NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Connecticut Tigers 7
Vermont Lake Monsters 10
WP – Cruzado 1-0 / 2.70
HR – Higley (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Justin Higley
(Inside-The-Park Grand Slam)
Lake Monsters designated hitter Justin Higley pulled off a rare feat on Sunday – an inside-the-park grand slam. And to make things even better, it came with the game tied in the bottom of the 8th inning and provided Vermont with the margin of victory on Sunday. Higley also doubled, walked and scored 3 runs in the game, and he now has 9 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs in his first 10 games this season. Second baseman Joe Bennie had 3 hits and drove in a run, while first baseman Ryan Huck singled, doubled and drove in a pair. Starter Cristhian Perez allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, over 5 innings of work, while RHP Fernando Cruzado picked up the win despite giving up a run in the 9th.
See Justin Higley’s inside-the-park grand slam for yourself…
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 4
New Orleans Zephyrs 3
WP – Humber 2-4 / 4.14
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Nate Freiman
(1 for 3 / 2 Walks / 2 RBIs)
With the River Cats down by 2 runs in the top of the 9th, first baseman Nate Freiman singled in a pair of runs to tie the game for Sacramento on Sunday. Outfielder Nick Buss then followed up by singling in the winning run for the River Cats. Third baseman Jose Martinez collected 3 hits, while second baseman Jake Elmore and catcher Ryan Lipkin had a pair of hits apiece, and designated hitter Josh Reddick went 1 for 5 and scored the winning run for the River Cats. Rehabbing LHP Eric O’Flaherty started the game for Sacramento and tossed 2 scoreless innings. He was followed by RHP Zach Neal, who allowed 2 runs over 5 innings of work, while RHP Philip Humber picked up the win despite allowing a run in 1 inning of relief, and RHP Jeremy McBryde got the final three outs for his 7th save.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 2
San Antonio Missions 1
WP – Murphy 2-0 / 1.42
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Sean Murphy
(7 IP / 8 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 3 K / Win)
RHP Sean Murphy turned in his second straight impressive start since his return to the RockHounds, allowing just 1 run over 7 innings of work to earn his 2nd win, while RHP Marcus Walden tossed a perfect 9th to pick up his 1st save. Outfielder Chad Oberacker had 2 hits and drove in a pair of runs, including the winning run in the top of the 8th, while outfielder Josh Whitaker went 1 for 4 in his return from the disabled list, and shortstop Addison Russell went 1 for 4 and is now 2 for 17 since his return to the RockHounds. Meanwhile, Midland LHP Andrew Werner returned to the disabled list.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Bakersfield Blaze 6
Stockton Ports 9
WP – Streich 8-4 / 2.93
HR – Olson 2 (19), McKinney (9), Robertson (7)
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Matt Olson
(2 Home Runs / 3 RBIs)
After hitting 2 home runs on Thursday, first baseman Matt Olson slugged another pair of round-trippers on Sunday to give him a league-leading total of 19 on the season. Saturday night’s hero, outfielder Billy McKinney, hit a 3-run homer, while shortstop Daniel Robertson homered and drove in 3 runs. Third baseman Ryon Healy singled, doubled and walked, and outfielder Aaron Shipman had a pair of hits in his return from the disabled list. Starter Seth Streich had another strong outing for Stockton, allowing 2 runs, just 1 earned, while striking out 7 over 6 innings of work to earn his 8th win. RHP Yeiper Castillo allowed 4 runs in just 1 inning of relief in his first appearance for the Ports, while RHP Nolan Sanburn tossed a scoreless 9th for his 3rd save. And with Shipman coming off the disabled list, RHP Hunter Adkins was shipped to Beloit. Meanwhile, Midwest League All-Star Game MVP Herschel Powell is set to join the Ports outfield this week, and word has it that outfielder Dusty Robinson isn’t likely to be sticking around Stockton much longer.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Clinton LumberKings 1
Beloit Snappers 4
WP – Finnegan 6-4 / 2.76
HR – Baez (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Kyle Finnegan
(6 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 2 K / Win)
RHP Kyle Finnegan turned in another solid start for the Snappers on Sunday, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits over 6 innings of work to earn his 6th win, while RHP Andres Avila tossed a perfect 9th to pick up his 8th save. Third baseman Luis Baez belted his 3rd home run, while shortstop Melvin Mercedes and second baseman Chih Fang Pan had a pair of hits apiece and each drove in a run, and outfielder Herschel Powell singled, walked, swiped a pair of bases and scored twice in his last game for Beloit before heading out for Stockton. In other roster moves, the A’s top draft pick, third baseman Matt Chapman, and 11th-round pick, RHP Joel Seddon, will be joining Beloit in time for Tuesday’s game, and RHP Stuart Pudenz and LHP Brent Powers have been released.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Giants 9
AZL A’s 5
LP – Gauna 0-1 / 4.50
HR – Brown (1), Diaz (1), Martinez (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Robert Martinez
(Home Run / 3 RBIs)
The AZL A’s lost their third straight game despite blasting 3 home runs on Sunday. Outfielder Robert Martinez smacked a 3-run homer, while shortstop Edwin Diaz and catcher Dusty Brown each slugged solo shots. The A’s top draft pick, third baseman Matt Chapman, had 2 more hits on Sunday and is now 6 for 14 with a triple, a double and a walk in his first three games with Arizona. A number of recent draftees made appearances on the mound for the A’s, including #11 RHP Joel Seddon (2 IP/1 ER), #20 RHP Koby Gauna (2 IP/1 ER), #22 RHP Brendan McCurry (1 1/3 IP/0 ER), #26 RHP Rob Huber (2/3 IP/5 ER), #28 RHP Corey Walter (1 1/3 IP/0 ER) and #30 LHP Derek Beasley (1 2/3 IP/2 ER).
Monday’s Games:
Sacramento @ New Orleans – 5:00pm PT
Stockton @ Lancaster – 6:30pm PT
Vermont @ Tri-City – 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
AZL Giants @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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