PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 13
El Paso Chihuahuas 2
WP – Milone 1-0 / 5.40
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Tommy Milone
(6 IP / 6 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 8 K / Win)
After enduring a rough outing his last time out, former A’s LHP Tommy Milone looked strong on Thursday, allowing 2 runs while striking out 8 over 6 innings of work to earn his 1st win for Sacramento. RHP Paul Smyth pitched 1 perfect inning in relief, while RHP Tucker Healy tossed 2 scoreless innings for the River Cats. Center fielder Nick Buss singled, doubled, tripled and drove in 4 runs, while left fielder Shane Peterson had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a pair, and designated hitter Daric Barton drove in 3 runs for Sacramento. Meanwhile, the River Cats lost one of the team’s best relievers when RHP Evan Scribner was recalled by the A’s after the release of RHP Jim Johnson.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 7
Corpus Christi Hooks 3
WP – Jensen 9-7 / 3.47
HR – Nakajima (3), Barfield (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Chris Jensen
(6 IP / 7 H / 1 ER / 3 BB / 2 K / Win)
RHP Chris Jensen turned in another strong start for the RockHounds, allowing just 1 run over 6 innings of work to earn his 9th win on Thursday. With the game tied in the top of the 7th, designated hitter Hiro Nakajima homered to give the Hounds the lead, while outfielder Jeremy Barfield had 3 hits, including his 1st home run since returning to the outfield, and drove in 3 runs for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, LHP Omar Duran was promoted to Midland from the Ports and RockHounds RHP Blake Hassebrock was reassigned to Stockton.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 5
Stockton Ports 2
LP – Streich 9-6 / 2.93
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Seth Streich
(6 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)
RHP Seth Streich had another solid start for Stockton, retiring the first 9 batters he faced and eventually allowing 3 runs, just 1 earned, while walking none and striking out 4 over 6 innings of work, but he still ended up taking the loss on Thursday. First baseman Matt Olson singled, doubled and drove in a run, while second baseman Chad Pinder singled and doubled and made a throwing error that led to a pair of runs in the 4th. In other news, the Ports bullpen lost its only left-hander when Omar Duran was promoted to Midland. RHP Blake Hassebrock was reassigned to Stockton from the RockHounds and RHP Yeiper Castillo was released after making 6 shaky appearances for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 2
Fort Wayne TinCaps 3
LP – Mendez 2-6 / 3.97
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outifelder Tyler Marincov
(Double / RBI)
RHP Junior Mendez was undone by the long ball on Thursday, allowing 2 runs on a pair of solo shots over 5 1/3 innings of work to take his 6th loss for the Snappers. RHP Brendan McCurry tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while RHP Sam Roberts gave up 1 in 1 inning of relief. Beloit batters managed just 4 hits in the game, with outfielder Tyler Marincov doubling in a run in the 4th to give the Snappers their only lead of the night.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 2
Brooklyn Cyclones 7
LP – Torres 0-5 / 5.25
HR – Munoz (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Yairo Munoz
(Home Run / 2 RBIs)
19-year-old shortstop Yairo Munoz hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 5th to provide Vermont with its only scoring on the night. Starter Jose Torres allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4 innings of work to take his 5th loss, while RHP Daniel Gossett pitched 2 perfect innings, and LHP Mike Fagan gave up 4 runs, 3 earned, in just 2/3 of an inning of relief for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Brewers 6
AZL A’s 7
WP – Huber 1-0 / 9.24
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Branden Kelliher
(4 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 4 K)
This year’s 8th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Branden Kelliher, got things off to a great start on Thursday, tossing 4 scoreless and hitless innings while striking out 4 and walking 3 for the A’s. The 18-year-old has now allowed 6 earned runs and struck out 20 in his first 16 innings since being drafted. 12th-round pick Tyler Willman gave up 4 runs in 2 innings of relief, while RHP Rob Huber tossed a scoreless top of the 9th to pick up the win. Designated hitter Michael Soto had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a run, while center fielder Rodolfo Penalo singled, doubled and walked. Left fielder Jonesy Zarraga tripled, walked and scored twice, and pinch hitter Robert Martinez singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th for the A’s.
Friday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Tacoma – 7:05pm PT
Midland @ Corpus Christi – 5:10pm PT / 7:10pm CT
Lancaster @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT
Beloit @ Fort Wayne – 4:05pm PT / 6:05pm CT
Vermont @ Brooklyn – 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
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