TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 1
NW Arkansas Naturals 0
WP – Long 8-4 / 3.24
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Nate Long
(6 2/3 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 8 K / Win)
RHP Nate Long turned in another strong start in a tight game for the RockHounds on Saturday. Long allowed just 3 hits while striking out 8 over 6 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his 8th win, while RHP Jose Flores got the final five outs for his 1st save. Left fielder D’Arby Myers drove in Midland’s sole run with a sacrifice fly, while center fielder Billy Burns walked and doubled twice, and first baseman Max Muncy and right fielder Chad Oberacker had a pair of hits apiece for the Hounds.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 4
Reno Aces 12
LP – Atherton 0-1 / 54.00
HR – Whitaker (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Josh Whitaker
(Home Run)
RHP Tim Atherton was called up from Stockton to make the emergency start in place of Dan Straily for Sacramento on Saturday, and it was anything but smooth sailing for Atherton. He surrendered 6 runs in the 1st inning before exiting and taking the loss in his Triple-A debut. RHPs Tucker Healy and Seth Frankoff combined to allow 5 more runs in 3 innings of relief and put the River Cats in an 11-run hole by the end of the 4th inning. Outfielder Josh Whitaker hit his 1st home run for the River Cats, while designated hitter Colin Walsh singled, doubled, walked and allowed 1 run in 2 innings of relief to close out the 8th and 9th for the Cats. With RHP Dan Straily dealt to the Cubs and outfielder Nick Buss designated for assignment to make room for RHP Jeff Samardzija on the A’s 40-man roster, Walsh and Atherton were both added to the River Cats roster, as was LHP Tommy Milone, who was optioned to Sacramento by the A’s on Saturday. Milone will join RHPs Arnold Leon, Josh Lindblom, Matt Buschmann and Zach Neal in the River Cats rotation.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 4
San Jose Giants 3
WP – Joseph 4-3 / 5.31
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Herschel “Boog” Powell
(3 for 3 / 2 Walks / RBI)
RHP Josh Bowman was pulled out of the Ports bullpen to make the emergency start for Tim Atherton, who took Dan Straily’s start for Sacramento on Saturday. Bowman allowed just 1 unearned run over 3 1/3 innings of work, while RHP Jonathan Joseph tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. Herschel “Boog” Powell, manning Billy McKinney’s spot in center field, reached base in all 5 plate appearances, on 3 singles and a pair of walks, and drove in a run, while left fielder Aaron Shipman singled, tripled, walked and drove in a run as well. Stockton was playing just a little short-handed. With Billy McKinney traded, Colin Walsh sent to Sacramento and Chad Pinder on the disabled list, the Ports had just 10 position players available to play on Saturday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 6
Cedar Rapids Kernels 3
WP – Stalcup 1-3 / 5.65
HR – Brugman (8)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jaycob Brugman
(Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The Snappers snapped their 10-game losing streak on Saturday. Starter Dylan Covey returned from the disabled list and allowed 2 runs in 3 innings of work, while LHP Matt Stalcup gave up 1 unearned run in 4 innings of relief to pick up the win, and RHP Bobby Wahl struck out the side in the 9th to earn his 1st save. Outfielder Jaycob Brugman, bucking for a promotion to Stockton with Billy McKinney’s departure, singled, homered and drove in a pair of runs, while outfielder B.J. Boyd had 2 hits and stole his 10th base. Catcher Philip Pohl doubled in a run, and designated hitter Luis Baez drove in a pair for the Snappers.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 2
Connecticut Tigers 4
LP – Fagan 0-1 / 4.50
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Joseph Michaud
(5 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 5 K)
RHP Joseph Michaud had a solid start for the Lake Monsters on Saturday, allowing 2 runs and striking out 5 over 5 innings of work and exited with the game tied, while LHP Mike Fagan gave up 1 run in 1 1/3 innings of relief to take the loss. First baseman John Nogowski singled in a pair of runs in the 1st inning to provide all the Lake Monsters’ scoring on the night, while outfielder Dayton Alexander and catcher Kyle Wheeler had a pair of hits apiece in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Padres 1
AZL A’s 13
WP – Zambrano 2-0 / 3.43
HR – Kim (2)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Jesus Zambrano
(6 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 7 K / Win)
17-year-old Venezuelan RHP Jesus Zambrano turned in another strong start for the A’s, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 7 over 6 innings of work to earn his 2nd win on Saturday. Korean catcher Seongmin Kim singled, walked twice and hit a 3-run homer, while shortstop Trace Loehr and outfielder Vicmal De La Cruz each drove in 2 runs, and outfielders Shawn Duinkerk and J.P. Sportman and designated hitter Trent Gilbert had a pair of hits apiece for the A’s.
Sunday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Reno – 6:05pm PT
Midland @ Arkansas – 4:10pm PT / 6:10pm CT
Stockton @ San Jose – 5:00pm PT
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – 12:05pm PT / 2:05pm CT
Vermont @ Connecticut (Game #1) – 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET
Vermont @ Connecticut (Game #2)
AZL A’s @ AZL Padres – 7:00pm PT
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