TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 5
NW Arkansas Naturals 3
WP – Bracewell 4-1 / 2.08
HR – Chapman (18), Blair 2 (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Carson Blair
(2 for 4 / 2 Home Runs / 3 RBIs)
Catcher Carson Blair had his biggest game since returning from the disabled list almost two weeks ago, slugging a pair of home runs to help the RockHounds win on Thursday. His first round-tripper was a solo shot in the 2nd inning to put the Hounds on the board and his second was a 2-run homer in the 6th to give his team the lead, which it never relinquished. Third baseman Matt Chapman smacked his league-leading 18th home run in the 5th and also doubled and scored an insurance run in the 9th for the RockHounds. Starter Ben Bracewell allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 5 innings of work to earn his 4th win, while RHP Bobby Wahl tossed a scoreless 9th to secure his 2nd save for the Hounds.
Click here for more on Nashville, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Oklahoma City Dodgers 7
Nashville Sounds 3
LP – Castro 0-6 / 5.40
HR – Olson (8)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Matt Olson
(2 for 4 / Home Run)
Starter Angel Castro allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, over 6 innings of work to suffer his 6th loss for the Sounds on Thursday. Right fielder Matt Olson singled and slugged his 8th home run, while center fielder Jaycob Brugman doubled and singled in a run, and left fielder Max Muncy went 0 for 3 with a walk in his return to Nashville. With A’s LHP Sean Doolittle landing on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, Sounds relievers Andrew Triggs and Daniel Coulombe were recalled by Oakland, while RHP Zach Neal was optioned back to Nashville, and Sounds catcher Bryan Anderson was placed on the 7-day disabled list. RHP Nick Tepesch, who was recently acquired off waivers from the Dodgers, is scheduled to make his Nashville debut on Friday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 4
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5
LP – Wagman 2-4 / 4.00
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder B.J. Boyd
(2 for 4 / RBI)
Starter Matt Stalcup allowed 3 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits, including 2 home runs, over 5 innings of work, while RHP Joey Wagman gave up 2 runs in 3 innings of relief to take the loss for Stockton. Left fielder B.J. Boyd had 2 hits and drove in the tying run in the top of the 8th inning, while center fielder James Harris walked and singled in a run, and second baseman Mikey White had a pair of hits for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Peoria Chiefs 11
Beloit Snappers 0
LP – Huber 1-2 / 4.38
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Dustin Hurlbutt
(5 IP / 6 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K)
The Snappers were shut out on 8 hits on Thursday. Starter Dustin Hurlbutt threw 5 shutout innings and left with the game a scoreless tie, but RHP Rob Huber allowed 3 runs in the 6th inning to suffer his 2nd loss for the Snappers. RHP Dustin Driver gave up 4 runs in the 8th, and infielder Michael Soto came on to surrender 4 more runs in the 9th. Left fielder Mike Martin and third baseman Jean Carlo Rodriguez both doubled and walked in the loss. Meanwhile, Snappers infielder Jesus Lopez was reassigned to the Lake Monsters on Thursday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Aberdeen IronBirds 2
Vermont Lake Monsters 7
WP – Andueza 1-0 / 2.70
HR – Murphy (1), Barrera (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Luis Barrera
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 4 RBIs)
20-year-old Dominican left fielder Luis Barrera singled, doubled, homered and drove in 4 runs, while this year’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s, catcher Sean Murphy, collected 4 hits, including his 1st home run, and first baseman Miguel Mercedes singled snd doubled in the winning run in the 5th inning for Vermont on Thursday. 21-year-old Venezuelan LHP Ivan Andueza turned in a solid start for the Lake Monsters, allowing 2 runs over 6 innings of work to earn his 1st win for Vermont. Meanwhile, outfielders Tyler Ramirez and Luke Persico were both promoted to the Lake Monsters, while infielder Jesus Lopez was reassigned from the Snappers, and Vermont infielder Tim Proudfoot retired on Thursday.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 5
AZL Brewers 2
WP – Mann 1-0 / 0.00
HR – Nowlin (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brandon Mann
(5 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 7 K / Win)
LHP Brandon Mann returned from an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance to strike out 7 over 5 shutout innings to earn the win in his season debut for the AZL A’s on Thursday. This year’s 21st-round draft pick for the A’s, outfielder Kyle Nowlin, serving as the designated hitter for the night, slugged his 1st home run and his 4th double and drove in a pair, while 24th-round left fielder Robert Bennie tripled, walked and scored twice, and first baseman Robert Mullen, second baseman Javier Godard and third baseman Carlos Hiciano each singled and drove in a run in the win. The AZL A’s lost outfielders Tyler Ramirez and Luke Persico when the pair was promoted to the Lake Monsters on Thursday.
Friday’s Games:
Oklahoma City @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ NW Arkansas – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Rancho Cucamonga – 7:05pm PT
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Vermont @ Staten Island – 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
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.