TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
NW Arkansas Naturals 5
Midland RockHounds 10
WP – Neal 1-0 / 3.60
HR – Olson (1), Pinder (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Matt Olson
(2 for 3 / Home Run / 2 RBIs / 2 Walks)
In his first at-bat for the RockHounds in the first inning on Thursday, first baseman Matt Olson deposited one over the fence, bringing home second baseman Colin Walsh who’d doubled and giving Midland an early 2-0 lead. The A’s top prospect reached base 4 times, also singling and walking twice in the game. The Hounds drew a total of 13 walks on the night. Walsh and catcher Bruce Maxwell received 3 free passes apiece. Designated hitter Carson Blair walked twice and doubled, while third baseman Ryon Healy singled and doubled in a pair. Outfielder Chad Oberacker singled, tripled and drove in 3, and shortstop Chad Pinder homered in the 8th for the Hounds’ final run of the night. Starter Zach Neal had a solid outing, allowing 2 runs over 5 innings to earn the win. RHP Ryan Doolittle surrendered home runs to the first two batters he faced in relief before completing 1 inning of work, while RHP Seth Frankoff gave up 1 run in 2 innings of relief, and RHP Ryan Dull tossed a scoreless 9th to finish off the opening night win for the RockHounds.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 5
Colorado Springs Sky Sox 7
LP – Bassitt 0-1 / 7.20
Farmhand Of The Game:
Second Baseman Joey Wendle
(2 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)
In their first game as the new Triple-A affiliate of the A’s, the Nashville Sounds came up short against Colorado Springs on Thursday night. Starter Chris Bassitt had a shaky outing for the Sounds, allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, over 5 innings to take the loss, while RHP Fernando Rodriguez gave up 2 runs in 1 1/3 innings, and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Second baseman Joey Wendle, catcher Bryan Anderson and outfielder Kent Matthes each singled and doubled, with Anderson driving in 1 and Wendle driving in a pair, while first baseman Max Muncy tripled in a run and walked twice, and outfielders Matt Angle and Jason Pridie had a pair of hits apiece in the loss. LHP Barry Zito is scheduled to make his first start for the Sounds on Friday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 3
Inland Empire 66ers 1
WP – Covey 1-0 / 0.00
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder J.P. Sportman
(2 for 3 / Triple / Double / Walk / 2 RBIs)
The A’s 27th-round draft pick last year, outfielder J.P. Sportman, got his 2015 campaign off to a great start on Thursday, doubling, tripling, drawing a walk and driving in a pair of runs for the Ports. Designated hitter B.J. Boyd singled, tripled and scored a run, while rehabbing outfielder Josh Reddick went 1 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout and drove in a run in the win. Starter Dylan Covey delivered an impressive start, allowing just 2 hits over 5 scoreless innings to earn the victory. RHP Andres Avila pitched 2 perfect innings in relief, while Jonathan Joseph tossed 1 scoreless frame, and RHP Brendan McCurry picked up the save despite allowing 1 run in the bottom of the 9th for Stockton.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers
Clinton LumberKings
(POSTPONED)
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Colorado Springs – 5:35pm PT / 7:35pm CT
NW Arkansas @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Stockton @ Inland Empire – 7:05pm PT
Beloit @ Clinton – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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