MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 3
Clinton LumberKings 5
LP – Damron 0-1 / 4.70
HR – Mercedes (1), Diaz (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brendan Butler
(4 1/3 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 9 K)
Though his team lost its third straight on Tuesday, RHP Brendan Butler still managed to turn in one of the best pitching performances of any A’s minor leaguer so far this season. Working on the back end of Tuesday’s pitching tandem, the 23-year-old entered with two outs in the 4th inning and was nearly perfect over the final 4 1/3 frames, facing the minimum 13 batters during his stint. Butler failed to allow a hit or a walk while striking out 9, and he struck out the side in both the 5th and the 7th. The only base runner he allowed was a hit batsman in the 6th, who was quickly erased on a double play. Butler was working in relief of starter Ty Damron, who was dominant in his last outing – striking out 7 in 4 shutout innings – but he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, over 3 2/3 innings to take the loss on Tuesday. First baseman Miguel Mercedes slugged a solo shot for the Snappers in the 2nd, while third baseman Edwin Diaz drilled a 2-run drive in the 6th, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Snappers from dropping their third straight on Tuesday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Oklahoma City Dodgers 1
Nashville Sounds 3
WP – J.Smith 1-0 / 9.64
HR – Nunez (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Renato Nunez
(1 for 3 / Home Run)
After waiting out a two-hour rain delay, Nashville notched the win in its rain-shortened home opener in six innings on Tuesday. Third baseman Renato Nunez homered for the second straight night, while right fielder Kenny Wilson singled in the tying run in the 5th inning, and shortstop Franklin Barreto, who’d doubled earlier in the game, brought home the winning run with a ground out just one batter later. Due to the rain delay, RHP Michael Brady was called on to start in place of scheduled starter Daniel Gossett and ended up allowing just 1 run over 4 innings of work, while RHP Josh Smith tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to notch the win for Nashville.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Springfield Cardinals 2
Midland RockHounds 1
LP – Holmes 0-1 / 4.70
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher James Naile
(4 IP/ 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K)
Midland starter Grant Holmes allowed 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 over 4 innings of work to take the loss on Tuesday. His tandem-starting mate, RHP James Naile, was outstanding in relief, striking out 5 over 4 scoreless frames, and Naile has now failed to allow a run in 8 innings of work so far this season. The Hounds had just 5 hits in the game. Right fielder B.J. Boyd had a pair of singles, and left fielder Tyler Marincov drove in the RockHounds’ only run with a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning on Tuesday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Modesto Nuts 6
Stockton Ports 0
LP – Meisner 0-2 / 16.20
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brett Graves
(3 1/3 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)
The Ports were shut out on just 1 hit on Tuesday. Catcher Iolana Akau had Stockton’s sole single in the loss. Starter Casey Meisner allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and a walk in just 2 innings of work to suffer his 2nd loss. His tandem-pitching partner, RHP Brett Graves, was solid, allowing 1 run while striking out 4 over 3 1/3 innings in relief. Graves, who’s not generally known as a big strikeout pitcher, has now notched 9 strikeouts in his first 7 1/3 innings of work this season.
Wednesday’s Games:
Oklahoma City @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Modesto @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Clinton – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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