PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 8
Round Rock Express 3
WP – Valdez 1-0 / 3.60
HR – Barreto (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Franklin Barreto
(3 for 4 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The A’s top hitting prospect, shortstop Franklin Barreto, has been busy living up to the hype during the first few days of the minor league season, and Saturday was no exception. For the second straight game, the 21-year-old collected 3 hits and clubbed a 2-run homer for the Sounds, and he’s now 8 for 14 with 2 home runs and a triple in the season’s first three games. Right fielder Jaff Decker had another big night at the plate as well, collecting 3 hits, including a double, while driving in a run, and he’s now 8 for 13 with a pair of doubles to start the season. Second baseman Chad Pinder reached base 4 times, on 3 hits and a walk, and is now batting .400 on the season, while designated hitter Chris Parmelee had a pair of singles and drove in a run, and Renato Nunez, starting at third base in place of the injured Matt Chapman, singled in the Sounds’ first 2 runs of the game in the top of the 1st inning. Chapman is suffering from left wrist soreness and is currently considered day-to-day, according to Sounds play-by-play man Jeff Hem’s report on Nashville’s pre-game show. RHP Cesar Valdez, signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason, was solid in his first start for the Sounds, allowing 2 runs and striking out 5 over 5 innings of work to earn the win, while RHP Tyler Sturdevant, another recent minor league free agent signee, allowed 1 run in 2 innings of relief in his Nashville debut, and RHP Tucker Healy got the final six outs to close out the win for the Sounds on Saturday.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Tulsa Drillers 7
Midland RockHounds 6
LP – Seddon 0-1 / 4.91
HR – Marincov (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Tyler Marincov
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 2 RBIs)
Designated hitter Tyler Marincov continued his hot start for the Hounds on Saturday, collecting 3 hits to raise his average on the season to .545. The 25-year-old hit a game-tying 2-run homer in the 5th and doubled and scored to tie the game again in the 7th. Catcher Argenis Raga singled, doubled and drove in 3 runs, while center fielder Brett Vertigan singled, tripled and walked. Starter Heath Fillmyer was charged with 5 unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings thanks to a pair of errors by third baseman Melvin Mercedes, while his tandem pitching partner, RHP Joel Seddon, allowed 2 runs over 3 2/3 innings to suffer the loss on Sunday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1
Stockton Ports 3
WP – Duno 1-0 / 0.00
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Angel Duno
(4 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 4 K / Win)
Last year’s 2nd-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Logan Shore, looked strong in his first start for Stockton, allowing just 1 run while striking out 5 over 4 innings of work on Saturday. He was followed on the mound by his tandem starting mate, RHP Angel Duno, who was even more impressive, striking out 4 in 4 no-hit innings to earn the win. RHP Nolan Blackwood tossed a scoreless 9th to notch the save. Third baseman Trent Gilbert singled, doubled and drove in a run, while left fielder Tyler Ramirez singled, doubled and scored to help Stockton secure its second win of the season on Saturday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 7
Cedar Rapids Kernels 6
WP – Tomasovich 1-0 / 0.00
HR – Nowlin (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Nate Mondou
(3 for 4 / Triple / Double / GWRBI)
With two outs, a man on and the game tied in the top of the 9th, second baseman Nate Mondou tripled to bring home the winning run for the Snappers on Saturday. Mondou, last year’s 13th-round draft pick for the A’s, also singled, doubled and scored a run in the game. Designated hitter Kyle Nowlin, last year’s 21st-round pick, homered in the 4th inning to put Beloit on the board, while center fielder Luis Barrera had a pair of hits and singled in a run in the 9th. Starter Michael Murray gave up 3 runs in 2 innings of work, while his tandem pitching partner, RHP Dakota Chalmers, allowed 3 runs in 4 innings of relief. But LHP Andrew Tomasovich was solid in relief, tossing 3 scoreless innings to earn the win for the Snappers on Saturday.
Sunday’s Games:
Nashville @ Round Rock – 11:05am PT / 1:05pm CT
Springfield @ Midland – 2:00pm PT / 4:00pm CT
Rancho Cucamonga @ Stockton – 2:09pm PT
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – 12:05pm PT / 2:05pm CT
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.