CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 2
Lake Elsinore Storm 1
WP – Meisner 5-5 / 4.12
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Casey Meisner
(8 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 7 K / Win)
RHP Casey Meisner turned in his best start of the season to help Stockton snap its three-game losing streak on Saturday. The 22-year-old was charged with 1 unearned run while allowing just 1 hit and striking out 7 over 8 innings of work to earn his 5th win, and he’s now failed to allow an earned run over his last 14 2/3 frames for the Ports. Last year’s 14th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Nolan Blackwood, got the final three outs in the 9th to notch his 8th save. First baseman Sandber Pimentel singled, doubled and drove in both Stockton runs, while center fielder Skye Bolt collected 3 hits, including a double, and catcher Sean Murphy and left fielder Tyler Ramirez had a pair of hits apiece for the Ports. Unfortunately, with Modesto’s win on Saturday, Stockton was officially eliminated from the first-half North Division playoff race.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
New Orleans Baby Cakes 2
Nashville Sounds 3
WP – Sanchez 1-0 / 0.87
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Frankie Montas
(3 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 7 K)
Although left fielder Renato Nunez may have had the big hit in the game, RHP Frankie Montas turned in the most impressive performance of the night for Nashville. The 24-year-old made his first start of the season and struck out 7 over 3 scoreless and hitless frames while frequently hitting 100 mph on the radar gun. Since he’d worked exclusively out of the bullpen all season, Montas was working on a pitch limit and left after throwing 47 pitches, 33 of them for strikes. Right fielder Jaff Decker had 2 hits, and designated hitter Bruce Maxwell drove in a pair of runs, on a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk. But RHP Simon Castro allowed 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to tie things up. Then with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, Nunez lined a single to left to bring home the winning run as Nashville won in a walk-off on Saturday. RHP Jake Sanchez picked up the win after getting the last four outs for the Sounds. RHP Chris Jensen contributed 3 shutout frames in relief, and LHP Patrick Schuster threw 1 scoreless inning after singing a minor league deal with the A’s and joining the Sounds roster earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Oakland called up RHP Michael Brady on Saturday, while RHP Zach Neal was sent back to Nashville, and Sounds outfielder Ryan LaMarre was designated for assignment to make room for Brady on the A’s 40-man roster.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Corpus Christi Hooks 8
Midland RockHounds 12
WP – Bragg 4-1 / 2.94
HR – Rosa (10)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Viosergy Rosa
(3 for 5 / Home Run / 2 Doubles / 7 RBIs)
First baseman Viosergy Rosa, who just celebrated his 27th birthday on Friday, had a big night at the plate to help the RockHounds snap a four-game skid on Saturday. He hit his team-leading 10th home run along with a pair of doubles and drove in 7 runs to take over the Texas League RBI lead with 51. Left fielder B.J. Boyd had 4 hits, all singles, while third baseman Yairo Munoz and designated hitter Tyler Marincov each each singled, doubled and drove in a pair of runs for the RockHounds. Starter Ben Bracewell surrendered 6 runs in just 2 2/3 innings of work, while RHP Sam Bragg was solid in relief, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless frames to earn the win, and RHP Kyle Finnegan got the final four outs for the RockHounds to record his 8th save. Meanwhile, second baseman Max Schrock, who’s been on the disabled list for the past two and a half weeks, is expected to return to action on Sunday. RHP Heath Fillmyer is set to make Sunday’s start, while LHP A.J. Puk is scheduled to make his first start for Midland in Monday’s match.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Quad Cities River Bandits 3
Beloit Snappers 4
WP – Sheehan 2-0 / 2.76
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Zack Erwin
(6 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)
The Snappers won in a 10-inning walk-off to snap their four-game losing streak on Saturday. LHP Zack Erwin turned in another strong start for the Snappers, allowing just 1 run over 6 innings of work. Designated hitter Miguel Mercedes singled, doubled and scored twice, while third baseman Trace Loehr doubled in a pair of runs in the 6th to give Beloit a one-run lead, but RHP Heath Bowers surrendered 2 runs in the top of the 8th to give back the lead, before Beloit scored a run to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th. Then with two men on in the bottom of the 10th, shortstop Eric Marinez singled in the winning run as the Snappers won in a walk-off. RHP Sam Sheehan picked up the win after tossing a scoreless frame in the top of the 10th for Beloit. Meanwhile, outfielder Mike Martin was activated from the disabled list and reassigned to Vermont on Saturday.
Vermont Lake Monsters
The Lake Monsters are set to begin play on Monday. The roster currently includes catcher Iolana Akau, outfielders Robert Bennie and James Terrell, as well as pitchers Oscar Tovar and Branden Kelliher. And once the A’s begin signing players from their recent draft class, a number of them will end up joining the Lake Monsters as well. You can find the team’s current roster here – Vermont Lake Monsters
Sunday’s Games:
New Orleans @ Nashville (Game #1) – 3:05pm PT / 5:05pm CT
New Orleans @ Nashville (Game #2)
Midland @ Frisco – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Lake Elsinore – 1:00pm PT
Quad Cities @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
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