TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 3
NW Arkansas Naturals 1
WP – Jensen 5-7 / 3.80
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Chris Jensen
(6 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K / Win)
The RockHounds put together some strong pitching, hitting and defensive performances to snap the team’s 6-game losing streak on Thursday night. Starter Chris Jensen set the tone by turning in a strong outing, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 5 over 6 shutout innings to earn his 5th win, while RHP Ryan Dull got the final four outs for his 1st save. Center fielder Billy Burns had 3 hits, swiped a pair of bases, scored 3 times and made a couple of diving catches in the outfield, while shortstop Addison Russell doubled in a run and walked 3 times, and designated hitter Kent Matthes went 0 for 4 in his return from the disabled list. Burns now has a league-leading 42 stolen bases, while Russell is now 7 for 16 over his last 5 games. Meanwhile, Midland infielder Miles Head was reassigned to the AZL A’s to make room for Matthes on the RockHounds roster.
Click here for more on Sacramento, Stockton, Beloit & AZL A’s…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Fresno Grizzlies 3
Sacramento River Cats 0
LP – Neal 2-3 / 4.68
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Zach Neal
(7 IP / 4 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 8 K)
After winning another walk-off in 15 innings on Wednesday, the River Cats had trouble putting a run on the board against Fresno on Thursday night. Starter Zach Neal had a solid outing for Sacramento, pitching a perfect game over the first 3 innings. He ended up allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on just 4 hits while stricking out 8 over 7 innings of work but still wound up taking the loss, while RHP Austin House tossed 2 scoreless innings of relief in his River Cats debut. With the team’s bullpen depleted after the previous night’s extra-innings game, House was sent to Sacramento on Thursday with infielder Colin Walsh making his way to Stockton. The Cats managed just 6 hits in the game, with first baseman Anthony Aliotti and outfielder Josh Whitaker posting a pair of hits apiece. Earlier in the day, it was announced that Sacramento outfielder Shane Peterson has been named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 1
Stockton Ports 5
WP – Streich 9-4 / 2.75
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Seth Streich
(5 2/3 IP / 6 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 4 K / Win)
RHP Seth Streich delivered another strong start for Stockton, striking out 4 over 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his 9th win on Thursday. Shortstop Daniel Robertson had 3 hits, including a triple, while outfielder Billy McKinney singled, doubled and walked, and outfielder Herschel “Boog” Powell and second baseman Colin Walsh had a pair of hits apiece and each drove in a run for the Ports. Walsh joined the team on Thursday when RHP Austin House was sent to Sacramento to help the River Cats’ depleted bullpen.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Quad Cities River Bandits 6
Beloit Snappers 3
LP – Trivino 4-7 / 5.65
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jaycob Brugman
(Triple / Double / RBI)
The Snappers dropped their ninth straight on Thursday. Starter Lou Trivino allowed 4 runs on 6 hits over 5 2/3 innings to take his 7th loss. Outfielder Jaycob Brugman tripled, doubled and drove in a run, while outfielder B.J. Boyd singled and stole his 9th base, and designated hitter Chih Fang Pan reached base 3 times, on a pair of singles and a walk.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 1
AZL Indians 9
LP – Kelliher 0-1 / 7.36
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Dawson Brown
(2 2/3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 2 K)
After striking out 4 in 2 scoreless innings his first time out, the A’s 8th-round draft pick, 18-year-old RHP Branden Kelliher, had a slightly tougher time of it his second time around. Kelliher allowed 3 runs on 5 hits over 1 2/3 innings to take the loss on Thursday. But the A’s 24th-round pick, 6-foot-6 RHP Dawson Brown, turned in his second straight solid outing, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 2 over 2 2/3 scoreless innings. First baseman Michael Soto and designated hitter Vicmal De La Cruz had a pair of hits apiece, while catcher Argenis Raga doubled, and second baseman Trent Gilbert drove in the A’s only run of the game.
Friday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Reno – 6:35pm PT
Midland @ NW Arkansas – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ San Jose – 6:30pm PT
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – 3:05pm PT / 5:05pm CT
Vermont @ Connecticut – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
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