PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 8
Iowa Cubs 4
WP – Huntzinger 3-2 / 3.73
HR – Roberts (10), Smolinski (9)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jake Smolinski
(3 for 3 / Home Run / Double / Walk / 3 RBIs / 4 Runs)
Outfielder Jake Smolinski had another one of many big nights for the Sounds on Thursday, reaching base 4 times, on a walk, a single, a double and a home run, while driving in 3 runs and scoring 4 times. And in 7 games in August since returning to Nashville, Smolinksi is now hitting .417 with 2 doubles, 3 home runs and 7 RBIs. Third baseman Ryan Roberts singled and hit his 10th home run, while first baseman Rangel Ravelo singled, doubled and drove in a run for the Sounds. With A’s starter Sonny Gray suffering back spasms, Thursday’s scheduled starter for Nashville, RHP Cody Martin, was scratched presumably so that he’ll be available to make the start for Oakland on Friday. RHP Kris Hall was promoted from Midland to make the emergency start for the Sounds and allowed 3 runs in just 2 innings of work, while RHP Brock Huntzinger picked up the win despite giving up the tying run in the bottom of the 5th, and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte struck out 4 in 2 scoreless innings of relief for the Sounds.
***UPDATE: Despite scratching RHP Cody Martin from his scheduled start, the A’s decided to select LHP Brad Mills from the Sounds to make Friday’s start while optioning RHP Arnold Leon back to Nashville and designating RHP Taylor Thompson for assignment.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Springfield Cardinals 0
Midland RockHounds 3
WP – Avila 3-1 / 4.14
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Parker Frazier
(6 IP / 5 H / 0 ER / 4 BB / 3 K)
Starter Parker Frazier scattered 5 hits over 6 shutout innings and left with the game a scoreless tie, while RHP Andres Avila pitched 2 perfect innings in relief to pick up the win, and RHP Brendan McCurry got the final three outs in the 9th to notch his 2nd save and wrap up the 5-hit shutout for Midland on Thursday. Outfielder Jaycob Brugman singled, doubled and drove in a pair, while catcher Beau Taylor and designated hitter Josh Whitaker each doubled, walked and scored a run for the RockHounds. And with RHP Kris Hall’s promotion to Nashville, LHP Jeff Urlaub was reassigned to the RockHounds from Stockton.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 0
Modesto Nuts 1
LP – Finnegan 6-8 / 5.88
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Kyle Finnegan
(5 IP / 2 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 5 K)
RHP Kyle Finnegan delivered a strong start for Stockton, allowing 1 run on just 2 hits while striking out 5 over 5 innings of work, but he still ended up taking the loss for the Ports. Stockton was shut out on 7 hits on Thursday. Third baseman Melvin Mercedes had a pair of doubles, while shortstop Yairo Munoz singled and doubled. First baseman John Nogowski went 0 for 3 in his return from the disabled list and designated hitter Tyler Ladendorf went 0 for 4 in his second rehab game for Stockton.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
South Bend Cubs 7
Beloit Snappers 1
LP – Gossett 4-11 / 5.06
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Jose Brizuela
(Triple / 2 Walks / Run)
RHP Daniel Gossett had a rough outing on Thursday, allowing 6 runs, 4 earned, on 5 hits, including a grand slam, over 4 1/3 innings of work to suffer his 11th loss for the Snappers. Beloit scored just 1 run on 5 hits on Thursday. Third baseman Jose Brizuela tripled, walked twice and scored the Snappers’ only run in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Connecticut Tigers 1
Vermont Lake Monsters 3
WP – Naile 2-0 / 2.20
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Seth Brown
(Triple / 2 RBIs)
With two men on and the game tied in the bottom of the 8th on Thursday, center fielder Seth Brown tripled in both runners to provide the margin of victory for Vermont. First baseman Chris Iriart singled and walked twice, while second baseman Trace Loehr singled, walked and scored twice for the Lake Monsters. Starter Angel Duno was solid on Thursday, tossing 5 shutout innings, but he left with the game a scoreless tie, and RHP James Naile pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings in relief to pick up his 2nd win for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
GAME #1
AZL A’s 1
AZL D-backs 9
LP – Chalmers 0-1 / 3.68
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Eric Marinez
(Triple / Walk / RBI)
Things got off to a rough start for Dakota Chalmers on Thursday and the 18-year-old ended up being charged with 5 runs, 4 earned, in just 1 inning of work to take the loss in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader. Rehabbing RHP Tanner Peters tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief, while shortstop Eric Marinez walked and tripled in the A’s only run in the top of the 2nd, and designated hitter Robert Mullen singled and scored in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
GAME #2
AZL A’s 0
AZL D-backs 4
LP – Blanco 4-5 / 3.47
Farmhand Of The Game:
First Baseman Miguel Guzman
(1 for 2 / Walk)
The A’s were shut out on just 3 hits in the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader. First baseman Miguel Guzman reached base twice, on a single and a walk. 19-year-old Venezuelan RHP Argenis Blanco started the game and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 3 1/3 innings of work to take his 5th loss for the A’s.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 5:08pm PT / 7:08pm CT
Tulsa @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Visalia @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
West Michigan @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Connecticut @ Vermont – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Angels @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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