CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Bakersfield Blaze 5
Stockton Ports 7
WP – Duran 2-0 / 5.27
HR – Chapman (9), Marincov (7), Vertigan (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Matt Chapman
(Home Run / 3 RBIs)
With two on, two outs and the game tied in the bottom of the 7th, third baseman Matt Chapman crushed a 3-run homer over the left field fence to provide the Ports with all they would need to win their seventh straight on Friday. Chapman’s 9 home runs now tie him for second-most in the A’s minor league system, even though he’s appeared in just 39 games after getting off to a late start this season due to a knee injury. Center fielder Brett Vertigan belted his 3rd home run in the 1st, while right fielder Tyler Marincov homered for the 7th time this season in the 2nd. Second baseman Melvin Mercedes drew a pair of walks and doubled in 2 runs, including the tying run, in the 7th, while shortstop Franklin Barreto singled and doubled for Stockton. Starter Dylan Covey was solid, allowing just 1 run while striking out 6 over 6 innings of work and left the game with a 1-run lead. But Sam Bragg gave up 3 unearned runs in the top of the 7th with the help of 3 errors by first baseman John Nogowski, catcher Nick Rickles and shortstop Franklin Barreto. LHP Omar Duran picked up the win despite giving up 1 run in 1 1/3 innings of relief, and RHP Ben Bracewell got the final four outs to post his 3rd save for the Ports.
Click here for more on Nashville, Midland, Beloit & Vermont…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Omaha Storm Chasers 1
Nashville Sounds 0
LP – Alvarez 2-3 / 4.19
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Brad Mills
(7 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 5 K)
The Sounds were shut out on 8 hits in 10 innings on Friday to take their eighth loss in their last nine games. Starter Brad Mills was sharp, striking out 5 over 7 shutout innings, while RHP Dan Otero contributed 2 more scoreless frames to take the game to extra innings, but RHP R.J. Alvarez gave up the winning run in the top of the 10th to take his 3rd loss. Center fielder Craig Gentry had a pair of hits, left fielder Jason Pridie singled, walked and stole a pair of bases, and first baseman Anthony Aliotti, second baseman Joey Wendle and third baseman Ryan Roberts all doubled in the loss. Meanwhile, with Edward Mujica’s return to the A’s bullpen, RHP Arnold Leon was optioned back to Nashville.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 4
San Antonio Missions 1
WP – Long 5-4 / 2.41
HR – Healy (5)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Nate Long
(7 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 4 K / Win)
RHP Nate Long turned in his 5th straight quality start on Friday, allowing just 1 run while striking out 4 over 7 innings of work to earn his 5th win for the RockHounds, and the 29-year-old now leads all A’s minor leaguers in strikeouts with 68. RHP Ryan Dull tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to earn his 6th save for Midland. Designated hitter Ryon Healy singled and slugged his 5th home run in the 1st inning to give the Hounds an early lead, while catcher Carson Blair doubled in the winning run in the 7th, and shortstop Chad Pinder singled and doubled in a pair in the 8th.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5
Beloit Snappers 1
LP – Wagman 2-2 / 2.95
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Joey Wagman
(4 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 2 K)
In a game played at Miller Park in Milwaukee, the Snappers scored 1 run on just 3 hits as they lost their seventh straight on Friday. Designated hitter Sandber Pimentel reached base 3 times, on 2 hits and a walk, while outfielder Joe Bennie walked and doubled in the Snappers’ only run in the 6th. Starter Joey Wagman allowed just 1 run over 4 innings of work but still ended up taking the loss, while RHP Kevin Johnson gave up 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief for Beloit. Meanwhile, Snappers outfielder Robert Martinez was reassigned to Vermont.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Lowell Spinners 13
Vermont Lake Monsters 7
LP – Schwartz 0-1 / 60.75
HR – Raga (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Argenis Raga
(Grand Slam)
Vermont dropped its season opener on Friday despite a grand slam from third baseman Argenis Raga in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Starter Jordan Schwartz had struggled in his 10 games with the Snappers, and things didn’t go any better in his debut for the Lake Monsters. The A’s 4th-round pick last year surrendered 10 runs, 9 earned, on 7 hits and 4 walks in just 1 1/3 innings of work to take the loss on Friday. Catcher Iolana Akau singled and doubled in a pair of runs to put Vermont on the board in the 3rd, while outfielder Shawn Duinkerk collected 3 hits and scored a run. Designated hitter Seong-min Kim had 2 doubles and drove in a run, and second baseman Trace Loehr had a pair of hits and a pair of walks in the loss.
Saturday’s Games:
Omaha @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Bakersfield @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Wisconsin @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Lowell @ Vermont – 3:05pm PT / 6:05pm CT
AZL A’s @ AZL Angels – 7:00pm PT
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