PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Las Vegas Aviators 5
Salt Lake Bees 2
WP: Naile 2-0 / 4.41
HR: Neuse (18)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Sheldon Neuse
(1 for 4 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Third baseman Sheldon Neuse continued his hot hitting to help the Aviators soar past the Bees on Friday. Neuse hit a three-run homer in the 1st inning to give Las Vegas a lead it would never surrender, and he’s now hitting .324 with 5 home runs and 17 RBIs in 16 games in July. The 24-year-old infielder currently leads the Aviators in walks, runs and RBIs, and his 18 home runs are second only to Seth Brown on the squad. Starter James Naile allowed 2 runs over 5 frames to earn the win, while RHP Kyle Finnegan tossed a scoreless 9th to notch his 2nd save for Las Vegas.
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A’s Highlights…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 3
Tulsa Drillers 5
LP: N.Ruiz 0-2 / 4.24
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Mickey McDonald
(3 for 4 / Double / 2 RBIs)
The RockHounds came up short against Tulsa on Friday. Starter Daulton Jefferies threw 3 scoreless innings, but RHP Norge Ruiz gave up 4 runs in 3 innings of relief to suffer his 2nd loss for Midland. LHP A.J. Puk took over on the mound in the 7th inning and allowed 2 hits and 1 run, on an inside-the-park home run, while walking none and striking out 1 in 1 inning of work. Puk threw a total of just 10 pitches, 9 for strikes. Center fielder Mickey McDonald had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs for the RockHounds in the loss.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 11
Stockton Ports 0
LP: Feigl 5-5 / 3.67
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Jeremy Eierman
(1 for 4 / Stolen Base)
Stockton was shut out on just four hits to have its four-game winning streak snapped on Friday. Starter Brady Feigl endured his worst outing since joining the A’s system last summer. Feigl was charged with 9 runs, 5 earned, on 8 hits in just 2/3 of an inning to suffer his 5th loss. Meanwhile, shortstop Jeremy Eierman singled and notched his 8th stolen base for Stockton in the loss.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
West Michigan Whitecaps 2
Beloit Snappers 3
WP: Infante 1-1 / 3.91
HR: Osborne (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Chase Cohen
(5 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)
The Snappers won in extra innings to snap their five-game losing streak on Friday. RHP Chase Cohen turned in one of his best starts of the season, allowing just 3 hits while walking none and striking out 4 over 5 scoreless frames, and he left the game with a two-run lead. 20-year-old Venezuelan RHP Angello Infante gave up 2 runs in 5 innings of relief to tie the game but picked up the win when Beloit came back to score the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. Right fielder Nick Osborne homered in the 2nd inning to give the Snappers an early lead, while third baseman Cobie Vance singled, doubled and drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th as Beloit won in a walk-off on Friday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 8
Staten Island Yankees 5
WP: Cushing 2-2 / 6.00
HR: McCann (3), Butler (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Lawrence Butler
(1 for 3 / Home Run / 2 RBIs / Walk)
Vermont was victorious in the final game of its three-game series with Staten Island on Friday. Last year’s 6th-round draft pick for the A’s, first baseman Lawrence Butler, drew a walk and hit a two-run homer, while 19-year-old Colombian center fielder Kevin Richards doubled twice and drove in a run. This year’s 4th-round draft pick, designated hitter Kyle McCann, slugged a solo shot in the 2nd inning, and 18-year-old Colombian third baseman Jordan Diaz doubled with the bases loaded to drive in 3 runs for the Lake Monsters. 21-year-old Dominican RHP Richard Morban made the start and gave up 2 runs over 4 frames, while this year’s 22nd-round pick, RHP Jack Cushing, picked up the win despite allowing 3 runs in 3 innings of relief, and 21-year-old Dominican RHP Jose Mora tossed 2 scoreless innings to secure the save for the Lake Monsters.
Saturday’s Games:
Las Vegas @ Salt Lake: 6:05pm PT
Midland @ Tulsa: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Rancho Cucamonga @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT
South Bend @ Beloit: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Tri-City @ Vermont: 3:05pm PT / 6:05pm ET
AZL A’s Green @ AZL White Sox: 6:00pm PT
AZL Cubs-2 @ AZL A’s Gold: 6:00pm PT
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