Thursday, May 23rd: Billings Pitches Cats to Victory while Snappers Win and Hounds & Ports Fall

A’s Farmhand Of The Day

Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Bruce Billings (6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 7 K / Win)
Sacramento River Cats’ Pitcher Bruce Billings (6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 7 K / Win)

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

New Orleans Zephyrs        2

Sacramento River Cats  4

WP – Billings 5-2 / 4.70

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Bruce Billings

(6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 7 K / Win)

 

Starter Bruce Billings turned in another strong outing for Sacramento on Thursday, allowing 2 runs and striking out 7 over 6 innings to earn his 5th win, while RHP Dan Otero picked up his 12th save with a scoreless 9th. Third baseman Scott Moore drove in a pair of runs, while second baseman Grant Green and outfielder Michael Choice drove in a run apiece, and first baseman Daric Barton went 0 for 3 in his return to the River Cats.

Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  6

Tulsa Drillers                  7

LP – Smith 4-5 / 2.62

HR – Goebbert (8), Freitas 2 (5)

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Designated Hitter David Freitas

(2 Home Runs)

 

Catcher David Freitas, serving as the designated hitter for the night, had a big night at the plate for Midland. First he hit a home run in the 3rd inning to put the RockHounds on the board, then he homered again in the 5th to give his team the lead. Outfielder Jake Goebbert followed up with a 3-run homer of his own in the 5th. But Midland’s pitching staff couldn’t hold the lead. LHP Carlos Hernandez allowed 2 runs in 3 innings of work, while RHP Murphy Smith gave up 5 runs over 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Stockton Ports   3

Bakersfield Blaze  4

LP – Hassebrock 1-3 / 4.94

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Farmhand Of The Game:

First Baseman Max Muncy

(2 for 4 / Double / RBI)

 

Starter Drew Granier had another solid outing for Stockton on Thursday, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 over 7 innings of work. First baseman Max Muncy had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in the tying run in the top of the 7th inning, but RHP Blake Hassebrock surrendered the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to take the loss for the Ports.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Cedar Rapids Kernels  3

Beloit Snappers         5

WP – Pudenz 2-1 / 2.25

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Third Baseman Renato Nunez

(2 for 4 / Double / RBI)

 

Third baseman Renato Nunez collected a pair of hits, including his 9th double, and drove in his team-leading 28th run on Thursday, while first baseman Matt Olson, outfielder John Wooten and catcher Bruce Maxwell drove in a run apiece for the Snappers. RHP Seth Streich had a shaky start, allowing 3 runs and walking 4 in just 3 innings of work, while RHP Stuart Pudenz struck out 4 in 2 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his 2nd win, and RHP Ryan Dull got the final 3 outs to pick up his 8th save.

 

Friday’s Games:

Sacramento @ Tucson – 7:05pm PT

Midland @ Tulsa – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Stockton @ Bakersfield – 7:30pm PT

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT

 

 

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