Friday, June 20th: Nunez’s Big Bat Leads Ports to Victory while Cats Win and A’s Top Draft Pick Matt Chapman Makes Pro Debut

A’s Farmhand Of The Day: Stockton Ports Designated Hitter Renato Nunez (3 for 5 / Home Run / 4 RBIs)
A’s Farmhand Of The Day: Stockton Ports Designated Hitter Renato Nunez (3 for 5 / Home Run / 4 RBIs)

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Bakersfield Blaze  5

Stockton Ports    9

WP – Duran 1-2 / 3.21

HR – Nunez (11)

Farmhand Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Renato Nunez

(3 for 5 / Home Run / 4 RBIs)

A big night from designated hitter Renato Nunez helped Stockton overcome an early 4-run deficit and best Bakersfield on Friday. Nunez collected 3 hits in the game, and he homered for the second straight night to put the Ports on the board in the 4th. He then singled in the tying run in the 5th, and also drove in a pair of runs in Stockton’s 5-run 6th. Thursday night’s hitting star, first baseman Matt Olson, drew 3 walks, while outfielders Dusty Robinson and Billy McKinney and second baseman Chad Pinder had a pair of hits apiece and each drove in a run for the Ports. Starter Chris Lamb had a rare rough outing, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits over 4 innings of work, while LHP Omar Duran struck out 5 in 2 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his 1st win for Stockton.

Click here for more on Sacramento, Midland, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Sacramento River Cats  7

Round Rock Express         5

WP – Lindblom 4-3 / 6.19

sphi-res-7054450_display_image3

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Outfielder Shane Peterson

(3 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs / Stolen Base)

 

Center fielder Shane Peterson had 3 hits, including a double, drove in a pair of runs, scored twice and swiped his 11th base to help the River Cats roust Round Rock on Friday night. Third baseman Jose Martinez also collected 3 hits on the night, while left fielder Jake Elmore singled, doubled, walked and drove in 2 runs and first baseman Anthony Aliotti, returning to the River Cats from Midland, had a pair of hits and drove in a run for Sacramento. Just like Dan Straily on Thursday night, starter Josh Lindblom was undone by the long ball on Friday, surrendering a grand slam with 2 outs in the 5th. He ended up allowing 4 runs over 6 innings of work but still picked up his 4th win, while RHP Jeremy McBryde pitched a perfect 9th to post his 6th save. With the A’s needing to add LHP Brad Mills to the 40-man roster, River Cats reliever Justin Marks was placed on waivers and was ultimately claimed by the Rangers, while RHP Evan Scribner was sent back to Sacramento to make room on the A’s 25-man roster for Mills. First baseman Anthony Aliotti also returned to the River Cats from Midland, while rehabbing right fielder Josh Reddick sat things out on Friday after going 2 for 6 in the first two games of his rehab assignment with Sacramento.

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  2

San Antonio Missions      3

LP – Long 7-3 / 3.45

mmDSC02925bx

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

First Baseman Max Muncy

(Double / 2 RBIs)

 

First baseman Max Muncy doubled and drove in Midland’s only two runs of the night on Friday. Designated hitter Beau Taylor also doubled. Third baseman Jefry Marte and outfielder Billy Burns had a pair of hits apiece, while Burns notched his league-leading 35th stolen base, and shortstop Addison Russell went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts. Starter Nate Long had a solid outing, allowing 3 runs, just 2 earned, over 6 innings of work but still ended up taking the loss on Friday. Former River Cats starter Marcus Walden made his debut in relief for the RockHounds, striking out 3 over 2 scoreless innings. And with Anthony Aliotti returning to the River Cats, infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima was activated from the disabled list for the RockHounds.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

GAME #1

Clinton LumberKings  7

Beloit Snappers        1

LP – Trivino 4-6 / 5.81

Brugman

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Jaycob Brugman

(Walk / RBI)

 

Starter Lou Trivino allowed 5 runs over 5 1/3 innings to take the loss in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. Beloit batters managed just 3 hits in the game, one apiece by outfielder B.J. Boyd, third baseman Luis Baez and shortstop Melvin Mercedes. Designated hitter Jaycob Brugman walked and drove in the Snappers’ only run on a groundout in the bottom of the 3rd to tie the game for Beloit. In other news, RHP Trevor Bayless returned to the Snappers, while RHPs Tyler Hollstegge and Blake McMullen were reassigned to Vermont.

 

GAME #2

Clinton LumberKings  1

Beloit Snappers        5

WP – Vail 3-1 / 2.65

HR – Mathews (4)

jm1216665b

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Junior Mendez

(5 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 7 K)

 

RHP Junior Mendez turned in a strong start for the Snappers in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, striking out 7 over 5 scoreless innings, and he left the game with a 1-run lead. RHP Tyler Vail gave up a run in the 6th to tie the game but picked up the win when Beloit came back to reclaim the lead in the bottom of the inning. First baseman Ryan Mathews homered to provide the go-ahead run, while shortstop Melvin Mercedes had a pair of triples, scored twice and drove in a run for the Snappers.

 

NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE  (Class-A Short-Season)

Connecticut Tigers               9

Vermont Lake Monsters  7

LP – Massad 0-1 / 12.46

jg19K9UZ.AuSt.79b

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Jerad Grundy

(5 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 2 K)

 

LHP Jerad Grundy had his second straight solid start for the Lake Monsters on Friday, allowing 2 runs, just 1 earned, over 5 innings of work on Friday. Vermont tied the game in the bottom of the 9th to send it to extra innings, but RHP Jon Massad surrendered 6 runs in the top of the 10th to take the loss. Right fielder Dayton Alexander singled, doubled, walked, stole a base, drove in a run and scored twice, while left fielder Justin Higley walked and tripled in a pair of runs in the loss.

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL Angels  7

AZL A’s        5

LP – Pitcher 0-1 / 9.00

mcimg_6735b

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Third Baseman Matt Chapman

(2 for 5 / Double)

 

The Arizona League A’s kicked off their summer season with a 12-inning loss on Friday night. A number of 2014 draft picks made their debuts in Friday’s game, including #1 3B Matt Chapman, #6 SS Trace Loehr, #9 LHP Mike Fagan, #13 2B Robert Kuhn, #16 3B Jose Brizuela, #26 RHP Rob Huber, #27 CF J.P. Sportman, #28 RHP Corey Walter, #29 LHP Cody Stull and #34 1B John Nogowski. Top pick Matt Chapman singled and doubled in 5 at-bats in his pro debut, while outfielder Robert Martinez had a pair of singles and stole a base. Outfielder Jonesy Zarraga doubled and walked twice, and first baseman John Nogowski drove in 2 of the A’s 5 runs on the night. Meanwhile, a pair of rehabbing minor leaguers also made appearances in the game. Catcher Luke Montz singled and scored a run, while outfielder D’Arby Myers went 0 for 3 with a walk and scored twice. Starter Jesus Zambrano allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, and struck out 6 over 4 innings of work. LHP Cody Stull was a standout, striking out 3 in 2 perfect innings of relief in his pro pitching debut, while RHP Travis Pitcher gave up 2 runs in the top of the 12th to take the loss.

 

Saturday’s Games:

Sacramento @ New Orleans – 4:00pm PT

Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Bakersfield @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT

Clinton @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT

Connecticut @ Vermont – 3:05pm PT / 6:05pm ET

AZL A’s @ AZL Angels – 7:00pm PT

 

 

Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our weekly A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.