TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 5
Corpus Christi Hooks 2
WP – Sanchez 7-5 / 3.02
HR – Sportman (4), Paz (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Daniel Gossett
(7 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 10 K)
RHP Daniel Gossett delivered another impressive outing for the RockHounds on Thursday. 2014’s 2nd-round draft pick for the A’s allowed just 1 earned run for the eighth time in his last nine starts while striking out a career-best 10 batters over 7 innings of work, and he left with the game a 1-1 tie. Second baseman J.P. Sportman hit the game-tying home run in the 5th inning, while catcher Andy Paz clubbed a home run in the top of the 10th to give the Hounds the lead, but a throwing error by first baseman Viosergy Rosa in the bottom of the 10th helped allow the tying run to score off RHP Jake Sanchez. Rosa then redeemed himself by doubling in the winning run in the top of the 11th, and third baseman Yairo Munoz then added a 2-run double, his second double of the night, to secure the victory for the RockHounds. Sanchez picked up the win with 2 innings in relief, while RHP Lou Trivino got the final three outs to earn his 1st save for Midland.
Click here for more on Nashville, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 6
Memphis Redbirds 7
LP – Kurcz 5-1 / 3.68
HR – Olson (15), Chapman (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Matt Olson
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 2 RBIs)
Starter Chris Jensen gave up 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings of work for the Sounds and left the game with a 1-run lead on Thursday. First baseman Matt Olson had 3 hits in the game, including a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning, while third baseman Matt Chapman tripled and scored in the 6th. Olson then doubled and scored on Chapman’s home run in the 7th. But RHP Angel Castro surrendered 2 runs in 2 innings of relief, and RHP Aaron Kurcz surrendered the tying run in the top of the 9th before a throwing error by second baseman Joey Wendle allowed the winning run to score as the Sounds lost in a walk-off to snap their five-game winning streak on Thursday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 2
Inland Empire 66ers 1
WP – Manarino 1-1 / 1.27
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Evan Manarino
(6 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 3 K / Win)
Starter Evan Manarino was solid on Thursday, tossing 6 shutout innings to earn his 1st win for Stockton, while RHP Joey Wagman pitched a perfect 9th to pick up his 1st save. Third baseman Jose Brizuela tripled, walked and drove in 2 runs, while right fielder Justin Higley had a pair of hits for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Clinton LumberKings 0
Beloit Snappers 1
WP – Alejo 1-0 / 0.00
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brendan Butler
(5 2/3 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 5 K)
RHP Brendan Butler turned in a strong start for the Snappers, allowing just 2 hits while walking none and striking out 5 over 5 2/3 shutout innings, and he left with the game a scoreless tie on Thursday. RHP Jordan Schwartz threw 3 1/3 shutout frames in relief, and RHP Yordy Alejo tossed a scoreless top of the 10th to complete the 6-hit shutout and earn his 1st win for Beloit. Third baseman Trace Loehr reached base 5 times, on a double, 2 hits singles and a pair of walks, while also stealing a base, and shortstop Edwin Diaz singled in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 10th as the Snappers won in a walk-off on Thursday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Lowell Spinners 7
Vermont Lake Monsters 0
LP – Bowers 2-7 / 4.29
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Nate Mondou
(2 for 4 / Triple)
The Lake Monsters were shut out on just 3 hits on Thursday. Second baseman Nate Mondou, who’s currently third in the New York-Penn League batting race, singled and tripled, while catcher Nick Collins doubled for Vermont. Starter Heath Bowers allowed 4 runs over 5 innings of work to suffer his 7th loss for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
GAME #1
AZL D-backs 1
AZL A’s 0
LP – Jordan 1-1 / 3.08
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Mitchell Jordan
(4 2/3 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 3 K)
The AZL A’s were shut out on just 2 hits in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheder. Catcher Robert Mullen and second baseman Josh Vidales both singled in the loss. This year’s 10th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Mitchell Jordan, was solid once again for the A’s, allowing just 1 run in 4 2/3 innings of work. It’s the only earned run that Jordan’s given up over his last 14 2/3 innings, but he still ended up suffering the loss on Thursday.
GAME #2
AZL D-backs 6
AZL A’s 5
LP – Sanchez 4-1 / 3.96
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Jesus Lage
(2 for 4 / Double / 2 RBIs)
20-year-old Dominican RHP Miguel Sanchez allowed 3 runs, just 1 earned, to suffer his 1st loss as the AZL A’s were swept in Thursday’s doubleheader. Shortstop Jesus Lage singled, doubled and drove in a pair, while first baseman Charley Gould doubled in a run in the loss.
In Other News…
The A’s dealt LHP Marc Rzepczynski and cash to Washington on Thursday for minor league second baseman Max Schrock. Schrock has 31 doubles, 9 home runs and 22 stolen bases to go along with an impressive .333/.378/.456 slash line in 121 games between Class-A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac this season.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Memphis – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ Corpus Christi – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Bakersfield – 7:15pm PT
Beloit @ Kane County – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Vermont @ Connecticut – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
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