Tuesday, April 15th: Hounds Sweep Twinbill while Cats Win, Ports Fall and Snappers Drop a Pair

 

A’s Farmhand Of The Day

Midland RockHounds Pitcher Drew Granier (6 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 4 BB / 4 K / Win)
 Midland RockHounds Pitcher Drew  Granier (6 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 4 BB /    4 K / Win)

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

GAME #1

Midland RockHounds  1

NW Arkansas Naturals    0

WP – Granier 1-1 / 6.17

Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Drew Granier

(6 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 4 BB / 4 K / Win)

RHP Drew Granier had his best start of the season for the RockHounds, allowing just 1 hit over 6 scoreless innings to earn his 1st win, while RHP Seth Frankoff got the final 3 outs for his 3rd save on Tuesday. Recently-signed infielder Colin Walsh had a pair of hits, while outfielder Billy Burns singled and drove in the RockHounds’ only run in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. In other news, recently-acquired catcher Blake Forsythe should be joining Midland this week to share time with catcher Beau Taylor. Forsythe earned a Gold Glove last year as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues after committing just 1 error in 80 games behind the plate for Double-A Binghamton.

Click here for more on Sacramento, Midland, Stockton & Beloit…

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Fresno Grizzlies                 4

Sacramento River Cats  7

WP – Murphy 2-1 / 5.06

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Sean Murphy

(6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 3 K / Win)

 

After getting off to a rough start by giving up 3 runs, 2 earned, in his first 2 innings of work, RHP Sean Murphy settled down and didn’t allow a run over the next 4 innings. While Murphy blanked Fresno for 4 frames, the Cats were able to come back from the early deficit and the right-hander ended up walking away with his 2nd win for Sacramento. RHP Evan Scribner tossed 2 perfect innings in relief to post his 2nd save. Outfielder Kent Matthes had 2 hits and drove in 3 runs, including the tying and go-ahead runs, while shortstop Tyler Ladendorf had 2 doubles, 2 walks and drove in a run, and first baseman Nate Freiman and outfielder Shane Peterson had a pair of hits apiece for Sacramento. Meanwhile, with RHP Joe Blanton’s recent retirement, RHP Zach Neal was officially promoted from the RockHounds to join the River Cats rotation. But RHP Matt Buschmann was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, so there’s still another opening left to be filled in Sacramento’s starting rotation.

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

GAME #2

Midland RockHounds  6

NW Arkansas Naturals    1

WP – Dull 2-0 / 5.14

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Murphy Smith

(4 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 2 K)

 

RHP Nate Long, who could be a candidate to join the RockHounds rotation with Zach Neal’s recent promotion, started the second game of Midland’s doubleheader on Tuesday and tossed 3 scoreless innings before giving way to another potential rotation candidate, RHP Murphy Smith, who threw 4 scoreless innings for the RockHounds. LHP Jeff Urlaub came on and allowed no runs in the 8th or 9th, and the game remained scoreless until the top of the 11th, when designated hitter Miles Head hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to bring in a run. But RockHounds RHP Jesus Castillo then gave up the tying run in the bottom of the 11th and the contest continued. Midland finally cracked the game open with 5 runs in the top of the 13th, with RHP Ryan Dull picking up the win after tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Max Muncy made his first start at third base and had a pair of hits for the Hounds.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Bakersfield Blaze  10

Stockton Ports     4

LP – Correa 1-1 / 6.35

HR – Nunez (3)

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Jeremy Barfield

(3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K)

 

RHP Manny Correa had his roughest start of the season for Stockton, allowing 9 runs, 8 earned, on 11 hits over just 4 innings to take his 1st loss on Tuesday. Converted outfielder Jeremy Barfield came in with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the 5th inning and allowed just 1 run to score, which was credited to Correa. Overall, the left-hander struck out 5 in 3 scoreless innings of relief to lower his ERA to 1.00 and raise his strikeout total to 13 in 9 innings of work out of the Ports bullpen this season. Designated hitter Renato Nunez hit his 3rd home run, while outfielder Dusty Robinson singled, doubled and drove in a run, and outfielder Bobby Crocker singled, tripled, walked twice and stole his 8th base for Stockton.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

GAME #1

Great Lakes Loons  11

Beloit Snappers      4

LP – Wahl 0-2 / 7.71

Powell

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Outfielder Herschel “Boog” Powell

(3 for 4 / RBI / Stolen Base)

 

RHP Bobby Wahl struggled in his third start for the Snappers, allowing 8 runs, 6 earned, on 4 hits and 6 walks to take his 2nd loss in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Outfielder Herschel “Boog” Powell had 3 hits, stole a base and drove in a run, while outfielder B.J. Boyd singled, doubled and scored twice in the loss.

 

GAME #2

Great Lakes Loons  8

Beloit Snappers    2

LP – Powers 1-1 / 3.52

HR – Mathews (1)

Mathews

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Ryan Mathews

(Home Run / 2 RBIs)

 

LHP Brent Powers started the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, over 2 2/3 innings to take the loss for the Snappers. Designated hitter Ryan Mathews tagged a 2-run homer in the 7th to account for Beloit’s only runs of the game.

 

Wednesday’s Games:

Fresno @ Sacramento – 12:05pm PT

Bakersfield @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT

Great Lakes @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT

 

 

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