CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 17
San Jose Giants 6
WP – Sanchez 2-0 / 2.70
HR – Olson (24), Nunez (18), Robertson (12)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Daniel Robertson
(3 for 4 / Home Run / Double / 6 RBIs)
On a night that saw two of the A’s top prospects, shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder Billy McKinney, traded to the Cubs, three of the team’s other big prospects had big nights for the Ports. Daniel Robertson, who is now the A’s top shortstop prospect, singled, doubled, homered and drove in 6 runs, while first baseman Matt Olson doubled, homered and drove in 4, and third baseman Renato Nunez singled, homered and drove in a pair. Catcher Ryan Gorton and outfielder Bobby Crocker collected 3 hits apiece. Starter Jake Sanchez allowed 6 runs, 4 earned, over 7 innings to pick up his 2nd win, while RHP Michael Ynoa tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief for the Ports. Meanwhile, second baseman Chad Pinder was placed on the Ports disabled list and, with McKinney’s departure, Herschel “Boog” Powell should now expect to see most of the playing time in center field for Stockton.
Click here for more on Sacramento, Midland & Beloit…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 6
Reno Aces 4
WP – Leon 9-2 / 4.47
HR – Parrino (7)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Andy Parrino
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 3 RBIs)
Shortstop Andy Parrino put Sacramento on the board with a 3-run homer in the 1st-inning, and the team never looked back on Friday. Third baseman Jose Martinez doubled in another run in the 1st, and first baseman Anthony Aliotti doubled in a pair in the 6th for Sacramento. Starter Arnold Leon allowed 2 runs over 5 2/3 innings to earn his 9th win, while RHP Evan Scribner got the final five outs for his 12th save. Dan Straily was originally scheduled to make the start for Sacramento on Saturday but, with the news of his trade to Chicago, Saturday’s starter is still to be determined.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 6
NW Arkansas Naturals 0
WP – Murphy 3-0 / 2.19
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Sean Murphy
(7 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 9 K / Win)
RHP Sean Murphy turned in an impressive start for the RockHounds on Friday, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 9 over 7 shutout innings to earn the win, while RHP Murphy Smith tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief. Second baseman Hiro Nakajima had 4 hits, drove in 3 runs and stole a base, while catcher Blake Forsythe collected 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a pair, and designated hitter D’Arby Myers and outfielder Billy Burns had a pair of hits apiece for the Hounds. And with Russell’s departure in the deal with the Cubs, it’s still to be determined if the team will promote the new shortstop of the future, Daniel Robertson, to take his place at Midland or stick with RockHounds veteran Dusty Coleman.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 0
Cedar Rapids Kernels 3
LP – Finnegan 6-6 / 3.34
Farmhand Of The Game:
Second Baseman Chih Fang Pan
(2 for 4)
The Snappers dropped their tenth straight on Friday. RHP Kyle Finnegan had a shaky start for the Snappers, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits over 4 innings of work to take his 6th loss, while RHPs Sam Roberts and Trevor Bayless each tossed a pair of scoreless frames in relief. Beloit batters managed just 4 hits in the game, with second baseman Chih Fang Pan posting a pair of hits in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters
Connecticut Tigers
(POSTPONED)
In Other News…
As everyone has surely heard by now, multiple sources reported on Saturday that the A’s had agreed to trade top prospects Addison Russell and Billy McKinney along with pitcher Dan Straily to the Cubs in exchange for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. An official announcement is expected sometime on Saturday. With the deal, the A’s have now traded each of their top draft picks from 2009 through 2013 within the past twelve months, with the notable exception of 2011’s top pick, RHP Sonny Gray. The A’s now have six healthy starting pitchers with ERAs under 4.00 – Scott Kazmir (2.61), Jeff Samardzija (2.83), Jason Hammel (2.98), Sonny Gray (3.08), Jess Chavez (3.23) and Tommy Milone (3.55) – plus Drew Pomeranz (2.91), who’s currently on the disabled list. LHP Brad Mills is also on the A’s roster, and LHP Jeff Francis has been designated for assignment. And a number of these hurlers could soon be competing for roles in the River Cats’ starting rotation with current Cats starters Arnold Leon, Josh Lindblom, Matt Buschmann and Zach Neal. As for the position players affected by the move, Daniel Robertson is clearly the team’s new top shortstop prospect, while Billy Burns and Herschel “Boog” Powell are the organization’s top outfield prospects.
Saturday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Reno – 7:05pm PT
Midland @ Arkansas – 5:10pm PT / 7:10pm CT
Stockton @ San Jose – 6:30pm PT
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Vermont @ Connecticut – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Padres @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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