Hooks' Phillips rips first Double-A homer

After hitting 15 homers in the California League, Brett Phillips had not gone deep since arriving in the Texas League around the end of June. And after he popped up in his first two at-bats Wednesday, his manager had a simple message.

"He was like, 'Stop popping the ball up,'" the Astros fifth-ranked prospect said, referring to Corpus Christi skipper Rodney Linares. "I just made a quick adjustment and I was able to line one ball down the first base line for a triple. It got me going for my next few at-bats."

Phillips heeded his manager's advice and went 3-for-5 with his first Double-A dinger to power the Hooks to a 9-3 win over Midland at Whataburger Field.

In the fifth inning, Phillips ripped his 11th triple of the season down the right-field line, although that wasn't his plan.

"I was thinking it was just a double because I didn't see where it went after it went down the line," the 22-year-old outfielder said. "My manager was waving me, so I kind of hesitated, but then once I saw him waving me, I kicked it into gear."

Phillips knocked a single to right in the seventh, giving him his third multi-hit game in five days. An inning later, MLB.com's No. 90 overall prospect left the yard for the first time in 102 at-bats since a promotion from the California League.

"Maybe I've been pressing a little bit too much, trying to hit it, that's why I've been popping up lately," Phillips said. "I figured it would come, just because of the success I had in [Class A Advanced] Lancaster and just trying to bring it over here in Corpus."

Just before Phillips' final at-bat of the night, Hooks No. 9 hitter Chan Moon broke the game open with a bases-loaded triple.

"Moon did all the work for me. We were up one run and Moon hits a three-run triple, which was awesome," Phillips said. "I was just going up there to get a good pitch to hit and I was able to put a good swing on it."

The Florida native sent an 0-1 offering from reliever Andres Avila to left field for his 16th jack of the season. After hitting 15 in 66 Cal League games, Phillips is one shy of tying his year-old career high.

"Lancaster's a great place to hit, but it's just a matter of taking advantage of pitchers' misses and being able to put a good swing on it because home runs are hit off of pitchers' mistakes," he said. "I'm just really settling in and seeing the ball well. I'm trying not to do too much and have good team at-bats."

Phillips has driven in at least one run in five straight games and is hitting .311 with 17 RBIs in 24 games since his promotion. He's been working with hitting coach Dan Radison to adjust to the wind patterns at Whataburger Field.

"It's been pretty tough, but I've just been grinding it out and getting my at-bats in in the Texas League," he said. "It's going to take a while longer to get adjusted -- the pitchers are a lot better here and it's just a matter of making adjustments to have success."

Astros No. 10 prospect A.J. Reed, who ranks second in the Minor Leagues with 24 homers, followed Phillips from Lancaster. The 22-year-old first baseman delivers his first Double-A triple, walked twice and scored a run.

"He's one of the best hitters I've played with," Phillips said. "He's definitely a great [addition] to this lineup. He's having a great season and we definitely are happy to have him because he's going to drive in runs for us and be that hitter that we need in the middle of our lineup."

Hooks starter Brian Holmes (4-4) avoided a third straight loss, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings. Aaron West gave up two hits over three scoreless frames for his third career save.

"It was a great team win, overall," Phillips said. "Pitchers threw well and hitters did well as well. The timely hitting is what it is all about tonight."

Midland's Tim Atherton (5-4) yielded four runs on five hits and three walks over six innings, fanning three.