TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 6
Tulsa Drillers 5
WP – Wahl 1-0 / 4.07
HR – Whitaker (5), Healy (4)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Josh Whitaker
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 2 RBIs)
With the game tied in the top of the 9th on Tuesday, outfielder Josh Whitaker slugged his 5th home run to provide the winning run for the RockHounds against Tulsa. Whitaker also doubled and scored in the 4th and singled in a run in the 5th, and the 26-year-old Georgia native has now gone 11 for 21 with 4 home runs over his last 5 games since missing a little over a week with a strained hamstring. Third baseman Ryon Healy hit his 4th home run in the 5th, while first baseman Matt Olson singled, doubled, walked twice and drove in a run for the RockHounds. Starter Chris Jensen was a little shaky on Tuesday, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits, including 3 home runs, over 5 2/3 innings, but he left the game with a 1-run lead. RHP Tucker Healy tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, but RHP Bobby Wahl walked 3 and gave up the tying run in the 8th but ended up picking up his 1st win thanks to Whitaker’s round-tripper in the 9th. RHP Ryan Dull then got the final three outs in the 9th to earn his 4th save. Meanwhile, RockHounds catcher/designated hitter Carson Blair was named the Texas League offensive player of the week on Monday after going 7 for 20 with 6 walks, 5 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs while posting a .350/.500/.700 slash line last week.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Salt Lake Bees 2
Nashville Sounds 1
LP – Mills 2-6 / 3.75
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Ryan Roberts
(2 for 3 / Double / Walk)
Starter Brad Mills allowed 2 runs over 4 2/3 innings to take his 6th loss as the Sounds snapped their 8-game winning streak on Tuesday. RHP Angel Castro, who was officially optioned back to Nashville earlier in the day, tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief. Third baseman Ryan Roberts singled, doubled and walked, while catcher Bryan Anderson doubled in Roberts for the Sounds’ only run of the game, and shortstop Niuman Romero and center fielder Craig Gentry had a pair of hits apiece in the loss. Meanwhile, veteran Nashville hurler Barry Zito was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week on Monday after tossing 14 scoreless innings over his last two starts last week.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lake Elsinore Storm 7
Stockton Ports 13
WP – Bragg 2-2 / 5.40
HR – Taylor (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher A.J. Griffin
(3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K)
A’s RHP A.J. Griffin made his first appearance on the mound since spring training of 2014 for Stockton on Tuesday. The 27-year-old, returning from Tommy John surgery, allowed just 1 hit while walking none and striking out 3 over 3 scoreless innings for the Ports. Griffin threw 33 pitches, 24 of them for strikes, in his first rehab appearance on Tuesday. RHP Lou Trivino then surrendered 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings, while RHP Sam Bragg picked up the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. First baseman Michael Soto singled, tripled and drove in 3 runs, while outfielder Brett Vertigan singled, doubled and drove in 3. Catcher Beau Taylor collected 3 hits, including his 3rd home run, and shortstop Franklin Barreto doubled and drove in 3 as the Ports put 13 runs on the board on Tuesday.
Wednesday’s Games:
Salt Lake @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ Tulsa – 10:05am PT / 12:05pm CT
Fort Wayne @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
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