PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 3
Oklahoma City Dodgers 4
LP – Brady 0-1 / 5.91
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Franklin Barreto
(4 for 4 / Triple / RBI)
On a day when all four A’s affiliates fell, Franklin Barreto put together an impressive night at the plate for Nashville, notching 4 hits, including an RBI triple that drove in the tying run for the Sounds. After starting off the season blazing hot, Barreto had fallen into a bit of a slump lately, going 1 for 16 with 9 strikeouts over his previous 4 games. But Barreto’s bat was back in business on Thursday, and the 21-year-old now leads the team in most major offensive categories, including hits, runs, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage. Mark Canha, getting the start in center field, singled in Barreto for the Sounds’ second run of the game, while second baseman Melvin Mercedes had a pair of singles and a walk and scored twice in the loss. RHP Corey Walter, making his first start for the Sounds, allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, while striking out 6 over 2 2/3 innings of work on Thursday. Barreto’s triple tied the game in the top of the 5th, but RHP Michael Brady surrendered the winning run in the bottom of the 5th to suffer his 1st loss for the Sounds. And with Nashville RHP Cesar Valdez joining Oakland to make the start for the A’s on Thursday night, catcher Bruce Maxwell was optioned back to the Sounds.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
San Antonio Missions 9
Midland RockHounds 5
LP – Mann 1-2 / 9.58
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Brett Vertigan
(2 for 4 / Double / Walk / 2 runs)
Left fielder Brett Vertigan continued his hot hitting on Thursday, collecting a single, a double and a walk while scoring twice in the RockHounds’ loss, and he’s now 7 for his last 18 and 13 for his last 35. Designated hitter Joe Bennie tripled and walked twice, while center fielder J.P. Sportman doubled and scored a run, and right fielder B.J. Boyd singled in a pair of runs and stole a base for the Hounds. Starter Brandon Mann struggled through 2 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits to suffer his 2nd loss for Midland.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 2
Modesto Nuts 3
LP – Meisner 1-3 / 11.57
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brett Graves
(3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)
Starter Casey Meisner gave up 3 runs on 7 hits over 3 innings of work to suffer his 3rd loss for Stockton on Thursday. But RHP Matt Sergey tossed 2 scoreless frames, and Meisner’s tandem-pitching partner, RHP Brett Graves, was solid once again. 2014’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s allowed just 1 hit while walking none and striking out 4 over 3 shutout innings, and Graves has now allowed just 1 run and 1 walk over his first 14 1/3 innings of work this season. Stockton scored 2 runs on just 4 hits on Thursday. Shortstop Josh Vidales and designated hitter Eli White both doubled, and center fielder Tyler Ramirez singled in a pair of runs for the Ports in the loss. In other news, it was confirmed by Oakland’s front office on Thursday that last year’s second overall draft pick for the A’s, Ports RHP Daulton Jefferies, will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Burlington Bees 3
Beloit Snappers 1
LP – Damron 0-2 / 2.30
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brendan Butler
(4 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K)
After suffering a shutout loss in 17 innings on Wednesday, the Snappers lost in a more conventional fashion on Thursday. Starter Ty Damron was solid, allowing just 1 run while striking out 5 over 4 innings of work, but he still ended up suffering his 2nd loss for the Snappers. RHP Heath Bowers then surrendered a pair of runs in 1 inning of relief, but Damron’s starting-tandem mate, RHP Brendan Butler, was impressive once again. The 23-year-old struck out 5 over 4 no-hit innings, and he’s now failed to allow a run over his last 13 innings of work for the Snappers. Designated hitter Kyle Nowlin, who suffered the loss in Wednesday’s game, singled and doubled, while left fielder Luke Persico singled and scored, and second baseman Nate Mondou singled and drove in the Snappers’ only run with a sacrifice fly on Thursday.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Oklahoma City – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
San Antonio @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
San Jose @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Burlington @ Beloit – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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