PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 7
Iowa Cubs 2
WP – Hahn 1-1 / 1.93
HR – Nunez (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Renato Nunez
(3 for 4 / Grand Slam / Double)
Thrid baseman Renato Nunez hit a rare inside-the-park grand slam for the Sounds on Thursday. In the top of the 6th inning, Nunez drove a ball off the left field wall that Iowa left fielder John Andreoli claimed was lodged under the wall, but Nunez and the other Sounds runners just kept going. And when the umpire ruled that the ball was playable, Nunez was credited with the grand slam. The 22-year-old also doubled, singled and walked in the game and lifted his batting average to an even .300. Left fielder Max Muncy singled, doubled, drew a pair of walks and scored 3 times. RHP Jesse Hahn turned in a strong start in his return to the Sounds, allowing just 1 run while striking out 5 over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. Meanwhile, catcher Bruce Maxwell, who was placed on the 7-day disabled list after an awkward slide last weekend led to some shoulder irritation, is expected to return to action early next week.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 5
San Antonio Missions 4
WP – Doolittle 2-1 / 1.17
HR – Brugman (5), Taylor (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Corey Walter
(5 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 1 K)
The RockHounds blew a 4-run lead but came back to win in 11 innings on Thursday night. RHP Corey Walter moved into Midland’s starting rotation when RHP Daniel Mengden was promoted to Nashville, and he delivered his best outing yet on Thursday, allowing just 2 hits over 5 shutout innings and left the game with the lead. But RHP Trey Cochran-Gill surrendered 4 runs in the 7th inning to tie the game, which ended up going to extra innings. Right fielder Danny Oh, who had 3 hits in the game, singled in the winning run in the 11th for the RockHounds. First baseman Ryon Healy also collected 3 hits, while catcher Beau Taylor and center fielder Jaycob Brugman both homered and drove in a pair. RHP Ryan Doolittle earned the win with 2 scoreless innings in relief, and RHP Jake Sanchez got the final three outs in the bottom of the 11th to notch his 2nd save.
RHP Trey Cochran-Gill: 1 2/3 IP / 5 H / 4 ER / 0 BB / 2 K
RHP Ryan Doolittle: 2 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 3 K
RHP Jake Sanchez: 1 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 1 K
RF Danny Oh: 3 for 5 / RBI
1B Ryon Healy: 3 for 4 / Walk
C Beau Taylor: 2 for 5 / Home Run / 2 RBIs
CF Jaycob Brugman: 1 for 3 / Walk / Home Run / 2 RBIs
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 5
Visalia Rawhide 6
LP – Huber 0-1 / 8.36
HR – Nogowski (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman John Nogowski
(Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The Ports lost in 10 innings to snap their 3-game winning streak on Thursday. RHP Heath Fillmyer had another solid start for Stockton, allowing 3 runs, just 2 earned, while walking none and striking out 5 over 5 1/3 innings and left the game with a 2-run lead. But RHP Kyle Finnegan gave up 2 runs in the 7th inning to tie the game. And it remained tied until RHP Rob Huber surrendered the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to take the loss as Visalia won in a walk-off on Thursday. First baseman John Nogowski belted a 2-run homer in the top of the 2nd to give Stockton an early lead, while catcher Iolana Akau collected 3 hits and drove in a run, and shortatop Mikey White had 2 hits and drove in a pair for the Ports. In other news, RHP Rodolfo Fernandez, who had been on the disabled list for Stockton, was released.
RHP Heath Fillmyer: 5 1/3 IP / 6 H / 3 R / 2 ER / 0 BB / 5 K
RHP Kyle Finnegan: 1 2/3 IP / 2 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 2 K
RHP Rob Huber: 1/3 IP / 1 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 0 K
C Iolana Akau: 3 for 4 / RBI
SS Mikey White: 2 for 4 / 2 RBIs
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Quad Cities River Bandits 9
Beloit Snappers 10
WP – Ruiz 1-0 / 4.38
HR – Higley (2), Collins (2), Lopez (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Armando Ruiz
(4 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 3 K / Win)
Depsite committing 7 errors in the game, the Snappers came back to win in 13 innings on Thursday night. RHP Kyle Friedrichs turned in another strong start, allowing just 2 hits and no earned runs while striking out 5 over 5 innings of work, but he ended up being saddled with 3 unearned runs on Thursday. RHP Armando Ruiz came on in the top of the 10th inning and tossed 4 scoreless frames in extras to stifle Quad Cities and ultimately earned the win. Second baseman Jesus Lopez homered, doubled, walked and drove in 3, while catcher Nick Collins and center fielder Justin Higley both homered, singled and drove in a pair, and right fielder Steven Pallares had 2 walks and 2 hits, including an RBI single that drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 13th as Beloit won in a walk-off on Thursday.
RHP Kyle Friedrichs: 5 IP / 2 H / 3 R / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K
2B Jesus Lopez: 2 for 6 / Walk / Home Run / Double / 3 RBIs
C Nick Collins: 2 for 2 / Home Run / 2 RBIs
CF Justin Higley: 2 for 6 / Home Run / 2 RBIs
RF Steven Pallares: 2 for 5 / 2 Walks / RBI
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 5:08pm PT / 7:08pm CT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Bakersfield – 7:15pm PT
Quad Cities @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our exclusive A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.