Wednesday, April 9th: Wahl Wins 2nd Start for Snappers while Goebbert’s Big Bat Leads Cats to Victory, Ports Come Up Short and Russell Expected to Miss a Month for Midland

 

A’s Farmhand Of The Day

Beloit Snappers Pitcher Bobby Wahl (5 IP / 7 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 7 K)
Beloit Snappers Pitcher Bobby Wahl (5 IP / 7 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 7 K)

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Beloit Snappers             3

South Bend Silver Hawks  2

WP – Bragg 1-0 / 1.69

Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Bobby Wahl

(5 IP / 7 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 7 K)

RHP Bobby Wahl, the A’s 5th-round pick in last year’s draft, was much more impressive in his second start for the Snappers, allowing just 1 run while striking out 7 in 5 innings of work on Wednesday. And when he left the mound after the bottom of the 5th inning, the game was tied. The 22-year-old was replaced by last year’s 18th-round pick, RHP Sam Bragg, who was equally impressive, allowing 1 run on just 1 hit while striking out 4 in 3 innings of relief to earn the win, while RHP Lee Sosa got the final 3 outs for his 1st save. Outfielder Herschel “Boog” Powell had a pair of hits and drove in a run, while outfielder Tyler Marincov singled, walked twice and scored twice, and shortstop Luis Baez, who entered the game when Chih-Fang Pan exited after the top of the 1st (presumably due to injury) doubled and drove in a run for the Snappers.

Click here for more on Sacramento, Stockton & Addison Russell’s injury…

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Sacramento River Cats  7

Las Vegas 51s                  4

WP – Murphy 1-1 / 6.30

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Outfielder Jake Goebbert

(3 for 3 / Double / RBI)

 

RHP Sean Murphy fared better in his second start for Sacramento on Wednesday, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn his 1st win for the River Cats, while RHP Evan Scribner tossed 1 scoreless inning of relief in his first appearance since being optioned by the A’s to Sacramento. LHP Eric Berger, who was acquired from the Astros for a player to be named later a week and a half ago and made 3 appearances for the Cats, was released in order to make room for Scribner on the roster. Outfielder Jake Goebbert collected 3 hits, including a double, walked, drove in a run and scored twice, while outfielder Shane Peterson and catcher Ryan Ortiz both singled and doubled, and shortstop Jose Martinez drove in a pair of runs for the River Cats.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Stockton Ports   6

Bakersfield Blaze  8

LP – Doolittle 0-1 / 1.80

HR – Nunez (1)

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Third Baseman Renato Nunez

(3 for 4 / Home Run)

 

RHP Tim Atherton struggled in his second start for Stockton, allowing 6 runs, 4 earned, on 7 hits over 5 innings of work on Wednesday, while RHP Ryan Doolittle allowed a go-ahead home run in relief to take the loss. Third baseman Renato Nunez had 3 hits, including his 1st home run, while second baseman Chad Pinder singled and tripled, outfielder Billy McKinney doubled and walked twice, and shortstop Wade Kirkland doubled in a run for the Ports.

 

In Other News…

Though Midland had the day off while traveling to Arkansas, news broke Wednesday via Jeff Passan, Susan Slusser and Jonathan Mayo that top prospect Addison Russell’s hamstring injury is actually a tear that is likely to keep the shortstop sidelined for at least a full month. And A’s Farm has also independently confirmed that prognosis. Russell was 5 for 7 with a home run and a double in his first 2 games of the season. In related news, the A’s have signed minor free agent second baseman, and Stanford alum, Colin Walsh and assigned him to Midland. And in a corresponding move, infielder Antonio Lamas, who had been on the RockHounds roster, has been released.

 

Thursday’s Games:

Sacramento @ Las Vegas – 7:05pm PT

Midland @ Arkansas – 5:10pm PT / 7:10pm CT

Visalia @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT

Beloit @ South Bend – 4:05pm PT / 6:05pm CT

 

 

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