CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Bakersfield Blaze 7
Stockton Ports 8
WP – Sanburn 2-1 / 3.18
HR – Olson 2 (17), Nunez (10)
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Matt Olson
(5 for 6 / 2 Home Runs / Double / 5 RBIs)
First baseman Matt Olson had a huge night in Stockton’s 11-inning victory on Thursday. The A’s third overall pick in 2012 draft collected 5 hits, including a double in the 1st inning, a home run in the 6th to tie the game and another homer in the bottom of the 11th to provide the walk-off win for the Ports. Olson drove in 5 runs and scored 3 times on the night, and his 17 home runs currently lead all California League hitters. Third baseman Renato Nunez tagged his 10th home run, while outfielder Dusty Robinson, designated hitter Ryon Healy and second baseman Chad Pinder had a pair of hits apiece for the Ports. Starter Tim Atherton surrendered 4 runs in the 1st inning on a 2-out grand slam but held Bakersfield scoreless over the next 5 frames, and he ended up allowing 4 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings of work. RHP Michael Ynoa gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief, while RHP Nolan Sanburn tossed a scoreless 9th, 10th and 11th to pick up his 2nd win. In other news, the A’s signed 25-year-old Venezulean minor league free agent RHP Yeiper Castillo and assigned him to Stockton. The former Red Sox, Cubs and Angels prospect has compiled a 3.71 ERA over 152 career minor league games. He’ll join RHP Jake Sanchez, acquired in the Michael Taylor trade, as the two newest members of the Ports pitching staff.
See what Matt Olson had to say after his big night here…
Click here for more on Sacramento, Midland & Vermont…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 1
Round Rock Express 7
LP – Straily 4-2 / 4.38
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Josh Reddick
(Double / Walk / Stolen Base)
Starter Dan Straily was done in by two big home runs on Thursday night – one was a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning and the other was a grand slam in the 6th. Straily ended up allowing 7 runs over 5 2/3 innings to take his 2nd loss for Sacramento. The River Cats managed just 6 hits on the night. Rehabbing right fielder Josh Reddick walked, doubled and stole third base, while catcher Ryan Lipkin collected a pair of hits for the Cats.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 4
San Antonio Missions 1
WP – Haviland 4-4 / 3.18
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Shawn Haviland
(7 1/3 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 3 K / Win)
RHP Shawn Haviland turned in another solid start on Thursday, allowing 1 run on just 4 hits over 7 1/3 innings to earn his 4th win, while RHP Seth Frankoff got the final 3 outs for his 14th save. First baseman Max Muncy singled, doubled, tripled and scored 3 times, while shortstop Dusty Coleman and third baseman Jefry Marte drove in a pair of runs apiece. Outfielder Billy Burns walked and stole his league-leading 34th base, while Addison Russell was not in the RockHounds starting lineup on Thursday night.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Clinton LumberKings
Beloit Snappers
(POSTPONED)
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Tri-City ValleyCats 6
Vermont Lake Monsters 1
LP – Veliz 0-1 / 5.87
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Justin Higley
(2 for 4 / Double)
LHP Victor Veliz faced the minimum number of hitters through the first 4 innings on Thursday, but things went off the rails in the 5th and Veliz ended up allowing 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss in his first start this season. The Lake Monsters managed just 5 hits in the game. Designated hitter Justin Higley singled and doubled, while shortstop Yairo Munoz committed a pair of errors that led to 2 unearned runs.
Friday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Round Rock – 5:05pm PT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Bakersfield @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT
Clinton @ Beloit – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT
Connecticut @ Vermont – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Angels @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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