CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
High Desert Mavericks 2
Stockton Ports 1
LP – Navas 3-7 / 4.11
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brett Graves
(7 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 3 K)
On a day of solid pitching perfomances throughout the A’s minor league system, the most outstanding outing may have come in a losing effort. 2014’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Brett Graves, continued his late-season turnaround by turning in his fourth straight strong start for Stockton on Friday. The 23-year-old scattered just 4 hits over 7 shutout innings, and he’s now allowed just 3 earned runs in 26 innings over his last 4 starts for the Ports. Graves left the game with a one-run lead on Friday, but RHP Matt Sergey allowed 1 unearned run in the 8th inning, with the help of a passed ball by catcher Argenis Raga, to tie the game, and RHP Carlos Navas gave up the winning run in the 9th to suffer his 7th loss for Stockton. Raga doubled in his team’s sole run in the 5th, while second baseman Mikey White had a pair of hits for the Ports.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Reno Aces 0
Nashville Sounds 10
WP – Mengden 6-1 / 1.34
HR – Wendle (11), Anderson (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Daniel Mengden
(5 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 5 K / Win)
RHP Daniel Mengden delivered his third straight solid start since returning to the Sounds, scattering just 2 hits while striking out 5 over 5 shutout innings to earn his 6th win for Nashville on Friday. And the 23-year-old has now allowed just 2 earned runs over 15 innings in his 3 starts since returning to the Sounds. RHP Angel Castro tossed 4 scoreless frames in relief to complete the 4-hit shutout and earn his 2nd save on Friday. Catcher Bryan Anderson slugged a grand slam in the 7th inning, while second baseman Joey Wendle tagged a two-run shot for Nashville in the 3rd. And in other news, LHP Patrick Schuster, who notched 7 saves and posted a 1.16 ERA in 32 relief appearances for the Sounds, was claimed off waivers by Philadelphia on Friday.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 3
Springfield Cardinals 1
WP – Bragg 3-3 / 4.82
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Ben Bracewell
(4 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)
Starter Ben Bracewell had another solid outing for the RockHounds, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 4 over 4 shutout innings, and he left with the game a scoreless tie on Friday. RHP Corey Walter followed with 3 scoreless frames of his own, while RHP Sam Bragg picked up the win despite giving up 1 run in 2 innings of relief for the RockHonds. Designated hitter Tyler Marincov singled in a pair of runs in the top of the 9th inning to provide the winning margin for Midland on Friday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 0
Beloit Snappers 6
WP – Erwin 1-0 / 4.30
HR – Howell (7), Siddall (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Zack Erwin
(5 IP / 6 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 7 K / Win)
LHP Zack Erwin turned in his best start since being reassigned to the Snappers, scattering 6 hits while walking none and striking out 7 over 5 shutout innings to earn his 1st victory for Beloit on Friday. Relievers Rob Huber and Jared Lyons each tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to complete the 9-hit shutout. Right fielder Brett Siddall slugged a grand slam with two outs in the 8th inning, and first baseman Ryan Howell immediately followed Siddall’s slam with a solo shot of his own to help the Snappers win their second straight on Friday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Tri-City ValleyCats 3
Vermont Lake Monsters 6
WP – Altamirano 3-2 / 2.21
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Xavier Altamirano
(5 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 6 K / Win)
This year’s 6th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Brandon Bailey, allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4 innings of work on Friday, but the Lake Monsters’ only pitcher to be named a New York-Penn League All-Star, RHP Xavier Altamirano, was outstanding in relief. Altamirano entered the game with his team down by two runs and threw 5 shutout innings, scattering just 3 hits while walking none and striking out 6 to earn his 3rd win when the Lake Monsters’ came back and scored five runs in the final three frames to snap their eleven-game losing streak on Friday. With two outs, two men on and the game tied in the bottom of the 8th inning, catcher Nick Collins doubled in a pair of runs to provide the margin of victory for Vermont. Right fielder Steven Pallares singled, walked and drove in a pair of runs, while shortstop Eli White and second baseman Nate Mondou had a pair of hits apiece in the winning cause.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Dodgers 5
AZL A’s 3
LP – Camacho 1-3 / 4.15
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Roger Gonzalez
(1 for 1 / Walk / HBP / RBI)
Starter Dustin Driver allowed 2 hits and 2 walks and struck out 2 over 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab outing for the AZL A’s on Friday. RHP Sam Sheehan gave up the tying run in the top of the 9th inning, and RHP Joseph Camacho surrendered 2 runs in the 10th to take the loss. Catcher Roger Gonzalez, in just his second game since being drafted in the 22nd-round this year, singled, walked and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home a run, while first baseman Charley Gould and designated hitter Kyle Nowlin had a pair of hits apiece in the loss. In other news, 20-year-old AZL A’s RHP Yeudy Minaya was suspended for 56 games after testing positive for PEDs, while LHP Kevin Duchene was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Surgery has been recommended for last year’s 5th-round draft pick for the A’s and he’s currently considering his options.
Saturday’s Games:
Reno @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ Springfield – 4:10pm PT / 6:10pm CT
High Desert @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Wisconsin @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Tri-City @ Vermont – 3:05pm PT / 6:05pm ET
AZL A’s @ AZL D-backs – 7:00pm PT
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