Friday, May 9th: Buschmann’s 6 Shutout Innings Lead Stockton to Victory while Cats Win and Hounds & Snappers Come Up Short

A's Farmhand Of The Day: Stockton Ports Pitcher Matt Buschmann (6 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 7 K / Win)
A’s Farmhand Of The Day: Stockton Ports Pitcher Matt Buschmann (6 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 7 K / Win)

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Stockton Ports  5

Modesto Nuts      2

WP – Buschmann 1-0 / 2.70

Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Matt Buschmann

(6 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 7 K / Win)

RHP Matt Buschmann was impressive in his second start for Stockton since returning from the disabled list, tossing 6 scoreless and hitless innings while striking out 7 to earn his 1st win for the Ports on Friday. Buschmann, who was signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason, started the season with the River Cats and should be reunited with them next week. But with an abundance of starters at Sacramento and a shortage of starters at Stockton, upon his return from the disabled list, Buschmann was sent down the road to Stockton for a couple of rehab starts. The rest of the Ports rotation is currently made up of RHPs Seth Streich, Josh Bowman, Hunter Adkins and Manny Correa, though Correa was pulled from his last start after just 1 inning of work and we’ve yet to get an update on his status. Buschmann exited Friday’s game after 6 strong innings and was followed on the mound by RHP Jonathan Joseph who allowed 1 run in 2 innings of relief, while RHP Nolan Sanburn finished things off by giving up 1 run in the 9th. Designated hitter Matt Olson and second baseman Wade Kirkland, who’s been filling in for Chad Pinder since he’s been sidelined with a groin injury, both had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Ports. In other news, catcher Ryan Lipkin has been activated from the disabled list and assigned to Stockton, while catcher Ryan Gorton has returned to extended spring training in Arizona.

Click here for more on Sacramento, Midland & Beloit…

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Sacramento River Cats  12

Albuquerque Isotopes         3

WP – Neal 2-1 / 4.50

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Zach Neal

(7 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 0 BB / 6 K / Win)

 

RHP Zach Neal had a solid start for Sacramento on Friday, allowing 3 runs while striking out 6 over 7 innings of work to earn his 2nd win, while RHP Jeremy McBryde got the final 6 outs for Sacramento. Hot-hitting first baseman Nate Freiman singled, doubled, walked and drove in 3 runs, while third baseman Jose Martinez had 3 hits and also drove in 3, and catcher Ryan Ortiz and outfielder Michael Taylor both doubled in a pair of runs for the River Cats. In other news, RHP Fernando Rodriguez and LHP Joe Savery were recalled by the A’s and RHP Dan Straily was optioned to Sacramento, where he’ll join the River Cats rotation – which is currently comprised of RHPs Zach Neal, Arnold Leon, Josh Lindblom, Marcus Walden and Sean Murphy, one of whom will soon be losing his starting spot. And with Sean Murphy having surrendered 7 runs in each of his last 2 starts and his ERA now standing at 7.18, he could be a candidate to make a return to the RockHounds rotation in the coming days.

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

San Antonio Missions     4

Midland RockHounds  1

LP – Jensen 2-2 / 2.97

HR – Taylor (2)

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Pitcher Chris Jensen

(7 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 4 K)

 

RHP Chris Jensen turned in another strong start for Midland, allowing 2 runs on just 5 hits over 7 innings of work, but he still ended up taking his 2nd loss on Friday. Catcher Beau Taylor hit his 2nd home run to account for the RockHounds’ only run, while outfielder Josh Whitaker and shortstop Dusty Coleman had a pair of hits apiece, and second baseman Colin Walsh has now reached base in all 21 of his games since joining the Hounds. While LHP Andrew Werner is scheduled to start the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader for Midland, RHP Murphy Smith is set to come out of the bullpen to start Saturday’s second game for the RockHounds.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Beloit Snappers                1

Quad Cities River Bandits  5

LP – Lamb 0-1 / 2.88

HR – Roberts (1)

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Farmhand Of The Game:

Second Baseman Sam Roberts

(Home Run)

 

Starter Chris Lamb surrendered 3 runs while striking out 8 over 5 innings of work on Friday to take his 1st loss for the Snappers. Second baseman Sam Roberts hit his 1st home run to account for his team’s only run of the game, while designated hitter Melvin Mercedes had 3 hits, including a double, in his second game back after missing a month on the disabled list.

 

Saturday’s Games:

Salt Lake @ Sacramento – 7:05pm PT

San Antonio @ Midland (Game #1) – 3:00pm PT / 5:00pm CT

San Antonio @ Midland (Game #2)

Stockton @ Modesto – 7:05pm PT

Beloit @ Quad Cities – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT

 

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