Monday, September 3rd: Bracewell Pitches Hounds to Victory while Boyd Helps Sounds Win Season Finale and Ports & Snappers Prep for Playoffs

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Midland RockHounds Pitcher Ben Bracewell (7 IP / 8 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 6 K / Win)
A’s Prospect Of The Day: Midland RockHounds RHP Ben Bracewell (7 IP / 8 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 6 K / Win)

 
TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Frisco RoughRiders       1

Midland RockHounds  5

WP: Bracewell 5-7 / 3.03

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Ben Bracewell

(7 IP / 8 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 6 K / Win)

The RockHounds finished the season by recording their seventh straight win on Monday. And RHP Ben Bracewell wrapped up an excellent season by turning in his eighth straight quality start for Midland. The 27-year-old allowed just 1 run while striking out 6 over 7 innings of work to earn his 5th win for the Hounds. Right fielder Skye Bolt singled twice, scored twice, walked and stole a base, while center fielder Luis Barrera singled, stole a base and drove in a run, and designated hitter Tyler Ramirez doubled and scored a run for the RockHounds, who finished the season with a 68-71 record.

Click here for more on Nashville, Stockton, Beloit & Vermont…

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Memphis Redbirds   5

Nashville Sounds   6

WP: Morban 1-0 / 2.25

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Prospect Of The Game:

Outfielder BJ Boyd

(3 for 4 / Triple / 2 RBIs)

 

The Sounds battled back to win their season finale on Monday. Right fielder BJ Boyd collected 3 hits, including a two-run triple with two outs in the bottom of the 8th to bring home the tying and winning runs, while designated hitter Cooper Goldby doubled in a pair in his Triple-A debut, and shortstop Jorge Mateo drew a walk and tallied his team-leading 25th stolen base for the Sounds. Starter Sam Bragg gave up 4 runs over 4 frames, while RHP Richard Morban allowed just 1 run in 4 innings of relief, and RHP Calvin Coker tossed a scoreless 9th to notch the save. All three hurlers were making their debuts for Nashville, who finished the season with a record of 72-68.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Visalia Rawhide   7

Stockton Ports   4

LP: Cochran-Gill 1-2 / 2.89

HR: Diaz (13)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Shortstop Edwin Diaz

(1 for 3 / Home Run / Walk)

 

Stockton finished the regular season by suffering its second straight loss to Visalia on Monday. RHP Grant Holmes allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 3 innings of work in his second start for Stockton, while RHP Trey Cochran-Gill gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, in 2 innings of relief to take the loss. Shortstop Edwin Diaz slugged his 13th home run for Stockton, while second baseman Trace Loehr singled, walked twice and scored a run, and right fielder Greg Deichmann drew a walk and singled in a pair for the Ports. Stockton finished the regular season with a 77-63 record and will begin its best-of-five playoff series versus Visalia in Stockton on Wednesday.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Cedar Rapids Kernels  2

Beloit Snappers          3

WP: Jordan 8-4 / 2.67

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Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Gus Varland

(4 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)

 

After a lengthy rain delay, the Snappers notched a one-run victory over the Kernels to clinch a second-half wild-card spot on Monday. This year’s 14th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Gus Varland, turned in another strong start, allowing just 1 run over 4 frames for Beloit. The 21-year-old left the game with a two-run lead, and he’s now given up just 2 runs over 19 1/3 frames for the Snappers. RHP Mitchell Jordan was solid in relief, permitting 1 run over 3 2/3 innings to earn the win, and RHP Seth Martinez pitched a perfect 9th to tally his team-leading 15th save for the Snappers. Left fielder Lazaro Armenteros singled twice and drove in a run, while second baseman Ryan Gridley singled in a pair, and center fielder Austin Beck and third baseman Mickey McDonald had a pair of hits apiece for the Snappers. Beloit finished the regular season with a 69-69 record and will begin its best-of-three playoff series against Cedar Rapids on Wednesday in Beloit.

 

NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE  (Class-A Short-Season)

Tri-City ValleyCats             6

Vermont Lake Monsters  9

WP: Cota 3-1 / 6.11

HR: Squier (2), J.Rivas (2)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Payton Squier

(3 for 4 / Home Run / Double / 3 RBIs)

 

A big nine-run 1st inning allowed Vermont to claim victory in its season finale on Monday. Designated hitter Payton Squier singled, doubled, homered and drove in 3, while catcher Jose Rivas hit a three-run homer, and rehabbing Stockton shortstop Kevin Merrell tripled and scored twice for Vermont. Starter Reid Birnlingmair threw 3 scoreless frames, while RHP Clark Cota picked up the win despite allowing 2 runs in 2 innings of relief, and RHP Jaimito Lebron tossed a scoreless 9th to secure his 2nd save for the Lake Monsters, who finished the season with a record of 39-37.

 

Wednesday’s Games:

Visalia @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit: 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT

 

Ben Bracewell
Ben Bracewell

 

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