Thursday, May 4th: Olson’s Early HR Leads Sounds to Victory while Bassitt Looks Strong in 2nd Rehab Start for Stockton

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Nashville Sounds First Baseman Matt Olson (Home Run / 3 RBIs)
A’s Prospect Of The Day: Nashville Sounds First Baseman Matt Olson (Home Run / 3 RBIs)

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Nashville Sounds      5

Round Rock Express  4

WP – C.Smith 2-1 / 2.39

HR – Olson (4), Parmelee (3)

Prospect Of The Game:

First Baseman Matt Olson

(Home Run / 3 RBIs)

First baseman Matt Olson slugged a 3-run homer in the top of the 1st inning to give the Sounds a lead they would never surrender on Thursday. Olson has been hot since returning from his brief stint with the A’s, hitting .320 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs over his last 6 games. Designated hitter Chris Parmelee followed up with a solo shot in the 2nd, while left fielder Jaycob Brugman collected 3 hits, including a double, and third baseman Matt Chapman singled and tripled for the Sounds. Starter Chris Smith was solid, allowing 2 runs over 5 2/3 frames to earn his 2nd win, while RHP Chris Jensen gave up 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief, and LHP Ross Detwiler threw a scoreless 9th to notch his 1st save for Nashville. And with Oakland catcher Josh Phegley landing on the 7-day concussion list, Sounds catcher Bruce Maxwell rejoined the A’s roster on Thursday.

Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Corpus Christi Hooks     2

Midland RockHounds  5

WP – Stull 2-1 / 4.50

HR – Vertigan (1)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Outfielder Brett Vertigan

(Home Run / 2 RBIs)

 

With two outs, a man on and the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 4th, center fielder Brett Vertigan slugged his 1st home run of the season, a tie-breaking 2-run shot, to provide the margin of victory as Midland won its third straight on Thursday. Vertigan also singled but was left stranded in the 8th, while left fielder J.P. Sportman singled, doubled, tripled, drew a pair of walks and drove in a run, and designated hitter B.J. Boyd had 3 hits to raise his average to a league-leading .383 on Thursday. Starter Heath Fillmyer allowed 1 run over 3 innings of work, while LHP Cody Stull gave up 1 run in 2 innings to pick up the win, and RHP Joel Seddon was outstanding in relief, throwing 4 scoreless frames to earn his 1st save for the Hounds.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

San Jose Giants   2

Stockton Ports    8

WP – Manarino 2-1 / 2.03

HR – Iriart (4), Bolt (2), Chavez (2)

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“Prospect” Of The Game:

Pitcher Chris Bassitt

(4 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 4 K)

 

RHP Chris Bassitt looked strong in his second rehab start for Stockton, striking out 4 while allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk over 4 scoreless frames on Thursday. LHP Evan Manarino picked up his 2nd win despite giving up 2 runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief, and RHP Nolan Blackwood got the final four outs to secure his 3rd save for Stockton. Three home runs helped the Ports prevail on Thursday. First baseman Chris Iriart belted a 2-run blast to put the Ports on the board in the 4th, while catcher Jose Chavez slugged a solo shot later in the same inning, and center fielder Skye Bolt socked a solo shot of his own in the 6th. Third baseman Mikey White had 3 hits, drove in a pair and stole a base for Stockton. And it appears that the Ports may be preparing to take A.J. Puk and Logan Shore off the tandem-pitching system and to let them start going much deeper into games beginning with their next starts.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Dayton Dragons   7

Beloit Snappers  2

LP – Sawyer 2-2 / 1.44

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Prospect Of The Game:

Second Baseman Nate Mondou

(3 for 3 / 2 Walks / 2 RBIs)

 

Starter Dalton Sawyer started off by throwing 4 shutout innings to run his scoreless-inning streak to 21, but he ended up being charged with 2 runs over 4 1/3 frames to suffer the loss for the Snappers. RHP Mitchell Jordan allowed 1 unearned run over 2 2/3 innings, while RHP Xavier Altamirano gave up 4 runs in 2 innings of relief on Thursday. Second baseman Nate Mondou had 3 hits, walked twice and drove in a pair of runs for the Snappers.

 

Friday’s Games:

Nashville @ Round Rock – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Corpus Christi @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT

San Jose @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT

Bowling Green @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT

 

Matt Olson
Matt Olson

 

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