TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 4
Corpus Christi Hooks 2
WP – Avila 5-2 / 2.41
HR – Barreto (9), Taylor (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Franklin Barreto
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 2 RBIs)
Franklin Barreto closed out July by continuing his strong second-half surge. The 20-year-old singled, doubled and drilled a two-run homer in the top of the 5th inning to give the RockHounds the lead in what had been a scoreless duel. Barreto is now batting .500, going 13 for 26 with 2 home runs, over his last 7 games, and he finished July with an impressive .423/.481/.676 slash line for the month. Starter Heath Fillmyer allowed 2 runs over 5 innings of work on Sunday and left with the game tied. Catcher Beau Taylor slugged a solo shot in the top of the 8th to provide the winning run, while left fielder Danny Oh and center fielder Brett Vertigan contributed a pair of hits apiece. RHP Andres Avila tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, and RHP Bobby Wahl got the final four outs to register his 10th save for the RockHounds.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 6
New Orleans Zephyrs 2
WP – Jensen 2-4 / 3.76
HR – McBride (6), Walsh (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Chris Jensen
(6 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 1 K / Win)
RHP Chris Jensen turned in a strong start for the Sounds on Sunday, allowing just 1 run over 6 innings of work to earn his 2nd win for Nashville. Third baseman Colin Walsh homered to put the Sounds on the board in the top of the 3rd inning, while catcher Matt McBride smashed a two-run shot in the 4th. Left fielder Arismendy Alcantara singled and tripled, second baseman Joey Wendle singled, doubled and drove in a run, and center fielder Jaycob Brugman doubled in a pair for the Sounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Visalia Rawhide 2
Stockton Ports 0
LP – Murray 1-2 / 7.62
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Joey Wagman
(3 1/3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 6 K)
Stockton was shut out on just one hit on Sunday. Starter Michael Murray allowed 2 runs over 4 1/3 innings to suffer his 2nd loss for Stockton, while RHP Joey Wagman was solid in relief, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 6 over 3 1/3 scoreless frames. Right fielder Joe Bennie singled for Stockton’s sole hit in the loss. And in other news, LHP Matt Stalcup, who was Oakland’s 9th-round draft pick in 2013, has decided to retire. He posted a 7.23 ERA this season for Stockton and had a 4.28 career ERA over parts of four minor league seasons.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Quad Cities River Bandits 3
Beloit Snappers 2
LP – Kurz 2-5 / 4.36
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Evan Manarino
(6 2/3 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 6 K)
LHP Evan Manarino turned in his third straight outstanding start for the Snappers on Sunday, striking out 6 over 6 2/3 shutout innings, and he left the game with a one-run lead. Right fielder Brett Siddall had a pair of hits, and center fieder Skye Bolt and second baseman Trent Gilbert each singled and drove in a run for the Snappers. RHP Rob Huber gave up 1 run in 2/3 of an inning of relief, while RHP Tyler Willman surrendered the tying run in the top of the 9th, and RHP Cody Kurz was charged with the winning run in the 11th to take the loss as the Snappers dropped their fifth straight on Sunday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Connecticut Tigers 3
Vermont Lake Monsters 4
WP – Zambrano 2-1 / 4.13
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brandon Bailey
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 2 K)
This year’s 6th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Brandon Bailey, was impressive in his third start for Vermont on Sunday, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk on 49 pitches over 5 shutout innings, but he exited with the game a scoreless tie. (You can read Bailey’s recent reflections on minor league life here). Shortstop Eli White doubled and drove in a pair of runs, while third baseman Luke Persico singled, doubled and stole a base. Designated hitter Nate Mondou doubled and drew a pair of walks, and center fielder Luis Barrera doubled in a run and stole a base. RHP Jesus Zambrano picked up the win despite allowing 3 runs, just 1 earned, in 3 innings of relief, while RHP Yordy Alejo tossed a scoreless 9th to notch his 3rd save as the Lake Monsters won their second straight on Sunday after snapping a six-game losing streak.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 5
AZL Indians 4
WP – Ferreras 1-1 / 4.76
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Kyle Nowlin
(1 for 3 / Walk / RBI)
This year’s 4th-round draft pick for the A’s, 19-year-old RHP Skylar Szynski, allowed 1 run on 3 hits while walking none and striking out 1 over 2 innings of work in his seventh start for the AZL A’s on Sunday. Rehabbing RHP Kris Hall threw 1 scoreless inning in relief, while 20-year-old Dominican RHP Miguel Sanchez gave up 3 runs over 3 innings. LHP Kevin Ferreras tossed 2 scoreless frames to earn the win, and RHP Sam Sheehan got the final three outs for his 3rd save. Left fielder Kyle Nowlin and designated hitter Rob Bennie both walked and singled in runs to help the A’s win on Sunday.
Monday’s Games:
Nashville @ New Orleans – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT
Midland @ Frisco – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Rancho Cucamonga @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Quad Cities @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Connecticut @ Vermont – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
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