PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
New Orleans Baby Cakes 2
Nashville Sounds 9
WP – Gray 1-0 / 0.00
HR – Barreto (4), Lavarnway (2), Canha (2)
“Prospect” Of The Game:
Pitcher Sonny Gray
(6 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 7 K / Win)
After tossing 5 scoreless frames in a rehab appearance for Stockton last weekend, A’s starter and Nashville native Sonny Gray turned in another impressive performance, this time in front of a hometown crowd at First Tennessee Park in the heart of Music City on Thursday. Gray allowed just 2 hits while walking none and striking out 7 in 6 scoreless innings to earn the win for the Sounds. Over his two rehab starts, Gray has allowed a total of just 3 hits while walking none and striking out 13 over 11 shutout innings, and he appears ready to rejoin the A’s rotation next week. It was an easy win for Nashville on Thursday. Shortstop and leadoff batter Franklin Barreto belted his team-leading 4th home run in the bottom of the 1st inning to give the Sounds an early edge, and Nashville never lost the lead. Barreto also drew a pair of walks in the game, while right fielder Mark Canha singled and slugged a 2-run shot. Designated hitter Ryan Lavarnway homered, doubled and walked, and second baseman Joey Wendle doubled, tripled and drove in 3 runs in the win. And with the A’s activating RHP Kendall Graveman, first baseman Matt Olson was optioned back to Nashville on Thursday.
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TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 6
Corpus Christi Hooks 3
WP – Bragg 2-0 / 0.00
HR – Rosa (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Viosergy Rosa
(Home Run / 3 RBIs)
After coming back to tie the game in the top of the 7th inning, the RockHounds won it in 10 innings on Thursday. First baseman Viosergy Rosa drove in the RockHounds’ first run in the 3rd inning, then slugged a game-tying, 2-run homer in the 7th before the winning run eventually came in to score on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th. Shortstop Richie Martin singled, tripled and drove in the second run in the 10th, while left fielder Brett Vertigan singled, walked, doubled twice and drove in the third and final run in the game’s final frame on Thursday. Starter Ben Bracewell surrendered 3 runs in 3 innings of work, while his tandem-starting mate, RHP Kyle Friedrichs, was impressive in relief, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 4 over 4 scoreless frames. RHP Sam Bragg tossed 2 scoreless innings to pick up the win, and RHP Kyle Finnegan got the final three outs in the bottom of the 10th to record his 3rd save for the RockHounds. And with RHP Jake Sanchez landing on the disabled list due to a ruptured eardrum he suffered when he was struck by a line drive in Sunday’s game, RHP Jesus Zambrano was added to the RockHounds roster on Thursday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 7
Stockton Ports 0
LP – Puk 0-2 / 4.67
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Trent Gilbert
(4 for 4)
Stockton was shut out, despite collecting 10 singles, on Thursday. A pair of Ports were responsible for 7 of the team’s 10 hits. Third baseman Trent Gilbert tallied 4 hits, while shortstop Eli White singled 3 times in the loss. After a solid 1st inning, starter A.J. Puk was a little shaky, and he ended up allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks before being pulled after just 2 1/3 innings. Puk was charged with his 2nd loss, while his tandem-pitching partner, RHP Boomer Biegalski, gave up 3 runs over 3 innings of work as Stockton lost its second straight. And with catcher Sean Murphy landing on the disabled list with a wrist injury, catcher Jose Chavez was assigned to Stockton on Thursday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 9
Kane County Cougars 1
WP – Jordan 1-0 / 0.90
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Nate Mondou
(3 for 4 / 2 Walks / 2 RBIs / Stolen Base)
The Snappers scored 9 runs to notch their sixth straight win on Thursday. Second baseman Nate Mondou had 3 hits, drew a pair of walks, drove in 2 runs and stole a base, while catcher Jason Goldstein singled, doubled, walked and drove in a pair, and right fielder Mike Martin doubled, singled in a run and walked twice in his return from the disabled list after missing almost three weeks with a quad injury. RHP Mitchell Jordan turned in a strong start, allowing just 1 run over 5 innings of work to earn the win, while his tandem-starting mate, LHP Dalton Sawyer, was outstanding in relief, shutting out Kane County over 4 frames to post his 1st save and run his scoreless streak to 17 innings on Thursday.
Friday’s Games:
New Orleans @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ San Jose – 7:00pm PT
Beloit @ Kane County – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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