Saturday, June 20th: Michael Soto Has Big Hit & Matt Chapman Hits 10th HR as Ports Win 8th Straight in a Walk-Off while AZL A’s Drop Opener and 25 Draft Picks Join A’s Affiliates

A’s Farmhand Of The Day: Stockton Ports First Baseman Michael Soto (2 for 4 / Double / GWRBI)
A’s Farmhand Of The Day: Stockton Ports First Baseman Michael Soto (2 for 4 / Double / GWRBI)

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Bakersfield Blaze  3

Stockton Ports    4

WP – Roberts 2-1 / 3.45

HR – Chapman (10)

Farmhand Of The Game:

First Baseman Michael Soto

(2 for 4 / Double / GWRBI)

With two outs, a man on and the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, first baseman Michael Soto doubled to drive in the winning run as the Ports won in a walk-off on Saturday to post their eighth straight victory. Soto also singled but was left stranded in the 7th, while third baseman Matt Chapman homered for the second straight night, hitting his 10th to tie him with Beloit’s Sandber Pimentel for most among A’s minor leaguers, and designated hitter John Nogowski singled in a run in the 3rd for Stockton. Starter Kyle Finnegan allowed 3 runs over 5 innings of work and left with the game tied, while RHPs Trevor Bayless and Sam Roberts each tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief, with Roberts picking up his 2nd win for the Ports.

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

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Omaha Storm Chasers  5

Nashville Sounds         3

LP – Bassitt 2-6 / 4.03

jwWendle, Joey2

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Second Baseman Joey Wendle

(2 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)

 

Despite holding a 1-run lead after 7 innings, the Sounds ended up suffering their fourth straight loss and their ninth in their last ten games on Saturday. Starter Chris Bassitt gave up 4 runs in 7 innings of work to take his 6th loss. Bassitt allowed just 1 run over his first 7 innings, then surrendered 1 run in the 8th before turning it over to RHP Ryan Cook with two runners on and no outs. Cook allowed both runners to score on a double and then gave up a run of his own before notching the final out of the inning. Second baseman Joey Wendle singled, doubled and drove in 2 runs, while center fielder Craig Gentry singled, doubled, walked, stole a base and scored twice, and Dayan Viciedo, who was recently signed as a minor league free agent by the A’s, went 1 for 5 with a triple while playing playing first base and batting cleanup in his debut for the Sounds. And with Viciedo’s addition to the roster, outfielder Matt Carson was released.

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  9

San Antonio Missions    6

WP – Atherton 4-3 / 6.16

HR – Olson (8)

bmDSC02921bx

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Catcher Bruce Maxwell

(3 for 4 / Walk / 3 RBIs)

 

The RockHounds were down by 2 runs after 5 innings, but a big 5-run 6th would put the Hounds back in the driver’s seat and enable them post their sixth win in their last seven games on Saturday. Catcher Bruce Maxwell reached base 4 times, on 3 hits and a walk, and drove in 3 runs, including the tying tun in the 6th. Second baseman Colin Walsh singled, doubled, walked and drove in 2, including the go-ahead run in the 6th, while outfielder Jaycob Brugman collected 4 hits, including a triple, and drove in a run. First baseman Matt Olson slugged his 17th double and his 8th home run, and shortstop Chad Pinder had 3 hits, including a double, to extend his current hitting streak to 10 games. Starter Tim Atherton picked up his 4th win despite allowing 4 runs in 5 innings of work, while RHP Seth Frankoff pitched a perfect 9th to post his 2nd save.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Beloit Snappers

(POSTPONED)

 

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

Lowell Spinners                 7

Vermont Lake Monsters  1

LP – Kurz 0-1 / 27.00

jm643429

 

Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Jon Massad

(5 2/3 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 5 K)

 

RHP Jon Massad was solid in his season debut for the Lake Monsters, allowing just 1 run while striking out 5 over 5 2/3 innings on Saturday, and he left with the game a 1-1 tie. But RHP Cody Kurz surrendered 5 runs, 4 earned, in 1 1/3 innings of relief to take the loss. Vermont managed just 1 run on 5 hits on Saturday. Designated hitter Seong-min Kim singled, walked and scored the Lake Monsters’ only run in the loss. Vermont will receive some reinforcements on Sunday, as nine recent draft picks were added to the Lake Monsters roster, including five position players (#2 SS Mikey White, #4 OF Skye Bolt, #10 OF Steven Pallares, #12 1B Chris Iriart and #15 2B Ryan Howell) and four pitchers (#7 RHP Kyle Friedrichs, #9 LHP Jared Lyons, #24 RHP Heath Bowers and #25 LHP Evan Manarino).

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL A’s       2

AZL Angels  4

LP – Duno 0-1 / 3.60

Farmhand Of The Game:

Third Baseman Miguel Mercedes

(2 for 3 / Walk / Run)

21-year-old Venezuelan RHP Angel Duno, who was one of the stars of the A’s Dominican Summer League team’s pitching staff last season, gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, on 8 hits while walking none and striking out 4 to take the loss in the AZL A’s season opener on Saturday. And his fellow Venezuelan, 19-year-old RHP Emerson Nelo, allowed just 1 unearned run in 3 innings of relief. The A’s scored 2 runs on 6 hits on Saturday. Third baseman Miguel Mercedes reached base 3 times, on 2 singles and a walk, and scored the A’s first run of the game in the 2nd, while center fielder Rodolfo Penalo singled, stole a base and scored the tying run in the 3rd. Right fielder Brett Siddall drew 3 walks, and shortstop Eric Marinez and designated hitter Jhonny Rodriguez each singled and drove in a run in the loss. Sixteen recent draft picks were added to the AZL A’s roster on Saturday, including eight position players (#8 C Nicholas Collins, #11 OF James Terrell, #13 OF Brett Siddall, #18 C Brett Sunde, #19 1B Seth Brown, #26 C Jordan Devencenzi, #34 1B Shane Conlon and #35 SS Tim Proudfoot) and eight pitchers (#3 RHP Dakota Chalmers, #6 RHP Bowdien Derby, #20 RHP James Naile, #21 LHP Andrew Tomasovich, #27 RHP Xavier Altamirano, #28 RHP Marc Berube, #29 RHP Armando Ruiz and #30 RHP Brendan Butler).

 

Sunday’s Games:

Omaha @ Nashville – 12:05pm PT / 2:05pm CT

Midland @ Frisco – 4:05pm PT / 6:05pm CT

Bakersfield @ Stockton – 2:09pm PT

Wisconsin @ Beloit (Game #1) – 10:00am PT / Noon CT

Wisconsin @ Beloit (Game #2)

Lowell @ Vermont – 2:05pm PT / 5:05pm ET

 

 

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