A near-complete team of eight players represented the Houston Astros’ Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks at the 82nd Texas League All-Star Game, Tuesday, June 26 at Midland’s Security Bank Ballpark. The game ended in a regulation nine-inning 2-2 tie.

First baseman Taylor Jones, third baseman Randy Cesar, and outfielder Myles Straw were voted in as starters by league field staffs, broadcasters, and beat writers. Straw, however, was promoted to AAA Fresno mid-June.

BONUS: Taylor Jones bested Springfield’s Victor Roache in a sudden-death home run contest following the game to decide the winner of the 82nd Texas League All-Star Game…the South Division! MLB, are you listening?

Jones, of course, earned All-Star Game MVP! Congratulations, Taylor!

There’s more: With AJ Reed recalled by the Astros June 28 (due to Yuli Gurriel’s placement on the 72-hour paternity list), Jones has been transferred to the roster of the AAA Fresno Grizzlies. Congrats again, Taylor!

Jones made an impact in his first AAA game: A 3-hit, 3 RBI and 2-run night!

Outfielder Josh Rojas and pitchers Cionel Perez, Ryan Hartman, and Corbin Martin rounded out the Corpus contingent, with infielder Alex De Goti and pitcher Framber Valdez being last-minute adds.

The Game

Jones was the offensive star for the Hooks bunch, going two-for-four with a double. In fact, with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, the home South Division Stars looked like they’d grab a walk-off win on a Jones extra-base hit.

De Goti drew a walk after Rojas (a left field replacement who went hitless in two ABs) led off with a strikeout. A flyout got Jones up with two out, and he promptly smacked a double to left field, with De Goti chugging all the way from first. Only a perfect relay from the North Division’s left fielder to shortstop to catcher kept De Goti from scoring the winning run.

De Goti, a late-inning replacement at third base for Cesar, went zero-for-one with that walk in his two plate appearances. Hit streak king Cesar went hitless in his two starting at-bats.

Each of the four Corpus Christi pitchers turned in scoreless one-inning stints, with Hartman and Valdez each bagging two strikeouts, with Perez whiffing one. Martin and Perez both pitched hitless frames.

The Numbers That Earned Their All-Star Appearances