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Singleton, Springer powerful in tandem

Second, third-ranked Astros prospects both go yard in victory
August 15, 2013

The Houston Astros own two of baseball's best power prospects in first baseman Jonathan Singleton and center fielder George Springer. On Thursday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, the pair put that ability on full display.

Springer went yard in the eighth inning, and one out later, Singleton followed suit to put the finishing touches on the RedHawks' 8-2 win over the Tucson Padres.

The 23-year-old Springer, taken with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 Draft, finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two walks and a run scored.

Singleton, Houston's No. 2 prospect, was acquired from Philadelphia in the 2011 deal for Hunter Pence. He went 1-for-3, walked twice and scored two times.

Springer, the third-ranked Astros prospect, could claim the most prolific power season of any batter throughout the Minors this year, with 33 home runs between Double-A Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City. After batting .297/.399/.579 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs in 73 games for the Texas League club, he's hitting .315/.431/.648 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 46 games in the Pacific Coast League.

Singleton returned from a drug of abuse suspension in late May, and once he got to Triple-A on June 8, struggled through a sluggish beginning. He posted an OPS of .675 in June and .574 in July, but has regained his stroke in August, hitting .298/.450/.532 with a pair of homers and 13 RBIs in 14 games.

Overall, he's hitting .221/.340/.364 for Oklahoma City. Last season, he batted .284/.396/.497 with 21 homers for Corpus Christi.

RedHawks shortstop Jimmy Paredes tripled and drove in two runs, with right fielder Che-Husan Lin contributing the other RBI.

Jake Buchanan (5-3) picked up the win, holding the Padres to two runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Jonathan Raymond is a contributor to MiLB.com.