CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 3
Stockton Ports 9
WP – Puk 4-4 / 3.51
HR – Murphy (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher A.J. Puk
(6 2/3 IP / 4 H / 3 ER / 2 BB / 12 K / Win)
LHP A.J. Puk turned in another dominating performance in Stockton on Saturday night. Through the first 6 frames, last year’s top draft pick for the A’s struck out 10, while failing to issue a walk, and allowed 1 run on just 3 hits. He issued his first 2 walks of the game in the top of the 7th and also surrendered an RBI double before exiting with two outs and two men on, one of whom would ultimately come around to score. Puk ended up striking out a career-high 12 and walking 2 while allowing 3 runs on 4 hits over 6 2/3 innings to post his 4th win for the Ports. And the 22-year-old has now struck out 27 while allowing just 5 hits over his last 17 innings for Stockton. (You can see what A’s assistant general manager Billy Owens just had to tell us about Puk, as well as a number of other A’s prospects, here.) After Puk departed, RHP Armando Ruiz took over and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in his Stockton debut to close out the victory. Catcher Sean Murphy had another big night at the plate, collecting 3 hits, including his 5th home run, while second baseman Branden Cogswell singled twice, doubled and drove in 2 runs, and center fielder Skye Bolt singled, doubled, walked and drove in a pair for the Ports. And along with Ruiz joining the squad from extended spring training, RHP Matt Sergey was released, and it was announced on Saturday that A’s LHP Sean Doolittle would continue his rehab assignment with Stockton and would make another appearance for the Ports on Monday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 1
Iowa Cubs 5
LP – Walter 1-1 / 4.60
HR – Chapman (12)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Matt Chapman
(1 for 4 / Home Run)
The Sounds had their four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night. Former A’s farmhand, and former A’s Farm blogger, Seth Frankoff held Nashville to 1 run over 5 2/3 frames to earn the win for Iowa, while Sounds starter Corey Walter surrendered 5 runs in 6 innings of work to suffer the loss. The Sounds’ sole run came courtesy of third baseman Matt Chapman’s 12th home run of the season with two outs in the 4th inning. Left fielder Renato Nunez singled twice, and catcher Ryan Lavarnway drew a pair of walks in the loss. First baseman Matt Olson was a late scratch from the lineup on Saturday, fueling speculation that he could be recalled by the A’s. And after making just one start for the Sounds, RHP Joel Seddon was reassigned to the RockHounds.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
NW Arkansas Naturals 6
Midland RockHounds 5
(SUSPENDED)
Saturday’s game was suspended with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning due to rain and is scheduled to be completed prior to Sunday’s regularly scheduled game. Starter Ben Bracewell allowed 4 runs over 4 innings of work, while right fielder Tyler Marincov hit his 8th home run and drew 3 walks, and shortstop Yairo Munoz singled, doubled, stole a base and drove in a run for the RockHounds.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 1
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1
(SUSPENDED)
Saturday’s game was suspended after three innings due to rain and is scheduled to be completed prior to Sunday’s regularly scheduled game. Starter Brandon Bailey allowed 1 run in 3 innings of work, while third baseman J.C. Rodriguez homered for the Snappers.
Sunday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 11:08am PT / 1:08pm CT
NW Arkansas @ Midland (Game #1) – 11:00am PT / 1:00pm CT
NW Arkansas @ Midland (Game #2)
Lancaster @ Stockton – 2:09pm PT
Beloit @ Wisconsin (Game #1) – 11:05am PT / 1:05pm CT
Beloit @ Wisconsin (Game #2)
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