CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Modesto Nuts 2
Stockton Ports 7
WP – Bowman 2-6 / 5.58
HR – Nunez (21), Healy (11)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Renato Nunez
(Grand Slam)
Designated hitter Renato Nunez had the big blast for Stockton on Thursday night, slugging his second grand slam this week in the bottom of the 1st to overcome a 2-0 deficit and give the Ports a lead that would not be lost for the rest of the evening. The home run was Nunez’s 21st, which puts him only behind teammate Matt Olson, who has 25, in the California League home run race. Third baseman Ryon Healy hit his 11th homer as well as his 21st double. And with two men on and no outs in the top of the 4th, Healy also started a rare triple play for the Ports, getting the first out at third before tossing on to Colin Walsh who got the out at second before relaying it on to Matt Olson for the final out at first. Starter Josh Bowman gave up a home run on the first pitch of the ballgame and allowed a second run in the top of the 1st as well. But after that, he tossed 5 shutout innings and ended up allowing 2 runs and striking out 5 over 6 innings to earn his 2nd win. RHP Andres Avila struck out 4 in 2 perfect innings of relief, while RHP Kris Hall pitched a perfect 9th for the Ports. Meanwhile, catcher Ryan Lipkin was activated off the disabled list for Sacramento and reassigned to Stockton while catcher Bruce Maxwell leaves the team for a couple of days to tend to a family emergency. And it looks likely that RHP Tim Atherton will land on the disabled list with a quadriceps issue, but no official announcement has yet been made.
Click here for more on Sacramento, Midland, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 2
Fresno Grizzlies 3
LP – Leon 9-3 / 4.47
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Arnold Leon
(6 IP / 3 H / 3 ER / 2 BB / 13 K)
Starter Arnold Leon struck out 13 batters over 6 innings and gave up just 3 hits – unfortunately, two of those hits were home runs and he ended up taking his 3rd loss on Thursday. RHP Austin House tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief. Outfielder Shane Peterson doubled, while designated hitter Nick Buss had a pair of hits, and outfielder Kenny Wilson singled in both the River Cats’ runs in the loss.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
San Antonio Missions 6
Midland RockHounds 7
WP – Dull 4-3 / 3.41
HR – Marte (7), Crumbliss (5)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Jefry Marte
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double)
Third baseman Jefry Marte was the star for the second straight night in Midland. With two outs and the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Marte slugged his 7th home run to give the RockHounds the walk-off win on Thursday. Second baseman Conner Crumbliss hit a 2-run homer in the 5th, while outfielder Billy Burns singled, doubled and drove in a pair, and designated hitter Jeremy Barfield singled and walked twice in his first appearance this season as a hitter. Starter Sean Murphy allowed 4 runs over 5 2/3 innings, while RHP Ryan Dull picked up the win after getting the final five outs for the Hounds.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Burlington Bees 2
Beloit Snappers 0
LP – Covey 4-7 / 4.75
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Dylan Covey
(4 2/3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 7 K)
RHP Dylan Covey allowed 1 unearned run on just 1 hit and struck out 7 over 4 2/3 innings in his second start for the Snappers since returning from the disabled list, but he still ended up taking the loss on Thursday. RHP Joseph Michaud gave up just 1 run in 4 1/3 innings of relief in his first appearance since being promoted from Vermont. Michaud was added to the roster after RHP Kyle Finnegan was placed on the disabled list. Designated hitter Ryan Matthews had 2 of the Snappers’ 5 hits on the night.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 2
Williamsport Crosscutters 5
LP – Gauna 0-1 / 9.00
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Dayton Alexander
(2 for 4 / Double / RBI)
Starter Koby Gauna, filling in for Joseph Michaud who was promoted to Beloit, allowed 4 runs on 5 hits over 3 innings to take the loss for the Lake Monsters on Thursday. Outfielder Dayton Alexander singled, doubled and drove in a run, while third baseman Jose Brizuela doubled and scored, and second baseman Joseph Bennie singled, walked and stole a base in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Reds 17
AZL A’s 8
LP – Zambrano 2-1 / 6.33
HR – Brown (2)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Dusty Brown
(Home Run)
After being dominant in his last start, 17-year-old RHP Jesus Zambrano had a rough outing on Thursday, giving up 7 runs in just 1/3 of an inning to take his 1st loss. RHP Travis Pitcher surrendered another 8 runs, 7 earned, in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Designated hitter Dusty Brown hit his 2nd home run, while outfielder Shawn Duinkerk singled, doubled and drove in a run, and second baseman Trent Gilbert and outfielder J.P. Sportman had a pair of hits apiece in the loss.
Friday’s Games:
Reno @ Sacramento – 7:05pm PT
San Antonio @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
San Jose @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT
Beloit @ Kane County – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Vermont @ Williamsport – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL A’s @ AZL Reds – 7:00pm PT
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