Monday, July 4th: Rodriguez’s Grand Slam Helps Hounds Win while Stockton Snaps 7-Game Skid & Sounds Fall in Extras

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Midland RockHounds Designated Hitter Josh Rodriguez (1 for 4 / Walk / Grand Slam)
A’s Prospect Of The Day: Midland RockHounds Designated Hitter Josh Rodriguez (1 for 4 / Walk / Grand Slam)

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  12

Arkansas Travelers          2

WP – Cochran-Gill 3-3 / 3.80

HR – Munoz (5), Rodriguez (3)

Prospect Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Josh Rodriguez

(1 for 4 / Walk / Grand Slam)

A 1st inning grand slam off the bat of designated hitter Josh Rodriguez would give Midland more than they would need to prevail over Arkansas on Monday night. Rodriguez would later walk and score in the 5th, while second baseman Yairo Munoz immediately followed Rodriguez’s 1st inning grand slam with a solo shot of his own and also singled and scored in the 5th. Shortstop Franklin Barreto had 2 hits, including a double, drove in a pair and scored twice, and right fielder Tyler Marincov and left fielder J.P. Sportman each singled, doubled and drove in a run for the RockHounds. Starter Raul Alcantara returned from the disabled list and allowed 2 runs in 4 2/3 innings of work, while RHP Trey Cochran-Gill tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn his 3rd win for Midland. And in addition to Alcantara’s return from the disabled list, RHP Chris Jensen and LHP Brandon Mann were both reassigned to the RockHounds on Monday.

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

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Nashville Sounds   1

Memphis Redbirds   2

LP – Santos 0-2 / 3.00

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Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Chris Smith

(7 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 9 K)

 

RHP Chris Smith turned in an outstanding start for the Sounds, allowing just 3 hits while striking out 9 over 7 shutout innings and reclaimed the Pacific Coast League strikeout lead in the process. Smith left the game with a 1-run lead, but RHP Tucker Healy gave up the tying run in the bottom of the 9th, and RHP Eduard Santos surrendered the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to suffer his 2nd loss as Memphis won in a walk-off on Monday. Right fielder Matt Olson walked twice and doubled in shortstop Chad Pinder, who himself had doubled, for the Sounds’ only run in the loss. Meanwhile, Colin Walsh was activated from the disabled list and LHP Daniel Coulombe was optioned back to Nashville, while LHP Patrick Schuster and RHP Andrew Triggs were promoted to Oakland, and RHP Chris Jensen was reassigned to Midland on Monday.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Lake Elsinore Storm  4

Stockton Ports         5

WP – Stull 2-1 / 1.47

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Prospect Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Sandber Pimentel

(2 for 4 / Triple / Double / 2 Runs)

 

Stockton snapped its seven-game losing streak with a one-run victory on Monday. Designated hitter Sandber Pimentel tripled and scored what was then the go-ahead run in the 6th inning and then doubled and scored what would prove to be the winning run in the 8th inning, while shortstop Richie Martin collected 3 hits, stole a base and scored twice, and right fielder Joe Bennie and first baseman John Nogowski each had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Ports. 26-year-old RHP Matt Sergey, who was recently signed after spending most of his career in the independent Frontier League, turned in a strong start, allowing 2 runs on just 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over 5 innings of work in his Stockton debut. RHP Casey Meisner gave up 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief, while LHP Cody Stull tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames to earn his 2nd win for Stockton. Meanwhile, LHP Victor Veliz was placed on the disabled list for the Ports.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Beloit Snappers                1

Quad Cities River Bandits  9

LP – Murray 3-2 / 3.57

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Prospect Of The Game:

Outfielder Mike Martin

(1 for 3 / RBI)

 

The Snappers scored 1 run on just 1 hit on Monday. Left fielder Mike Martin singled in the 4th inning and drove in Beloit’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the 9th. Starter Michael Murray allowed 4 runs in 5 innings of work to suffer his 2nd loss for the Snappers.

 

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

Vermont Lake Monsters     3

Mahoning Valley Scrappers  2

WP – Chalmers 3-0 / 2.60

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Prospect Of The Game:

First Baseman Miguel Mercedes

(1 for 4 / 2 RBIs)

 

With two outs, two on and Vermont down by one run in the top of the 8th, first baseman Miguel Mercedes singled to right field to bring home both the tying and winning runs for the Lake Monsters on Monday. Second baseman Eric Marinez singled, doubled and drove in Vermont’s only other run of the game. LHP Derek Beasley made the start after a rain delay and threw 3 shutout innings, while RHP Jordan Schwartz gave up 1 run in 2 innings of relief, and RHP Dakota Chalmers allowed just 1 unearned run in 4 innings of work to earn his 3rd win for Vermont.

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL A’s        7

AZL Angels  5

WP – Charles 2-0 / 11.05

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Prospect Of The Game:

Second Baseman Javier Godard

(2 for 3 / Walk / 2 RBIs)

 

20-year-old Venezuelan second baseman Javier Godard had 2 hits and a walk and drove in a pair of runs to help the AZL A’s win on Monday. Right fielder Cole Gruber singled twice, walked twice, scored twice and stole 3 bases, while left fielder Robert Bennie had 2 singles and drove in a pair. First baseman Charles Gould singled and doubled, and center fielder Jeramiah McCray singled, walked, stole a pair of bases and scored twice. This year’s 4th-round draft pick for the A’s, 18-year-old RHP Skylar Szynski, allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, on 3 hits and 1 walk over 2 innings of work, while 19-year-old RHP Wandisson Charles gave up just 1 run, despite allowing 5 walks, over 3 2/3 innings to pick up his 2nd win, and RHP Joseph Camacho tossed 2 scoreless innings to earn his 1st save for the A’s.

 

Tuesday’s Games:

Memphis @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Midland @ Arkansas – 5:10pm PT / 7:10pm CT

Lake Elsinore @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT

Beloit @ Quad Cities – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT

Vermont @ Mahoning Valley – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET

AZL Angels @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT

 

 

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