A’s Farmhand Of The Day
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Fresno Grizzlies 2
Sacramento River Cats 4
WP – Leon 1-1 / 4.50
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Arnold Leon
(6 IP / 6 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 5 K / Win)
RHP Arnold Leon was solid in his fourth start for Sacramento, allowing 2 runs, just 1 earned, while striking out 5 over 6 innings to earn his 1st win. RHPs Paul Smyth, Jeremy McBryde and Evan Scribner each tossed 1 scoreless inning in relief, with Scribner picking up his 3rd save for Sacramento. Outfielder Kent Matthes doubled twice and drove in a run, while catcher Ryan Ortiz had 2 hits and drove in a pair, second baseman Jose Martinez singled twice, walked twice and stole a base, and third baseman Alden Carrithers had 3 walks in the win.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
San Antonio Missions 3
Midland RockHounds 4
WP – Long 2-0 / 4.15
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Josh Whitaker
(3 for 6 / 2 RBIs / Stolen Base)
After starting the season with two impressive outings, RHP Raul Alcantara had his shakiest start yet for the RockHounds, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits over 5 innings on Friday. Jesus Castillo, Andrew Werner, Seth Frankoff and Nate Long then combined to toss 6 scoreless innings in relief, with Long picking up the win after Midland scored the winning run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th. Josh Whitaker, appearing in his third game of the season at first base, had 3 hits and drove in a pair of runs, including the go-ahead run in the 3rd and again in the 5th, while second baseman Colin Walsh had 2 hits and scored the winning run, and designated hitter Max Muncy walked 3 times in the win. In other news, RHP Tanner Peters was placed on the disabled list on Friday. With Peters disabled and Zach Neal recently promoted to Sacramento, the RockHounds rotation is now expected to consist of Raul Alcantara, Drew Granier, Chris Jensen, Shawn Haviland and Nate Long – though with Long’s use in Friday’s extra-inning contest, the Hounds could also consider former starter Murphy Smith for the fifth spot. Meanwhile, infielder Jefry Marte has been dealing with left hamstring tendinitis and hasn’t played since Saturday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 5
Inland Empire 66ers 10
LP – Bowman 0-2 / 8.50
HR – McKinney (6)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Billy McKinney
(Home Run)
RHP Josh Bowman endured another rough outing for the Ports, surrendering 7 runs in just 4 innings to take the loss, while LHP Omar Duran allowed 1 unearned run and struck out 4 in 2 innings of relief on Friday. Outfielder Billy McKinney hit his team-leading 6th home run to put the Ports on the board in the 1st, while shortstop Daniel Robertson and catcher Bruce Maxwell collected a pair of hits apiece, second baseman Chad Pinder tripled, and first baseman Matt Olson doubled in the loss.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Lansing Lugnuts 5
Beloit Snappers 0
LP – Covey 0-2 / 5.71
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Junior Mendez
(2 1/3 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 3 K)
Beloit’s batters were held hitless until, with 1 out in the 9th, catcher Jose Chavez singled and second baseman Chih Fang Pan then followed up with a single of his own, but that’s as far as it would go for the Snappers on Friday night. RHP Dylan Covey had another rocky outing, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits over 6 2/3 innings to take the loss, while RHP Junior Mendez tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in his debut for Beloit. With Mendez’s addition to the Snappers pitching staff, RHP Trevor Bayless was sent back to join extended spring training in Arizona.
In Other News…
After wondering if he would ever play professional baseball again less than three years ago, LHP Sean Doolittle signed a 5-year contract with the A’s on Friday. See what the late-blooming lefty had to tell A’s Farm shortly after his call-up by the A’s back in the summer of 2012 here.
And be sure to check out Big League Futures slow-motion look at Stockton first baseman Matt Olson’s mighty swing…
Saturday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Tacoma – 5:05pm PT
San Antonio @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Stockton @ Inland Empire – 7:05pm PT
Lansing @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
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