TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 7
NW Arkansas Naturals 0
WP – Seddon 3-6 / 6.08
HR – Chapman (20)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Joel Seddon
(7 IP / 7 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 3 K / Win)
For the second night in a row, a hurler from the A’s 2014 draft class pitched the RockHounds to victory. On Friday, it was 2nd-rounder Daniel Gossett, who allowed 2 earned runs over 7 1/3 innings to notch his 1st win for Midland. But on Saturday, it was 11th-rounder Joel Seddon, who threw 7 shutout innings to earn his 3rd win as the Hounds won their fourth straight. And Seddon has now failed to allow a run over his last 18 innings. RHP Andres Avila got the final six outs on Saturday to finish off the 8-hit shutout for Midland. Third baseman Matt Chapman walked twice and launched a 3-run homer, his league-leading 20th (which came in his 77th game), while designated hitter Josh Rodriguez singled, tripled, walked and drove in 3 runs, and right fielder Tyler Marincov walked twice, scored twice and singled in a run for the RockHounds.
Click here for more on Nashville, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Oklahoma City Dodgers 5
Nashville Sounds 1
LP – Hahn 1-4 / 3.92
HR – Maxwell (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Bruce Maxwell
(1 for 3 / Home Run)
RHP Jesse Hahn turned in another shaky start for the Sounds, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, over 4 innings of work to suffer his 4th loss as Nashville dropped its third straight on Saturday. Catcher Bruce Maxwell smashed a deep home run to right field to provide the Sounds’ only run of the game in the bottom of the 5th inning, while center fielder Jaycob Brugman singled and tripled, and left fielder Max Muncy doubled in the loss. With A’s LHP Rich Hill returning from the disabled list on Saturday, RHP Andrew Triggs was optioned back to Nashville.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 4
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 8
LP – Fillmyer 4-6 / 3.71
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Joe Bennie
(3 for 5 / Double / Stolen Base)
RHP Heath Fillmyer had a rough start for Stockton, allowing 8 runs, 6 earned, over just 3 1/3 innings to suffer his 6th loss as the Ports dropped their sixth straight on Saturday. Designated hitter Joe Bennie collected 3 hits, including a double, and stole a base, while third baseman Melvin Mercedes singled in 2 runs, and left fielder James Harris and first baseman Sandber Pimentel had a pair of hits apiece for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels 3
Beloit Snappers 2
LP – Ruiz 2-3 / 4.91
HR – Howell (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher James Naile
(7 1/3 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 4 K)
RHP James Naile turned in another solid start for the Snappers on Saturday, allowing 2 runs, just 1 earned, over 7 1/3 innings, but RHP Armando Ruiz gave up the winning run in the top of the 8th to take the loss. First baseman Ryan Howell hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 4th to provide Beloit’s only runs in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
GAME #1
Vermont Lake Monsters 1
Staten Island Yankees 4
LP – Altamirano 0-1 / 0.96
HR – Mercedes (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Miguel Mercedes
(1 for 4 / Home Run)
In the completion of Friday’s suspended game, Vermont fell to Staten Island by a score of 4-1. RHP Xavier Altamirano started the game on Friday, but RHP Heath Bowers picked up where he left off on Saturday and allowed 3 runs, just 1 earned, over 5 innings of work, while RHP Branden Kelliher gave up 1 run in 2 2/3 innings of relief. First baseman Miguel Mercedes smacked his 3rd home run in the 6th inning to provide the Lake Monsters’ only run in the loss.
GAME #2
Vermont Lake Monsters 7
Staten Island Yankees 6
WP – Pallares 1-0 / 0.00
HR – Shelby (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman JaVon Shelby
(3 for 6 / Home Run / Double / Walk / 3 RBIs / Stolen Base)
Vermont hung on to pull out a 7-6 victory in 15 innings in Saturday’s second game versus Staten Island. Starter Jesus Zambrano allowed just 1 unearned run over 3 2/3 innings. But RHP Jordan Schwartz surrendered 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief, while LHP Tyler Painton gave up 1 run in 2/3 of an inning, and RHP Nolan Blackwood allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. This year’s 5th-round draft pick for the A’s, third baseman JaVon Shelby, collected 3 hits, including a double, an RBI single in the 7th, and a 2-run homer in the 3rd to give the Lake Monsters the lead. First baseman Miguel Mercedes doubled, singled twice and scored twice, while right fielder Jhonny Rodriguez had 2 doubles and drove in a pair, and shortstop Eric Marinez had 3 hits, including a triple to drive in the winning run in the top of the 15th. Meanwhile, Steven Pallares who started the game in center field and had a pair of hits and drove in a run also picked up the win after tossing 2 scoreless innings in relief for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 9
AZL Cubs 5
WP – Blanco 1-1 / 5.25
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Robert Mullen
(2 for 5 / Triple / RBI)
This year’s 6th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Brandon Bailey, threw 3 scoreless innings to get things off to a good start on Saturday. 20-year-old Venezuelan RHP Argenis Blanco then allowed 2 unearnred runs over 4 innings of work to earn the win, while RHP Nick Highberger picked up his 1st save despite giving up 3 runs, 2 earned, in 2 innings of relief for the A’s. Catcher Robert Mullen singled, tripled and drove in a run, while right fielder Jeramiah McCray tripled in a pair of runs and stole a base. Left fielder Kyle Nowlin singled, doubled, walked and drove in a run, and center fielder Cole Gruber singled in a run, walked twice, scored twice and stole a pair of bases in the win.
In Other News…
Jon Heyman reported that the A’s had signed their 2nd-round draft pick, RHP Logan Shore out of Florida, for a $1.5 million bonus. And the A’s made a big splash in the international market, announcing the signing of five young Latin American prospects – 17-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros, as well as 16-year-old outfielder Kevin Richards, and 16-year-old infielders George Bell, Marcos Brito and Yerdel Vargas, all out of the Dominican Republic.
Sunday’s Games:
Oklahoma City @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Midland @ Arkansas – 4:10pm PT / 6:10pm 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
AZL Cubs @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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