PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 3
Sacramento River Cats 0
WP – Zito 2-4 / 4.72
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Barry Zito
(6 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K / Win)
Barry Zito played for the River Cats during their inaugural season in Sacramento in 2000, earning 8 wins for the Cats before being promoted by the A’s and posting 7 wins for Oakland later that same season. And 15 years later, Zito returned to Raley Field to shut down the Cats, allowing just 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5 over 6 shutout innings to earn his 2nd win for Nashville on Tuesday. LHP Ryan Verdugo followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and RHP R.J. Alvarez got the final four outs to complete the Sounds’ second straight shutout of Sacramento and earn his 1st save for Nashville. First baseman Anthony Aliotti singled, doubled and drove in 2 runs, while second baseman Joey Wendle had a pair of hits and stole a base, and third baseman Ryan Roberts doubled and drove in a run for the Sounds. And with LHP Sean Doolittle returning to action for the A’s, RHP Angel Castro was optioned back to Nashville.
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TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Tulsa Drillers 6
Midland RockHounds 8
WP – R.Doolittle 2-0 / 3.98
HR – Whitaker (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Catcher Carson Blair
(Double / 4 RBIs)
With the bases loaded, two outs and his team down by a run in the bottom of the 8th inning, catcher Carson Blair doubled to clear the bases and provide the Hounds with the margin of victory on Tuesday. Blair also drove in another run in the 4th, while designated hitter Josh Whitaker walked, doubled and hit a 2-run homer in the 4th, and outfielder Jaycob Brugman doubled, walked and scored twice for the RockHounds. Starter Chris Lamb was a little shaky on Tuesday, allowing 6 runs, 5 earned, over 3 1/3 innings of work, but the bullpen did its job and kept things close. RHP Kris Hall struck out 5 in 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief, while RHP Ryan Doolittle tossed 2 scoreless frames to post his 2nd win, and RHP Ryan Dull struck out 3 in the 9th to earn his 3rd save for Midland.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 6
Burlington Bees 15
LP – Gossett 2-5 / 6.15
HR – Pimentel (7), Raga (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Sandber Pimentel
(Home Run / 2 RBIs / 2 Walks)
RHP Daniel Gossett had his roughest start of the season on Tuesday, allowing 10 runs, 9 earned, on 15 hits, including 3 home runs, to take his 5th loss for the Snappers. On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s have a new home run leader in their minor league system. Designated hitter Sandber Pimentel slugged his 7th home run of the season, a 2-run shot, in the 5th inning on Tuesday to put him one homer ahead of Matt Olson and Chad Pinder, who are right behind him with 6 apiece. Catcher Argenis Raga doubled and hit his 1st home run, while shortstop Yairo Munoz reached base 4 times, on 3 singles and a walk. Outfielder Joe Bennie doubled and tripled in the Snappers’ first run in the 2nd, and third baseman Jose Brizuela walked and doubled in a pair of runs in the loss.
Wednesday’s Games:
Nashville @ Sacramento – 7:05pm PT / 9:05pm CT
Tulsa @ Midland – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Lancaster @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Burlington – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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