustling double into the left-center field gap.

Arkansas took a 7-6 lead in the eighth, Bemboom working a bases-loaded walk off just-inserted Gustave. Gustave entered for Juan Minaya, who threw eight straight two-out balls to Towey and Hinshaw. Erick Salcedo (single) was forced home with the go-ahead run.

There was scoring in each of the first seven half-innings. Hooks pitchers walked 13 and the teams combined for six errors.

The Hooks (29-24; 77-46) averted first-inning disaster by turning a bases-loaded 3-6-1 double play after Ruben Alaniz walked the first three Travelers. Arkansas realized just one run, Alaniz getting Brian Hernandez to bounce out to third baseman Colin Moran.

Corpus Christi then hung three runs on Michael Brady. Jio Mier's two-run, two-out laser up the middle highlighted the surge; Kemmer picked up an RBI and Moran singled and scored.

The Travelers (26-27; 62-60) quickly pulled within one, Salcedo's two-out RBI liner into right field plating Drew Maggi. Maggi walked with two away, stole second, and took third on a throwing error by catcher Roberto Pena.

Teoscar Hernandez's 17th home run - a 385-foot blast into the Hooks bullpen - extended the Corpus Christi lead to 5-2 through two. The shot picked up Pena, who reached on shortstop Salcedo's two-base throwing error.

Alaniz was unable to capitalize on the offensive help as Arkansas responded with a pair. He struck Towey with a pitch and the right fielder came around to score on Brian Hernandez's two-out hit. Hernandez moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and crossed as the result of Blake Gailen's infield hit and an error by first baseman Gregor.

Two of the four runs charged to Alaniz were unearned. He surrendered three hits, walked four, and fanned two.

Mier nine-ironed a shot on to the left-field berm for his seventh round-tripper and a 6-4 home advantage. That was all for Brady, five of his six runs unearned. The former Cal Bear was tagged for six hits, walked one, and struck out two.

Tyler Brunnemann made his Double-A debut for the Hooks in the fourth. The Hardin-Simmons product lasted 2/3 of an inning and was charged with two runs in a two-hit, two-walk, two-error segment as the Travs drew even. Reymin Guduan induced Brian Hernandez's liner to left, stranding two. Guduan was the Hooks' most effective reliever with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Moran posted three singles and reached base four times. Towey walked four times and was hit by a pitch. Salcedo collected four singles.

Maggi is on a nine-game hitting streak.

Friday, Radiology Associates presents Hawaii Night, with an all-game celebration of the island chain's statehood exactly 56 years ago. Fans also enjoy Bud Light Friday Fireworks postgame. Kyle Westwood (8-6) pitches for the Hooks at 7:05 vs. Northwest Arkansas' Matt Murray (5-2).

Radziewski stymies Storm in series openerLeft-hander fans career-high nine over seven scorelessBy: Spenser Smith / Lancaster JetHawks

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - Bryan Radziewski pitched seven scoreless innings for the JetHawks and struck out a career-high nine batters in a 4-0 shutout victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Thursday night at The Diamond.

Radziewski (4-6) held the Storm (45-78) to five hits over his seven innings and did not walk a batter. The left-hander received the win after Andrew Walter pitched two perfect innings in relief, completing Lancaster's fourth straight win and 10th shutout of the season.

James Ramsay gave the JetHawks (64-59) an early lead with a home run off Brad Wieck (1-6) to lead off the game. The homer was Ramsay's second in as many at-bats, as the outfielder ended Wednesday's game with a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against Inland Empire.

Wieck took the loss for Lake Elsinore, despite giving up just two runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings of work.lo

Lancaster added onto its lead in the seventh inning, when Jamie Ritchie led off with a double and scored on a RBI-double by Mott Hyde, who went 3-for-3 with a walk. Ronnie Mitchell added a two-run single in the eighth off Ryan Butler, giving Mitchell a league-leading 47 RBI in the second half.

Derek Fisher stole two bases for the JetHawks in the contest for a team-leading total of 20 on the season.

The Storm's biggest scoring threat of the game came in the first inning, as Marcus Davis and Nick Torres singled with two out, and Ryan Miller reached on a fielding error to load the bases. A flyout ended the inning, however, and Lake Elsinore went 0-for-4 in the game with runners in scoring position.

The series continues on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Keegan Yuhl (4-0, 1.41) will pitch for the JetHawks opposite Lake Elsinore's Travis Radke (0-2, 10.50).

Rattlers steal 10-inning series finale from BanditsWisconsin's two runs in the ninth and three in the 10th sink Quad CitiesBy: Jess Knaster / Quad Cities River Bandits

Wisconsin first baseman Alan Sharkey was 3-for-6 with three RBIs, including two-out, run-scoring singles in both the ninth and 10th innings, as the Timber Rattlers came back from a 4-1 deficit to beat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 7-4, in 10 innings in the teams' season series finale in front of 5,990 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.

Wisconsin (18-33 second half, 41-80 overall) began its road back from a three-run deficit in the sixth inning with three consecutive men reaching against River Bandits starter Agapito Barrios on two singles and an error by second baseman Luis Reynoso. Right fielder Sthervin Matos stung a ball right at third baseman Nick Tanielu for the first out, but Barrios was lifted from the game for left-handed reliever Zach Davis. Davis gave up a hit to left fielder Mitch Meyer, scoring one run and making it 4-2, before retiring catcher Natanael Mejia on an infield fly and getting third baseman Luis Aviles to hit into an inning-ending force out at second.

Davis retired the last seven men he faced, including four strikeouts, before giving way to Jorge Perez (1-3), who retired the last man of the eighth inning and the first batter in the ninth before falling into trouble. Mejia singled and gave way to pinch runner Omar Cotto with the tying run at the plate. Perez retired third baseman Aviles for the second out of the ninth inning, before allowing an RBI single to Sharkey and an RBI double by shortstop Blake Allemand to tie the game, 4-4.

In the 10th inning, Perez retired the first two batters. Matos reached on an infield single, and Meyer reached on a bunt single, before Perez's wild pitch advanced each runner one base. Catcher Greg McCall, who had taken over Cotto's spot after the top of the ninth inning, drew a walk to load the bases. Aviles reached on a go-ahead infield single to the shortstop side of the pitcher's mound, and Sharkey lined a two-run single to right field, giving the Timber Rattlers a 7-4 lead and knocking Perez out of the game for Ryan Thompson, who walked a batter before an inning-ending strikeout with a three-run deficit.

In the bottom of the 10th, Wisconsin right-hander Scott Lieser (2-2) set down the River Bandits (32-20, 77-43) in order to finish Wisconsin's second win in 15 games this season with Quad Cities. Lieser scattered four hits in three scoreless innings with one strikeout.

The Timber Rattlers scored six of their seven runs with two outs, beginning with a first-inning run for the second consecutive game. With two outs, designated hitter Elvis Rubio doubled and later advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by Barrios. Second baseman Tucker Neuhaus then struck out on a pitch in the dirt that got away from catcher Garrett Stubbs, allowing Neuhaus to reach and Rubio to score.

Quad Cities tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the first against Wisconsin starter Eric Hanhold, who allowed all four Quad Cities runs. Tanielu singled up the middle and advanced to second on a walk issued to first baseman Bryan Muñiz. Right fielder Drew Ferguson then singled to left field to score Tanielu and make it 1-1.

The River Bandits struck for two more in the bottom of the second inning, beginning with a leadoff single by designated hitter Ramon Laureano, who stole second base. Reynoso struck out, but shortstop Kristian Trompiz hit his first of three doubles to left field to score Laureano, giving Quad Cities a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Boyd then singled to center field, scoring Trompiz and increasing the lead to 3-1. In the fourth inning, Trompiz and Boyd hit back-to-back doubles to give the River Bandits a 4-1 lead.

The River Bandits head to Kane County for three games beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m., when right-hander Thomas Eshelman is scheduled to make his River Bandits debut and set a Quad Cities 56-year franchise record as the 32nd pitcher the team has used this season.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits open a six-game homestand with Military Monday presented by 97X and ESPN 93.5. All veterans and active military may purchase up to four bleacher tickets for $1 each to attend the 7 p.m. game, with gates opening at 6 p.m. Monday. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open late August. Finally, the club has expanded the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line, with additional bounce houses and the newest ride - Spin Zone Bumper Cars - as the latest attraction.

ValleyCats sweep Lake Monsters with 5-2 winBy: Tri-City ValleyCats

BURLINGTON, VT - Zac Person, Kevin McCanna and Ralph Garza combined to strike out 11 batters while allowing only five hits, and five different batters posted two-hit games, as the Tri-City ValleyCats defeated the Vermont Lake Monsters 5-2 at Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., on Thursday night, completing a two-game road sweep in the process.

After topping the Lake Monsters 9-2 on Wednesday, Tri-City wasted little time getting on the scoreboard on Thursday, as Aaron Mizell drove a 3-1 pitch from Vermont right-hander Angel Duno in the top of the first inning inside the left field foul pole for a solo home run, his second of the season.

After the Lake Monsters tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth frame, Brooks Marlow smashed the first pitch of the top of the fifth inning over the wall in left-center field for his team-leading sixth home run of the year. Four batters later, Johnny Sewald scored on an error by Vermont's shortstop to give the 'Cats a 3-1 advantage.

Tri-City added to their lead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, first on an RBI single by Marlow, before Anthony Hermelyn scored on a groundball by Alexander Melendez to put the 'Cats on top 5-1.

Getting the start on the mound was Person, who pitched a career-high 3.2 innings, while striking out four batters, and allowing only one run on two hits.

He was followed by McCanna, who struck out six Lake Monsters, allowing only hit in 3.1 scoreless innings, en route to earning his first professional victory.

Pitching the final two frames for the 'Cats was Garza, who struck out two batters, while allowing one run.

Offensively, Sewald (2-for-5 with one run and one double), Marlow (2-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in), Antonio Nunez (2-for-5 with a stolen base), Bobby Wernes (2-for-4) and Kolbey Carpenter (2-for-4 with a double and one run) each posted multi-hit games, while eight different ValleyCats reached base at least once.

Tri-City will now return to Troy, N.Y., to host the Hudson Valley Renegades at 7 p.m., beginning a two-game home series. On the mound for the ValleyCats will be RHP Trent Thornton (4-0, 3.43), with RHP Angel Yepez (4-2, 2.96) getting the start for the Renegades.

Astros take opener over Braves, 6-5By: Nick Carey / Greeneville Astros

Danville, VA - The Greeneville Astros (28-27) took a 6-5, series-opening victory over the Danville Braves (26-30) on Thursday.

The two clubs battled through the first five innings tied at 3-3 until the Astros opened the game to their advantage with three runs in the top of the sixth. Both teams also posted eleven hits through the course of the matchup.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. It began with a leadoff single by Myles Straw to center field before stealing second with Daz Cameron batting. Cameron followed by drawing a walk then advanced to second as Straw scored on a wild pitch with Conner Goedert at the plate.

First-round draftee Kyle Tucker knocked a single to right to score Cameron, which was followed by Kevin Martir drawing the second walk of the inning. Martir and Tucker would advance to second and third, respectively after another wild pitch, this time with Justin Garcia batting. However, no more runs would score and the Astros concluded their half of the inning with a two-run advantage.

The Braves answered with two runs in the home half of the inning with hits by Yeudi Grullon, Justin Ellison, Austin Riley and Carlos Castro with runs scored by Ellison and Riley. Danville took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Grullon reaching on an error then scoring on a double by Ronald Acuna to make the score 3-2.

Right-hander Andrew Thome started the game for the Astros, throwing four full innings allowing seven hits, three runs, one earned run, walking one and striking out three.

Greeneville quickly answered to tie the score in the top of the fifth spurred by a walk drawn by Cameron who advanced on a throwing error with Randy Cesar batting. Cesar drew a walk but was victim to a succeeding double play. Tucker lined a single to center to score Cameron then stole his sixth base since his call-up to Greeneville.

The Astros took the lead again in the top of the sixth beginning with Arturo Michelena and Osvaldo Duarte drawing consecutive walks. Straw then reached first on an error during his sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases. Michelena scored the go-ahead run during a groundout by Cameron to put Greeneville up by one run.

With two runners in scoring position, Cesar grounded out to score Duarte making the score 5-3 in the Astros favor. Goedert then knocked his team-leading 18th double of the season to right to score Straw before the inning ended.

Left-hander Matt Bower picked up his second win of 2015 holding Danville scoreless over three innings pitched, allowing just two hits and striking out five batters.

The Braves threatened in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run by Juan Yepez. Then, Jake Lanning reached on an error one batter later and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Grullon. Acuna tripled to center to score Lanning before the inning ended with the score 6-5 in Greeneville's advantage.

Cristhopher Santamaria pitched an inning in relief allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout tossed. Righty Samil De Los Santos earned his second save holding the Braves hitless in the ninth with one strikeout.

Straw led the Astros offense with a three-for-four performance with two runs scored and a double. Tucker and Justin Garcia finished the night two-for-five with Garcia doubling twice. Martir concluded the night two-for-three and drew two walks.

Cameron went one-for-three with two runs scored and a RBI. Cesar picked up his 25th RBI of the season, which is second on the team only to Goedert's 36 following his two-RBI night. Meanwhile, while Michelena and Duarte each scored one run.

The Astros take on the Braves in the second game of the series on Friday. Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.

Elias Says...By: Elias Sports Bureau / espn.com

Arrieta is the first 15-game winner in 2015Jake Arrieta became the first pitcher in the major leagues to win 15 games this season when he recorded a victory against the Braves at Wrigley Field on Thursday night. Since 1900, there have been only five other seasons in which a

Cubs pitcher was the first in the majors to hit the 15-win mark: 1918 (Hippo Vaughn), 1927 (Charlie Root), 1942 (Claude Passeau), 1977 (Rick Reuschel) and 1988 (Greg Maddux).

Archer one-hits the AstrosChris Archer allowed only one hit and recorded 11 strikeouts in his 1-0 shutout win at Houston. Archer is only the second major-league pitcher in the last four seasons to register a 1-0 complete-game road victory in which he allowed no more than one hit. The only other such win over that span was by the Reds'Homer Bailey in his no-hitter at Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, 2012. Archer's 1-0 shutout was the second of his big-league career. He beat the Yankees by that score with a two-hitter as a rookie for the Rays in 2013. Besides Archer, the only Tampa Bay pitchers to hurl 1-0 complete-game shutouts are Steve Trachsel (2000), Joe Kennedy (2002) and Jorge Sosa (2003).

Simon one-hits the RangersAlfredo Simon recorded the first shutout of his major-league career with a 4-0 win over the Texas Rangers in which he allowed only one hit: a two-out double in the fifth inning by Rougned Odor. Simon, who entered play on Thursday having posted an 8.19 ERA over his last 10 starts, is the third Tigers pitcher to register a shutout this season, after David Price (June 12 vs. Cleveland) and Anibal Sanchez(June 15 vs. Cincinnati) did so three days apart. The only other major-league teams with three pitchers who've thrown shutouts for them this year are the White Sox (John Danks, Jose Quintana and Jeff Samardzija) and the Mariners (Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Mike Montgomery).

This is only the third time in the last 17 years that three different Detroit pitchers posted shutouts in one season. That also happened in 2004 (Jeremy Bonderman, Jason Johnson andMike Maroth) and 2012 (Doug Fister, Sanchez and Verlander).

The Red Sox finally have a ten-game winnerWade Miley became the first Red Sox pitcher to reach double figures in wins this season when he posted a 4-1 victory against the Royals at Fenway Park on Thursday. Miley reached 10 wins this season in Boston's 121st game. Excluding the strike-shortened 1994 campaign, only once before in the last 50 seasons had the Red Sox gone this deep into a season without having a pitcher win 10 games for them. That was 1980, when Dennis Eckersley notched his 10th win in the team's 135th game. The only other double-digit winner for Boston that season was Bob Stanley, who got to 10 wins in Boston's 151st game.

Tomlin bests the Yankees againCleveland's Josh Tomlin recorded his first major-league win in nearly a full calendar year and his first win as a starter in almost 14 months with a victory at Yankee Stadium in which he allowed only one run. Tomlin has three career wins against the Yankees (including one in his major-league debut with the Indians in July 2010) and in each of those three games he pitched seven innings and gave up no more than two runs and no more than three hits. The only other pitchers with more than one such win against the Yankees over the last six seasons are Felix Hernandez, Jon Lester and Alex Cobb with two each.

Pollock's four hits lead the Diamondbacks to a comeback winDiamondbacks centerfielder A.J. Pollock recorded his third four-hit game this season as Arizona overcame a 4-0 deficit to post a 5-4 win at Cincinnati on Thursday. Pollock, who had only one four-hit game in his big-league career before this year, is tied with the Orioles' Adam Jones for the most four-hit games as a center fielder in the major leagues this season. The last Arizona center fielder before Pollock with three four-hit games in one season was Eric Byrnes in 2006.

Sano hits his 10th homerTwins rookie Miguel Sano hit his 10th home run in Minnesota's 15-2 win at Baltimore on Thursday. Sano, who made his major-league debut on July 2, is tied with the Astros' Carlos Correa for the most homers in the majors since that date by a rookie, and he leads the 2015 rookie class with 31 runs batted in over that span.

Morton's second straight game with at least eight strikeoutsCharlie Morton and two relievers combined for a six-hit shutout as the Pirates beat the Giants, 4-0, in their first game of their series in Pittsburgh. Morton notched the victory by striking out eight San Francisco batters in the 6? innings he pitched, after racking up nine strikeouts in 6? innings against the Mets in New York last Saturday. This is the first time in Morton's eight seasons in the major leagues that he's recorded at least eight strikeouts in each of two consecutive games.

Marlins score four in each of the first two inningsThe Marlins jumped out to an 8-1 lead in their game against the Phillies by scoring four runs in both the first and second innings, though Miami scored only one more run and had to hold on to record a 9-7 win. This was the first game in which the Marlins scored at least four runs in each of the first two innings since Sept. 1, 2010, when they tallied five times in the first inning and matched that total in the second frame, en route to a 16-10 victory over the Nationals.

Colorado's co-leader in wins since the All-Star GameYohan Flande allowed only two runs and three hits in seven innings as he registered a victory for the Rockies against the Nationals on Thursday. Flande is 3-0 with a 3.62 ERA in the eight appearances (and five starts) he's made for

Colorado since the All-Star break. The only other pitcher with more than one win for the Rockies since the All-Star Game is reliever John Axford with three.

8.21.15 OPPONENT VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERSDodgers acquire Utley from PhillliesLos Angeles deals two Minor Leaguers, cash for six-time All-StarBy: William Boor / MLB.com

Chase Utley is coming home. The California native and UCLA alum is returning to Los Angeles after being traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

"I gave them a list of a handful of teams that I would consider playing for, and then it was [Phillies GM] Ruben [Amaro Jr.'s] job to find the best deal he could for the organization," Utley said. "And ultimately it came down to the Dodgers, a team I grew up watching.

"I remember going to a 1988 World Series game with my dad, so there's definitely some family ties there," Utley said. "It was a very, very difficult decision for me and my family to go. It's not so much changing uniforms, it's about leaving this city, which has given so much to me over the 12 or 13 years I've been here. So it's definitely difficult. But like Ruben said, it's time."

In exchange for Utley and cash considerations, Darnell Sweeney -- the Dodgers' 13th ranked prospect, according to MLBpipeline.com -- and Minor League right-hander John Richy are heading to Philadelphia.

Utley, a career .282 hitter, will jump into the Dodgers' lineup right away as Howie Kendrick is currently on the disabled list.

"There's clearly a short term need for us at the position with Howie out and his availability kind of synched up well with our need and given how we all collectively felt about him as a player, it made a lot of sense to pursue it," Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi said.

As a player who has been in the league for 10 years and spent at least five with his current team, Utley had the ability to veto a trade, but approved a move to Los Angeles because he wants to win.

"This was No. 1 on my list," Utley said. "I'd like to participate a little bit in getting to that time of year. There's no better time than postseason baseball. When you're chasing down trying to get to the playoffs in September, there's nothing like it.

"Obviously, we experienced that here a few years back for a while and it was a good time," Utley said. "Like I said, the Dodgers were a team I grew up watching. The other teams I would consider going to would have been great fits as well, but I think ultimately the Phillies felt the best deal was with the Dodgers and I respect that and I think it's a good fit for me as well."

Utley has hit .320 in 37 career games at Dodger Stadium, and the team is hoping he can continue that success as the season winds down.

"He's always hit very well at Dodger Stadium, he's always been a very strong performer in the playoffs -- where we hope he'll be in a few weeks," Zaidi said. "So he has a lot of attributes as a player that we felt would make him a great addition. As far as the clubhouse goes, his reputation there is as strong as anybody and deservedly so."

In addition to joining his hometown team, the move will also be significant for Utley as it will reunite him with shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Utley and Rollins were teammates in Philadelphia from 2003-14 and the 36-year old is ready to play together again.

"I've talked to Jimmy a little bit," Utley said. "He's excited as am I."

While Utley and Rollins will play up the middle -- as they did together in Philadelphia -- there is a chance the duo could be sharing the left side of the infield together once Kendrick returns to the lineup.

"Chase has the ability to move around," Zaidi said. "He's played some first base, he worked out a little bit for the Phillies at third base. While Howie's out he may get most, if not all the time at second, but we may try to get him in more spots when Howie gets back as a way to keep both their bats in the lineup."

Utley, a six-time All-Star, is hitting just .217 this season, but part of that is because of a slow start. Utley is hitting .484 through eight games this month.

"This year obviously didn't start out the way that I envisioned it for a number of different reasons," Utley said. "But taking the time off, getting my body to cooperate a little bit better has definitely made a difference. Obviously, it's a small sample size over the past two weeks or so. But I do feel good and I do feel confident moving forward."

The Dodgers designated infielder Alberto Callaspo for assignment in order to make room for Utley on the active and 40-man roster.

Dodgers wise to chase pennant with UtleyPhillies icon has been a postseason hero, and he still has plently left in the tankBy: Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

LOS ANGELES -- Chase Utley makes perfect sense for the Dodgers. It is the classic low-risk, high-reward late-season move. If his right ankle holds up, Utley can win games with his bat and his glove, and with his quiet, confident presence.

No, Utley can't help the bullpen get outs in front of Kenley Jansen. But this is one of the premier players of his generation. In the starting lineup or off the bench, Utley is potentially a game- and season-changer.

With an inflated payroll and expectations to match, the Dodgers have shown they can win from April through September. October has been the cruelest month. It's a month Utley has owned.

The proud franchise hasn't celebrated a World Series championship since 1988, and Los Angeles has had an air of desperation in the wake of getting knocked out of the postseason the past two years by the Cardinals.

There might as well be a turnstile at their clubhouse door given how many players have come and gone at Dodger Stadium in search of the magic formula.

Over the offseason, the Dodgers imported stability in proven winner Jimmy Rollins. Now they have paired the shortstop with his old buddy in the heart of a Phillies infield that anchored the 2008 World Series champions and other powerhouse teams of the era.

This is no desperation move. At the expense of prospects Darnell Sweeney, a good athlete, and John Richy, a pitcher, it's a sensible swap for the Dodgers as well as the Phillies, who are in restructuring mode.

With the National League Central loaded, the Dodgers might have to fend off the defending World Series champion Giants in the West to earn a postseason ticket. Utley, who was reportedly coveted by San Francisco in Joe Panik's absence, could be the Dodgers' answer to the pivotal pickup of Marco Scutaro by the Giants during their 2012 title drive.

It remains to be seen how much Utley will play. The Dodgers have one of game's best second basemen in Howie Kendrick. When Kendrick returns -- presumably sometime next month -- from a left hamstring injury, he will play.

If that sends Utley to the bench, the Dodgers will have a man capable of deciding games with one swing. The most memorable postseason at-bat in franchise history came from a pinch-hitter: Kirk Gibson, in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Utley was 9 years old at the time, a SoCal kid who attended one of those World Series games at Dodger Stadium.

Adding a hot hitter to plug into Kendrick's spot returns Kiké Hernandez, one of the club's most valuable players, to the all-purpose role he doesn't favor. But Kiké burns to win, and he'll do what's best for his team.

Since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 7, and with his right ankle fully healed, Utley has been raking, collecting 15 hits in 31 at-bats. He can fit anywhere in the lineup, but he's an ideal No. 2 hitter behind Rollins, who has been surging after a sluggish start.

Kendrick was flourishing in the No. 2 hole when he strained his hamstring.

"Howie is my guy," Rollins said, "and Chase was my guy for a long time. There's a lot of trust there, with both of them."

Few have performed as brilliantly as Utley under pressure. He owns 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 46 postseason games with a .902 OPS, and he has gone deep seven times with 12 RBIs in 11 World Series games -- numbers even Reggie Jackson would envy.

Skeptics will point out that Utley, at 36, is past his prime. More reflective of Utley's worth than his .217 batting average this year is his .282/.366/.481 career line. Torii Hunter, a contemporary with Utley's drive and commitment to conditioning, has enjoyed three of his most productive seasons since turning 36.

The Dodgers drafted Utley in the second round in 1997 out of Long Beach Poly High School, but he chose to attend UCLA. For long-suffering Dodgers faithful, it's a clear case of better late than never.