Friday, May 17th: Werner & Streich Pitch Cats & Snappers to Victory while Smith’s & Granier’s Efforts Aren’t Enough for Hounds & Ports
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Andrew Werner (7 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 5 K)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Oklahoma City RedHawks 2
Sacramento River Cats 4
WP – Werner 4-5 / 6.92
HR – Moore (4), Parrino (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Andrew Werner
(7 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 5 K / Win)
LHP Andrew Werner had one of his best starts of the season on Friday, allowing 1 run on just 3 hits and striking out 5 over 7 innings to earn his 4th win, while RHP Dan Otero got the final 4 outs to pick up his 10th save. First baseman Scott Moore and third baseman Andy Parrino hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the 5th inning, while catcher Stephen Vogt and designated hitter Jemile Weeks each collected a single and a double, and outfielder Michael Taylor went 0 for 3 in his return to the River Cats’ lineup.
Thursday, May 16th: Russell Homers in Ports Win while Cats, Hounds & Snappers All Fall
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Stockton Ports’ Shortstop Addison Russell (Home Run / Triple / 3 RBIs)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Oklahoma City RedHawks 7
Sacramento River Cats 2
LP – Gray 4-2 / 2.47
Farmhand Of The Game:
Otfielder Jeremy Barfield
(Double / RBI)
Starter Sonny Gray got off to another good start on Thursday, allowing just 1 unearned run before leaving the game in the 7th inning with the bases loaded. RHP Travis Banwart then allowed a bases-clearing double, leaving Gray to be saddled with 4 runs, 3 earned, over 6 2/3 innings and his 2nd loss. Left fielder Jeremy Barfield doubled and drove in a run, while center fielder Chris Young, making his first rehab appearance with Sacramento, reached base in all 3 of his trips to the plate, singling, walking twice, stealing a base and scoring the River Cats’ first run of the game.
Wednesday, May 15th: Peters & Murphy Pitch Ports & Hounds to Victory while Snappers Lose in Extras
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Stockton Ports’ Pitcher Tanner Peters (8 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 10 K / Win)
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 8
Frisco RoughRiders 4
WP – Murphy 1-1 / 2.17
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Sean Murphy
(6 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K / Win)
Starter Sean Murphy had another solid outing for the RockHounds on Wednesday, allowing just 2 hits over 6 scoreless innings to earn the win. Outfielder D’Arby Myers, catcher Beau Taylor and first baseman Anthony Aliotti each drove in a pair of runs, while outfielder Chad Oberacker and designated hitter Jake Goebbert contributed 3 hits apiece for Midland.
Tuesday, May 14th: Thomas & Leon Lead Cats & Hounds to Victory while Snappers Split a Pair on Tuesday
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Justin Thomas (6 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 4 K)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 9
Nashville Sounds 0
WP – Thomas 2-2 / 4.50
HR – Barfield (2)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Justin Thomas
(6 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 4 K / Win)
Sacramento finished off a 4-game sweep of Nashville on Tuesday thanks to another solid pitching performance, this time from LHP Justin Thomas who allowed just 3 hits over 6 scoreless innings to earn his 2nd win. Outfielder Jeremy Barfield belted his 2nd home run since joining Sacramento and drove in 5 runs, while catcher Stephen Vogt drove in 2 and designated hitter Grant Green collected a pair of doubles for the River Cats.
Monday, May 13th: Billings Leads Cats to Victory while Snappers Win a Tight One, Hounds Fall and Ports Drop 6th Straight
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Bruce Billings (6 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 8 K / Win)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 8
Nashville Sounds 4
WP – Billings 3-2 / 6.10
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Bruce Billings
(6 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 8 K / Win)
Starter Bruce Billings had a solid outing for Sacramento on Monday, allowing 3 runs, just 1 earned, on 4 hits while striking out 8 to earn his 3rd win. Designated hitter Grant Green had 2 hits, including a double, and drove in 2 runs. Center fielder Michael Choice also collected a pair of hits, and left fielder Scott Moore drove in a pair of runs. Shortstop Hiro Nakajima doubled and drove in a run, but his throwing error in the bottom of the 3rd inning led to 2 unearned runs.
Sunday, May 12th: Werner Wins 3rd for Cats while Ports Get No-Hit, Snappers Pitchers Get Pounded and Anderson Gets Rocked in Rehab Start for Hounds
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Andrew Werner (6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 6 K)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 6
Nashville Sounds 5
WP – Werner 3-5 / 7.80
HR – Choice (8), Barfield (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Andrew Werner
(6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 6 K / Win)
Starter Andrew Werner had a solid outing on Sunday, allowing 2 runs and striking out 6 over 6 innings to earn his 3rd win, while RHP Dan Otero got the final 3 outs for his 9th save. Center fielder Michael Choice homered in his second straight game, while right fielder Jeremy Barfield hit his 1st home run for Sacramento.
Catching Up With: A’s Prospect Sonny Gray
by James Ham / A’s Farm Correspondent
Rumors broke last week that the Oakland A’s 2011 1st-round draft pick Sonny Gray might be in line to make his major league debut if Jarrod Parker couldn’t make his scheduled start. It turned out to be a false alarm, but Parker, Tommy Milone, A.J. Griffin and Dan Straily better bring their A-game, because Gray is coming.
The 23-year old right-hander out of Vanderbilt is now 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA in his 6 starts at Triple-A Sacramento this season. More importantly, in his last 3 starts, he’s been lighting the Pacific Coast League on fire, allowing just 2 runs in 21 innings while striking out 19 over that stretch.
“Being in my second year and understanding professional baseball a little bit better and being able to get in a little bit better routine, it’s something that I’m feeling a lot more comfortable and a lot more confident this year than I did early last year,” Gray told Athletics Farm last week.
In just his third season in professional baseball, Gray is turning heads with his array of pitches. He throws both a two-seam and four-seam fastball, as well as a curveball and a changeup.
“(My) fast ball command has gotten a lot better, and that’s something we’ve been working on,” Gray said. “Not only fastball command, (but) throwing it. You know, starting the two-seam where I want it for a strike and a ball. That’s just something that’s come with a little more experience and a little more routine. The changeup is getting better, I’m really confident in that right now. It’s gotten me out of big jams already this year. And the curveball is still there.”
After posting a complete game victory last week and facing just two batters in a game that was called due to rain earlier this week, Gray pitched a gem on Saturday night. In 6 innings of action, he struck out 8 and gave up only 3 hits. While it’s still early, he seems to be getting better every time out.
The A’s farm system has become a factory for major league starting pitching and Gray looks to be the next big prospect ready to make the jump.
“As soon as I got drafted by Oakland, I knew the accomplishments in pitching that this organization has been a part of in the history of baseball,” Gray said. “(It’s) a great pitching organization (with) a lot of good people around us that we can learn from.”
Like Michael Choice, the Athletics will give Gray as much time as he needs in Sacramento, but don’t be shocked if he is the first one to get the call this year if one of the A’s starters begins to stumble.
James Ham is known for his work covering the Sacramento Kings for Cowbell Kingdom. You can follow him on Twitter at @James_Ham.
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Saturday, May 11th: Sonny Gray Slings 6 Shutout Innings in River Cats Win while Top Prospects Russell & Ynoa Impress for Ports & Snappers
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Sonny Gray (6 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 5 BB / 8 K / Win)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 5
Nashville Sounds 2
WP – Gray 4-1 / 2.19
HR – Choice (7)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Sonny Gray
(6 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 5 BB / 8 K / Win)
RHP Sonny Gray had another strong start on Saturday, this time in front of a hometown crowd in Nashville, the city where he was born and where he starred for Vanderbilt University before being drafted by the A’s. Gray tossed 6 scoreless innings to earn his 4th win and lower his ERA to 2.19. Left fielder Scott Moore collected 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, while center fielder Michael Choice slugged his 7th home run and drove in 3 runs for the River Cats. If you missed it earlier this week, be sure to check out our interview with Michael Choice here. And you can see our interview with today’s winning pitcher Sonny Gray here.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
GAME #1
Midland RockHounds 6
San Antonio Missions 2
WP – Smith 4-3 / 2.09
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Murphy Smith
(5 IP / 7 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 2 K / Win)
Starter Murphy Smith allowed 2 runs in 5 innings to earn his 4th win, while RHP Paul Smyth tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the save. First baseman Anthony Aliotti and outfielder Chad Oberacker had 2 hits apiece, and shortstop Dusty Coleman and outfielder Jake Goebbert each drove in a pair of runs for the RockHounds.
GAME #2
Midland RockHounds 5
San Antonio Missions 6
LP – DeMark 0-1 / 3.27
HR – Goebbert (4), Oberacker (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jake Goebbert
(Home Run)
Starter Josh Bowman allowed 5 runs, just 1 earned, over 5 innings of work. The 4 unearned runs came after shortstop Dusty Coleman’s throwing error in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Outfielder Chad Oberacker homered in the top of the 1st inning to put Midland on the board, while outfielder Jake Goebbert’s home run tied the game in the 5th, but RHP Mike DeMark surrendered a run in the 6th to take the loss. With outfielder Jeremy Barfield’s elevation to Sacramento, outfielder Josh Whitaker was promoted to Midland and, while serving as the designated hitter, drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in his debut with the RockHounds. He’ll be joined there by A’s starter Brett Anderson, who is set to begin a rehab assignment with Midland.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 6
Lancaster JetHawks 10
LP – Joseph 3-2 / 6.35
HR – Russell (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Addison Russell
(Home Run / 3 RBIs)
RHP Drew Granier allowed 3 runs while striking out 5 over 6 innings of work and left the game with the lead, but RHP Jonathan Joseph gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the loss. Shortstop Addison Russell homered for the second straight night and drove in 3 runs for the Ports. In other news, with RHP Pedro Vidal’s promotion to Sacramento, RHP Brett Hunter has been added to the Ports’ roster from extended spring training.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels 2
Beloit Snappers 3
WP – Dull 1-1 / 1.88
HR – Dixon (4)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Michael Ynoa
(4 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 7 K)
Starter Michael Ynoa gave up just 1 run while walking none and striking out 7 in 4 innings of work on Saturday, while RHP Andres Avila followed up by allowing 1 run in 4 innings of relief. Outfielder Rashun Dixon hit his 4th home run in his last 5 games to put Beloit on the board in the 2nd inning. And in the bottom of the 9th with the Snappers down by a run, designated hitter Chad Lewis doubled in a pair of runs to make a winner of RHP Ryan Dull who’d tossed 1 scoreless inning of relief.
Sunday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Nashville – 12:05pm PT
Midland @ San Antonio – 12:05pm PT / 2:05pm CT
Stockton @ Lancaster – 2:00pm PT
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm to keep up with all the news down on the farm!
Friday, May 10th: Alcantara’s Gem Helps Snappers Split A Pair while Cats & Ports Both Fall
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Beloit Snappers’ Pitcher Raul Alcantara (7 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K / Win)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 3
Memphis Redbirds 10
LP – Banwart 2-1 / 5.64
HR – Peterson (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Shane Peterson
(Home Run / 2 RBIs)
With RHP Jesse Chavez recalled by the A’s, RHP Travis Banwart became the last-minute starter for the River Cats on Friday, and he ended up allowing 4 runs over 3 1/3 innings to take the loss. First baseman Shane Peterson had 2 hits, including his 3rd home run, and drove in a pair of runs, while shortstop Hiro Nakajima went 0 for 3 in his fourth rehab game for Sacramento.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds
San Antonio Missions
(POSTPONED)
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 13
Lancaster JetHawks 19
LP – Perez 0-1 / 20.25
HR – Whitaker (6), Delgado (4), Russell (2)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Addison Russell
(Home Run / Triple / Double / 3 RBIs)
It was a California League slugfest in Lancaster on Friday with a total of 32 runs scored. Starter Sergio Perez was charged with 9 earned runs in just 1 inning of work to take the loss, while RHP T.J. Walz and LHP Omar Duran combined to give up another 10 runs. Shortstop Addison Russell had a big game, collecting a double, a triple and a home run, falling just a single short of a cycle, and driving in 3 runs. Outfielder Bobby Crocker had a pair of doubles and drove in 4 runs, while outfielder Josh Whitaker and designated hitter Ryan Delgado both homered in the loss.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
GAME #1
Peoria Chiefs 2
Beloit Snappers 0
LP – Bacus 3-1 / 3.30
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Dakota Bacus
(5 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 0 K)
Starter Dakota Bacus allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, on 3 hits over 5 innings of work but still ended up taking the loss in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. The Snappers managed just 5 hits in the game, 3 of them off the bat of catcher Bruce Maxwell who raised his average to .316, while third baseman Renato Nunez committed a pair of errors, giving him 11 miscues on the season.
GAME #2
Peoria Chiefs 0
Beloit Snappers 4
WP – Alcantara 5-1 / 2.61
HR – Olson (4)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Raul Alcantara
(7 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K / Win)
RHP Raul Alcantara turned in an impressice performance for the Snappers in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, allowing just 1 hit and no walks over 7 scoreless innings to earn his 5th win for Beloit. First baseman Matt Olson had 3 hits, including a home run and a double, and drove in a pair of runs in the win.
Saturday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT
Game #1 – Midland @ San Antonio – 3:05pm PT / 5:05pm CT
Game #2 – Midland @ San Antonio
Stockton @ Lancaster – 7:00pm PT
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit – 2:00pm PT / 4:00pm CT
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm to keep up with all the news down on the farm!
Thursday, May 9th: Thomas Pitches Cats to Victory while Snappers Win and Hounds & Ports Both Fall
A’s Farmhand Of The Day
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Justin Thomas (6 IP / 6 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 1 K)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 5
Memphis Redbirds 3
WP – Thomas 1-2 / 5.25
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Justin Thomas
(6 IP / 6 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 1 K / Win)
Starter Justin Thomas allowed just 1 run in 6 innings to earn his 1st win for the River Cats on Thursday, while RHP Dan Otero picked up his 8th save. Designated hitter Grant Green had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in 2 runs, while shortstop Hiro Nakajima went 1 for 4 in his third rehab game with Sacramento, and outfielder Jeremy Barfield collected a pair of hits in his debut with the River Cats.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 1
San Antonio Missions 2
LP – Murphy 0-1 / 2.74
HR – Aliotti (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Anthony Aliotti
(3 for 4 / Home Run)
Starter Sean Murphy allowed 2 runs on 7 hits over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss on Thursday. First baseman Anthony Aliotti collected 3 of Midland’d 5 hits on the night, including his 3rd home run, to account for the RockHounds’ only run of the game and raise his average to .378.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 0
Modesto Nuts 2
LP – Peters 2-3 / 6.03
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Tanner Peters
(7 IP / 7 H / 1 ER / 3 BB / 5 K)
RHP Tanner Peters had his best start in his last four outings, allowing just 1 run over 7 innings of work, but still ended up taking the loss on Thursday. The Ports were shut out and collected just 3 hits on the night, one apiece from outfielder Josh Whitaker, catcher Ryan Delgado and third baseman Tony Thompson.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Peoria Chiefs 5
Beloit Snappers 6
WP – Pudenz 1-1 / 13.50
HR – Dixon (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Chad Lewis
(2 Doubles / 2 RBIs)
Starter Austin House allowed 4 runs over 5 innings of work on Thursday. Outfielder Rashun Dixon drilled a home run, his 3rd in his last 3 games, while third baseman Chad Lewis collected 2 doubles and drove in a pair of runs, and Stuart Pudenz picked up his 1st win with an inning of scoreless relief.
Friday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Memphis – 5:05pm PT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Lancaster – 7:00pm PT
Game #1 – Peoria @ Beloit – 2:00pm PT / 4:00pm CT
Game #2 – Peoria @ Beloit
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm to keep up with all the news down on the farm!
