PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Round Rock Express 3
Nashville Sounds 5
WP – Blackburn 5-6 / 3.05
HR – Nunez (20), McBride (6)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Paul Blackburn
(5 1/3 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 2 K / Win)
The Sounds notched their first win since last Tuesday on Monday night in Nashville. RHP Paul Blackburn turned in another solid start for the Sounds, allowing 2 runs over 5 1/3 frames to earn his 5th win, and the 23-year-old now has an ERA of 1.73 over 5 starts during the month of June. RHP Simon Castro tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief, and RHP Jake Sanchez got the final three outs in the 9th to notch his 3rd save for Nashville. Third baseman Renato Nunez hit his league-leading 20th home run, a 2-run shot in the 1st inning to give the Sounds an early lead, while catcher Matt McBride belted a 3-run blast in the bottom of the 4th, and right fielder Mark Canha and designated hitter Ryan Lavarnway had a pair of hits apiece in the win. Meanwhile, catcher Beau Taylor and RHP Kyle Finnegan were reassigned to Nashville from Midland on Monday, while RHP Ben Bracewell was returned to the RockHounds.
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CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 4
San Jose Giants 12
LP – Butler 1-2 / 4.19
HR – Pimentel (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Sandber Pimentel
(2 for 4 / Home Run)
RHP Brendan Butler had his first shaky start since he joined Stockton three weeks ago on Monday. The 24-year-old surrendered 5 runs in just 2 2/3 innings to suffer the loss, while RHP Boomer Biegalski allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, in 1 1/3 innings of relief, and RHP Joey Wagman gave up another 3 runs over 3 innings of work. First baseman Sandber Pimentel singled and homered for the third time in the last four days, while second baseman Nate Mondou tripled and drew a pair of walks in his first game for Stockton. Mondou was promoted to the Ports from the Snappers earlier in the day, while Ports pitchers Casey Meisner and Dustin Hurlbutt were reassigned to the RockHounds on Monday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 3
Peoria Chiefs 2
WP – Sheehan 3-0 / 2.11
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brandon Bailey
(4 IP / 1 H / 1 ER / 3 BB / 10 K)
It took 12 innings for the Snappers to secure their fourth straight win on Monday. Starter Brandon Bailey was impressive, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 10 over 4 innings of work, and he left the game with a 1-run lead after throwing 79 pitches. RHP Seth Martinez, who returned to the Snappers roster from Vermont earlier in the day, was outstanding in relief, surrendering just 1 run while striking out 8 over 5 frames, and RHP Sam Sheehan threw 3 scoreless innings to earn his 3rd win for Beloit. Center fielder Luis Barrera collected 3 hits in the game and scored the winning run on a passed ball in the top of the 12th. Meanwhile, Snappers infielder Nate Mondou was reassigned to Stockton, and LHP Ty Damron was activated from the disabled list on Monday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 5
Tri-City ValleyCats 8
LP – Mora 0-1 / 17.36
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Aaron Arruda
(2 for 3 / 2 Doubles / 2 Walks)
Six of this year’s draft picks made their professional debuts for the Lake Monsters on Monday. This year’s 12th-round pick for the A’s, first baseman Aaron Arruda, had the most impressive debut, collecting a pair of doubles, drawing a pair of walks and scoring twice in 5 plate appearances. The A’s second overall pick, shortstop Kevin Merrell, who was serving as the designated hitter for the night, singled twice in the game. 4th-round third baseman Will Toffey singled and walked twice, while 10th-round right fielder Jack Meggs singled and scored a run. 11th-round shortstop Ryan Gridley drove in 2 runs with a bases-loaded walk and a groundout, and 16th-round left fielder Payton Squier doubled in his pro debut. 18-year-old Panamanian RHP Abdiel Mendoza made the start and allowed 4 runs over 3 2/3 innings of work, while 19-year-old Dominican RHP Jose Mora gave up another 4 runs in 2 innings of relief to suffer the loss for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 2
AZL Dodgers 7
LP – Ruiz 0-1 / 11.25
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Skyler Weber
(2 for 4 / 2 Doubles)
23-year-old Cuban RHP Norge Ruiz took the mound to make his U.S. debut on Monday and allowed 5 runs over 4 innings of work to suffer the loss. Catcher Skyler Weber doubled twice and scored a run, while this year’s 18th-round draft pick for the A’s, designated hitter Mickey McDonald, had a pair of hits, walked and stole a base. First baseman Hunter Hargrove and third baseman Jordan Diaz each singled in a run, and the A’s top draft pick, center fielder Austin Beck, went 0 for 5 with a pair of strikeouts in the loss.
Tuesday’s Games:
Round Rock @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ San Jose – 7:00pm PT
Beloit @ Peoria – 9:00am PT /11:00am CT
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