MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Peoria Chiefs 4
Beloit Snappers 9
WP – Murray 3-1 / 3.12
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Mike Martin
(3 for 4 / Walk / 3 RBIs)
Last year’s 33rd-round draft pick for the A’s, center fielder Mike Martin, continued his hot hitting on Wednesday, collecting 3 hits and a walk while driving in 3 runs and scoring twice to help the Snappers win their third straight. And the 23-year-old is now batting .342 in his first 21 games since being promoted to Beloit. Catcher Jose Chavez doubled in a run and walked twice, while third baseman Edwin Diaz and designated hitter Jean Carlo Rodriguez each had 2 hits, and shortstop Trace Loehr and center fielder Skye Bolt drove in a pair of runs apiece for the Snappers. Starter Michael Murray allowed 3 runs over 5 2/3 innings to pick up his 3rd win for Beloit.
Click here for more on Stockton, Vermont & AZL A’s…
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 0
Modesto Nuts 5
LP – Graves 3-7 / 5.49
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder James Harris
(1 for 3 / Double / HBP)
Stockton was shut out on just 4 hits on Wednesday. Center fielder James Harris reached base twice, on a double and a hit-by-pitch. Starter Brett Graves allowed 3 runs, just 1 earned, on 7 hits over 3 innings of work to suffer his 7th loss, while RHP Casey Meisner gave up 1 run in 3 innings of relief for the Ports.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
GAME #1
Aberdeen IronBirds 3
Vermont Lake Monsters 5
WP – Chalmers 2-0 / 3.38
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Miguel Mercedes
(3 for 3 / 2 RBIs)
First baseman Miguel Mercedes had 3 hits and drove in the Lake Monsters’ first run in the 1st inning and drove in the team’s second run, which was also the tying run, in the 3rd to help Vermont win the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. This year’s 5th-round draft pick for the A’s, third baseman JaVon Shelby, also had 3 hits and drove in a run. Last year’s 3rd-round pick, RHP Dakota Chalmers, gave up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 7 over 5 1/3 innings to pick up his 2nd win, while this year’s 14th-round pick, RHP Nolan Blackwood, pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings in relief to earn the save in his professional debut on Wednesday.
GAME #2
Aberdeen IronBirds 0
Vermont Lake Monsters 2
WP – Beasley 1-0 / 5.40
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brendan Butler
(4 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 4 K)
Starter Brendan Butler struck out 4 over 4 shutout innings and left the game with a 1-run lead on Wednesday. LHP Derek Beasley tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, while RHP Yordy Alejo got the final three outs to pick up the save and complete the 3-hit shutout for the Lake Monsters as Vermont swept Wednesday’s doubleheader. This year’s 11th-round draft pick for the A’s, shortstop Eli White, serving as the designated hitter for the night, singled in the Lake Monsters’ first run, while 3rd-round catcher Sean Murphy and 19-year-old Dominican right fielder Jhonny Rodriguez had a pair of hits apiece for Vermont.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Brewers 16
AZL A’s 0
LP – Szynski 0-1 / 108.00
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Joseph Camacho
(3 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K)
The AZL A’s were shut out on just 1 hit in a game that was completed after 5 innings due to lightning on Wednesday. This year’s 27th-round draft pick for the A’s, left fielder Cole Gruber, singled with two outs in the 2nd inning to record the A’s sole hit. It was a rough night for a number of the A’s newest arms as the team surrendered a whopping 15 runs in the 1st inning. This year’s 4th-round pick, high school RHP Skylar Szynski, made the start and gave up 4 runs in just 1/3 of an inning of work to take the loss in his pro debut on Wednesday. 19-year-old Dominican RHP Wandisson Charles followed and walked all 5 batters he faced, uncorked a pair of wild pitches and was charged with 5 runs without recording an out. RHP Frederick De La Cruz then allowed 7 runs, 5 earned, in 1 2/3 innings of relief. RHP Joseph Camacho, who was signed as a free agent out of Alabama State after going undrafted earlier in the month, finally stopped the bleeding by throwing 3 shutout innings for the A’s before lightning shut things down early on Wednesday.
In Other News…
LHP Eric Surkamp, who was designated for assignment by the A’s on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Rangers on Wednesday. With LHP Sean Manaea activated off the disabled list to make Wednesday’s start for the A’s, infielder Arismendy Alcantara was optioned back to Nashville. And RHP Nick Tepesch, who was acquired off waivers by the A’s, was also optioned to the Sounds on Wednesday.
Thursday’s Games:
Oklahoma City @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ NW Arkansas – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Rancho Cucamonga – 7:05pm PT
Peoria @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Aberdeen @ Vermont – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL A’s @ AZL Brewers – 7:00pm PT
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