PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Sacramento River Cats 5
Nashville Sounds 6
WP – Kurcz 2-0 / 11.25
HR – Smolinski (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Jake Smolinski
(3 for 4 / Home Run / Double / 2 RBIs)
With the game tied 5-5, center fielder Jake Smolinski led off the bottom of the 8th inning by slugging his 3rd home run of the season to provide the winning run for the Sounds on Thursday. Smolinski also doubled in a run in the 3rd and singled but was caught trying to steal home in the 6th. Shortstop Chad Pinder drove in 2 runs, including the go-ahead run in the 7th, and collected 4 hits in 4 at-bats. The 24-year-old had been 2 for 17 in 5 games through last Friday but has now gone 10 for 18 in his last 5 games since then. Third baseman Renato Nunez doubled in a pair to briefly give Nashville the lead in the 3rd, while first baseman Rangel Ravelo walked twice and scored twice, and second baseman Joey Wendle singled, doubled, scored a run and was picked off first base in the 1st. Starter Eric Surkamp allowed 3 runs over 5 innings of work in his first start since being optioned back to Nashville, while RHP Aaron Kurcz vultured his 2nd win for the Sounds after giving up 2 runs in the 8th to surrender the lead, and RHP Tucker Healy pitched a perfect 9th to pick up his 2nd save. In other news, catcher Bruce Maxwell was activated from the disabled list on Thursday.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
GAME #1
Frisco RoughRiders 7
Midland RockHounds 4
LP – Seddon 1-3 / 8.44
HR – Barreto (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Franklin Barreto
(1 for 3 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Starter Joel Seddon surrendered 6 unearned runs in the 2nd inning, with the help of his own throwing error as well as a missed catcher by catcher Beau Taylor, and ended up suffering his 3rd loss after lasting just 3 2/3 innings as the RockHounds fell in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader. RHP Sam Bragg allowed 1 run in 2 1/3 innings of relief in his return from the disabled list. Second baseman Franklin Barreto belted a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 2nd, while left fielder Danny Oh had a pair of singles and drove in the RockHounds’ only other run in the loss.
RHP Joel Seddon: 3 2/3 IP / 3 H / 6 R / 0 ER / 3 BB / 1 K
RHP Sam Bragg: 2 1/3 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 5 K
2B Franklin Barreto: 1 for 3 / Home Run / 3 RBIs
LF Danny Oh: 2 for 3 / RBI
GAME #2
Frisco RoughRiders 4
Midland RockHounds 2
LP – Cochran-Gill 1-3 / 5.47
HR – Chapman (10)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Corey Walter
(5 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 2 K)
In his second straight start, converted reliever Corey Walter tossed 5 shutout innings but didn’t end up walking away with the win for the RockHounds. He exited with a 2-run lead on Thursday, but a throwing error by second baseman Wade Kirkland helped lead to 2 unearned runs off RHP Jake Sanchez in the top of the 7th to tie the game. And the game remained tied until the top of the 10th, when RHP Trey Cochran-Gill gave up 2 runs to take the loss in the second game of Thursday’s twinbill. Third baseman Matt Chapman smacked his team-leading 10th home run in the loss.
RHP Jake Sanchez: 2 IP / 4 H / 2 R / 0 ER / 0 BB / 2 K
RHP Bobby Wahl: 2 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K
RHP Trey Cochran-Gill: 1 IP / 2 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 1 K
3B Matt Chapman: 1 for 4 / Home Run
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
San Jose Giants 9
Stockton Ports 4
LP – Erwin 1-4 / 4.30
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Melvin Mercedes
(3 for 5 / RBI)
LHP Zack Erwin had his second straight shaky start for Stockton, allowing 6 runs, 3 earned, over 4 2/3 innings to take his 4th loss for the Ports. RHP Ryan Gorton gave up 3 runs in 1 inning of relief in his first game for Stockton since being reassigned from the RockHounds. Third baseman Melvin Mercedes collected 3 hits and drove in a run, while first baseman John Nogowski also had 3 hits, and shortstop Mikey White doubled in a pair for the Ports.
LHP Zack Erwin: 4 2/3 IP / 10 H / 6 R / 3 ER / 4 BB / 2 K
RHP Ryan Gorton: 1 IP / 4 H / 3 ER / 1 BB / 1 K
1B John Nogowski: 3 for 5
SS Mikey White: 1 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 1
Cedar Rapids Kernels 2
LP – Miller 0-2 / 2.41
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Kyle Friedrichs
(6 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 1 K)
RHP Kyle Friedrichs turned in another solid start for the Snappers on Thursday, throwing 6 shutout innings and leaving the game with a 1-run lead, but LHP Jared Lyons came on to surrender the tying run in the 7th. And the game remained tied until a walk, a throwing error and a wild pitch by RHP Corey Miller sent Beloit down to defeat in the bottom of the 11th. The Snappers scored 1 run on just 4 hits on Thursday. First baseman Chris Iriart singled and walked twice, while shortstop Edwin Diaz doubled, and left fielder Brett Siddall walked and singled in the Snappers’ only run in the loss.
LHP Jared Lyons: 1 IP / 2 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 1 K
RHP Corey Miller: 1 2/3 IP / 0 H / 1 R / 0 ER / 1 BB / 0 K
1B Chris Iriart: 1 for 3 / 2 Walks
SS Edwin Diaz: 1 for 4 / Double
LF Brett Siddall: 1 for 4 / Walk / RBI
Friday’s Games:
Sacramento @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Corpus Christi @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Visalia @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Peoria – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
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