A’s Farmhand Of The Day
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Tacoma Rainiers 4
Sacramento River Cats 5
WP – Straily 1-0 / 1.59
HR – Crumbliss (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Dan Straily
(5 2/3 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 9 K / Win)
In his first start back at Sacramento, RHP Dan Straily picked up where he left off, striking out 9 and allowing 1 earned run over 5 2/3 innings for the win. Tacoma scored 2 unearned runs off Straily in the 1st inning thanks to a trio of errors by first baseman Daric Barton, second baseman Grant Green and Straily himself. Outfielder Conner Crumbliss hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 2nd inning to give the River Cats the lead, which they never relinquished. Catcher Stephen Vogt, outfielder Shane Peterson and Jemile Weeks, making his second straight start at shortstop, contributed 2 hits apiece. RHP Dan Otero tossed 2 1/3 perfect innings in relief and RHP Mike Ekstrom got the final 3 outs for the save.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
NW Arkansas Naturals 7
Midland RockHounds 5
LP – Newby 0-1 / 3.86
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Zach Neal
(4 1/3 IP / 1 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 6 K)
RHP Zach Neal had his second straight impressive start for the RockHounds, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run while striking out 6 in 4 1/3 innings of work. Designated hitter Jefry Marte had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Catcher Ryan Lipkin, second baseman Darwin Perez, and outfielders Chad Oberacker and Jake Goebbert drove in a run apiece. But RHP Paul Smyth allowed 3 runs in 1/3 of an inning of relief, and RHP Kyler Newby gave up 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss. In other news, the A’s released third baseman Tommy Mendonca, who had yet to get an at-bat with the RockHounds this season.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 10
Bakersfield Blaze 3
WP – Murphy 2-0 / 3.00
HR – Robinson (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Sean Murphy
(7 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / Win)
RHP Sean Murphy had his second straight solid start for Stockton, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 over 7 innings to earn the win. Outfielder Dusty Robinson hit a 2-run homer in the 1st inning to put the Ports on the board. Second baseman Antonio Lamas reached base 5 times in 5 plate appearances and drove in 2 runs, and hot-hitting first baseman Max Muncy had 2 hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Burlington Bees 4
Beloit Snappers 3
LP – Vail 0-1 / 8.10
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Dakota Bacus
(6 IP / 4 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 7 K)
Former top prospect Michael Ynoa, returning from injuries and on a strict pitch count, made his second start of the season for Beloit, allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits while striking out 1 and walking 2 over 2 innings of work on Thursday. RHP Dakota Bacus looked good again, allowing 2 runs and striking out 7 in 6 innings in relief of Ynoa. But RHP Tyler Vail gave up the game-winning run in the top of the 9th inning to take the loss. Center fielder Brett Vertigan collected a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Snappers.
Friday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Reno – 6:35pm PT
NW Arkansas @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Stockton @ Bakersfield – 7:15pm PT
Burlington @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm to keep up with all the news down on the farm!
Where is A. Russell?
Check the daily updates from the last few days – he tweaked his ankle and strained his back running out an infield hit last week and was put on the DL.