CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Modesto Nuts 6
Stockton Ports 11
WP – Covey 3-3 / 3.65
HR – Barreto 2 (3), Boyd (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Franklin Barreto
(3 for 4 / 2 Home Runs / 5 RBIs)
Shortstop Franklin Barreto had a big night at the plate for Stockton on Monday, collecting 3 hits and homering in back-to-back at-bats in the 5th and 6th inning while driving in 5 runs for the Ports. Barreto had gone 0 for 6 with 3 strikeouts over his last two games before his explosive performance on Monday night. Outfielder B.J. Boyd hit a 2-run homer to put the Ports on the board in the 3rd, while first baseman Michael Soto singled, doubled and drove in a pair. Second baseman Branden Cogswell tripled in a run in the 7th, and outfielder Brett Vertigan drew 3 walks, stole a base and scored twice for Stockton. Starter Dylan Covey allowed 3 runs, just 2 earned, on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 5 over 6 innings of work to earn his 3rd win for the Ports. Meanwhile, A’s infielder-outfielder Ben Zobrist is set to begin his rehab assignment with Stockton on Tuesday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
New Orleans Zephyrs 4
Nashville Sounds 1
LP – Mills 1-5 / 4.62
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Brad Mills
(7 IP / 6 H / 2 ER / 4 BB / 5 K)
LHP Brad Mills turned in a solid start for the Sounds on Monday, allowing just 2 runs over 7 innings of work, but he left the game with his team down by a run. Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte followed Mills and gave up 2 runs in the 8th, while LHP Ryan Verdugo pitched a perfect 9th for Nashville. Designated hitter Alden Carrithers tripled and scored the Sounds’ only run of the game in the 4th, while outfielder Jason Pridie singled in Carrithers, and second baseman Joey Wendle had a pair of hits in the loss.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 3
Frisco RoughRiders 0
WP – Long 2-2 / 2.31
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Nate Long
(6 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 8 K / Win)
RHP Nate Long had another solid start for Midland on Monday, striking out 8 over 6 shutout innings to earn his 2nd win for the RockHounds. RHP Bobby Wahl pitched 2 perfect innings in relief, while RHP Ryan Dull tossed a scoreless 9th to pick up his 1st save. Matt Olson made his third start of the season in right field and singled, walked and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the 7th, while catcher Bruce Maxwell doubled and scored, and third baseman Renato Nunez and designated hitter Carson Blair had a pair of hits apiece for the Hounds. In other news, rehabbing LHP Sean Doolittle is scheduled to make a relief appearance for the RockHounds on Tuesday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Kane County Cougars 14
Beloit Snappers 5
LP – Driver 0-1 / 7.20
HR – Brizuela (2), Gilbert (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Second Baseman Trent Gilbert
(Home Run / 3 RBIs)
The big news in Beloit on Monday was the debut of the A’s 7th-round draft pick in 2013, RHP Dustin Driver, for the Snappers. Slowed by injuries, Driver had only pitched 11 1/3 innings for the Arizona League A’s in his professional career prior to Monday. And Driver got off to a great start in his first Midwest League appearance. Over the first 5 innings, the 20-year-old allowed just 1 run on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 5 and held a 2-run lead heading to the 6th. Driver gave up a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases before registering an out in the 6th. He then gave way to RHP Corey Miller and, by the time the inning was through, Kane County had scored 5 runs, 3 of which were charged to Driver, who was saddled with the loss. Last year’s 4th-round draft pick, RHP Jordan Schwartz – who recently lost his slot in the Snappers’ starting rotation – came on in the 7th and surrendered 8 runs, 5 earned, in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Second baseman Trent Gilbert hit a 3-run homer to give the Snappers the lead in the 3rd, while third baseman Jose Brizuela hit a 2-run homer in the 9th for Beloit.
Tuesday’s Games:
New Orleans @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ Frisco – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Bakersfield – 7:30pm PT
Kane County @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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