PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 5
New Orleans Zephyrs 6
LP – Castro 2-8 / 5.15
HR – Chapman 3 (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Matt Chapman
(4 for 5 / 3 Home Runs / 4 RBIs)
Third baseman Matt Chapman’s home run pace certainly hasn’t slowed down since his promotion to Triple-A and, on Saturday, the 23-year-old slugged 3 home runs for the Sounds. Chapman tagged a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st inning to give his team an early lead, then slammed a solo shot in the 3rd to tie the game, and followed that by drilling another solo drive in the 5th before singling in the 7th. Chapman now has 7 home runs in his first 17 games for the Sounds and a total of 36 on the season. Unfortunately, Chapman’s home run heroics weren’t enough to help his team prevail on Saturday. Starter Angel Castro allowed 6 runs over 4 innings of work to suffer the loss, while LHP Colt Hynes, recently acquired from Cleveland in the Coco Crisp trade, pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings in relief in his Sounds debut. Meanwhile, Nashville RHP Daniel Mengden was recalled by the A’s and LHP Cody Stull was reassigned to the RockHounds on Saturday.
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TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 10
Frisco RoughRiders 3
WP – Bracewell 8-3 / 2.14
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Richie Martin
(2 for 5 / Triple / Double / 5 RBIs)
After making 4 errors and going hitless in his Double-A debut on Friday, shortstop Richie Martin turned things around on Saturday, tripling, doubling and driving in 5 runs for the RockHounds. Left fielder J.P. Sportman collected 4 hits and stole a base, while catcher Andy Paz singled, doubled twice and drove in a run, and second baseman Max Schrock had a pair of hits, including an RBI double, for the Hounds. RHP Ben Bracewell turned in another strong start on Saturday, allowing 2 runs over 6 innings of work to earn his 8th win, while LHP Cody Stull, who was recently reassigned from the Sounds, tossed 2 scoreless innings of relief for the RockHounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Bakersfield Blaze 3
Stockton Ports 8
WP – Holmes 11-7 / 4.63
Prospect Of The Game:
3B-SS-2B-1B-C-LF-CF-RF-P Melvin Mercedes
(1 for 4 / Double / Walk)
The mulit-talented Melvin Mercedes was the story of the day in Stockton as the 24-year-old played every position on the diamond for the Ports on Saturday. Mercedes also doubled and scored Stockton’s first run in the bottom of the 1st before closing out the night by pitching a scoreless 9th for the Ports. Catcher Iolana Akau had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a run, while shortstop Arismendy Alcantara doubled twice and drove in 3. Rehabbing RHP Henderson Alvarez gave up 1 run on 5 hits in 2 innings of work, while RHP Grant Holmes allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, over 4 2/3 frames to pick up the win for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8
Beloit Snappers 4
LP – Hurlbutt 3-6 / 2.57
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Trace Loehr
(3 for 5 / Double)
Starter Dustin Hurlbutt allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4 innings of work to suffer his 6th loss for the Snappers on Saturday. Third baseman Trace Loehr continued his hot hitting of late, collecting 3 hits, including a double, while right fielder Brett Siddall doubled in 2 runs, and shortstop Jesus Lopez and first baseman Ryan Howell had a pair of hits apiece for the Snappers.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 3
Hudson Valley Renegades 4
LP – Milburn 1-2 / 6.92
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Eli White
(1 for 2 / 3 Walks / 2 RBIs / 2 Stolen Bases)
RHP Jesus Zambrano turned in a solid start on Saturday, allowing 2 runs over 5 innings of work for Vermont. But RHP Matt Milburn surrendered 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to suffer his 2nd defeat as the Lake Monsters lost in a walk-off on Saturday. Shortstop Eli White singled, drew 3 walks, drove in 2 runs and swiped a pair of bases in the loss.
Sunday’s Games:
Nashville @ New Orleans – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT
Midland @ Frisco – 2:30pm PT / 4:30pm CT
Bakersfield @ Stockton – 6:10pm PT
Wisconsin @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
Lowell @ Vermont – 2:05pm PT / 5:05pm ET
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