TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Corpus Christi Hooks 4
Midland RockHounds 10
WP – Friedrichs 1-3 / 5.16
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Richie Martin
(2 for 2 / Double / Sac Fly / Stolen Base / 2 Runs / GWRBI)
A big 4-run 6th inning allowed the RockHounds to come back and win their fourth straight to complete the sweep of their series with Corpus Christi on Friday. Shorstop Richie Martin drove in the winning run in the 6th with a sacrifice fly and also singled, doubled, stole a base and scored twice in the win. Center fielder J.P. Sportman singled, doubled and drove in 2 runs, while catcher Andy Paz had 2 hits and drove in a pair, and second baseman Max Schrock singled twice and drove in the tying run in the 6th. Starter Ben Bracewell had another rocky outing for the Hounds, allowing 3 runs over 3 1/3 innings and exiting with his team down by a run. His tandem-starting mate, RHP Kyle Friedrichs, allowed just 1 run in 3 2/3 innings of relief to pick up the win as the RockHounds moved into a tie for first place in their division on Friday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 3
Round Rock Express 4
LP – Kurcz 2-2 / 5.68
HR – Canha (5), Chapman (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Matt Chapman
(Home Run / 2 RBIs)
Two home runs accounted for all the Sounds’ scoring on Friday, but the pair of round-trippers wouldn’t prove to be enough to help Nashville prevail in Round Rock. Right fielder Mark Canha slugged a solo shot to tie the game in the 4th, and third baseman Matt Chapman belted a 2-run blast in the 7th to give the Sounds a slim 1-run lead, but Round Rock came back to tie the game in the home half of the frame. Nashville RHP Zach Neal turned in the Sounds’ longest start of the season, allowing 3 runs over 7 innings of work, and exited with the game a 3-3 tie. LHP Ross Detwiler tossed a scoreless 8th, and RHP Aaron Kurcz pitched a perfect 9th before surrendering the tying run on a Jurickson Profar RBI double with one out in the 10th to suffer his 2nd loss for the Sounds. In other news, recent Sounds starter Cesar Valdez was claimed off waivers by Toronto after being designated for assignment by the A’s on Wednesday. And it was announced that A’s starter Chris Bassitt would make a rehab start for Nashville on Tuesday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
San Jose Giants 8
Stockton Ports 5
LP – Biegalski 1-1 / 9.22
HR – Brown (5)
“Prospect” Of The Game:
Outfielder Seth Brown
(3 for 5 / Home Run / Triple / 2 RBIs)
Starter Boomer Biegalski had another shaking outing for Stockton on Friday, surrendering 6 runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work to suffer the loss, while his tandem-pitching partner, RHP Dustin Hurlbutt, allowed just 1 run over 4 innings of relief. Right fielder Seth Brown had a big night at the plate for the Ports, collecting 3 hits, including a triple and a 2-run homer, while first baseman Chris Iriart singled twice, doubled and drove in 2 runs, and third baseman Mikey White smacked a pair of doubles for the Ports. In other news, Stockton’s 8-man tandem pitching rotation is set to undergo some changes, with A.J. Puk, Logan Shore and Evan Manarino no longer pitching out of the tandem arrangement and allowed to go much deeper into games. According to Ports play-by-play man Zack Bayrouty, Stockton’s upcoming starting rotation will include A.J. Puk on Saturday, Casey Meisner and Angel Duno on Sunday, Logan Shore on Monday, Evan Manarino on Tuesday, and Dustin Hurlbutt and Boomer Biegalski on Wednesday, with RHP Brett Graves set to join the RockHounds.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Bowling Green Hot Rods 7
Beloit Snappers 6
LP – Butler 0-2 / 2.25
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Luke Persico
(4 for 5 / Double / RBI)
Beloit put 5 runs on the board in the bottom of the 9th but came up a run short on Friday. Starter Brendan Butler allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4 innings of work to suffer his 2nd loss, while RHP Jesus Zambrano gave up 2 runs over 4 frames, and RHP Nick Highberger surrendered a pair of runs in 1 inning of relief for the Snappers. Left fielder Luke Persico collected 4 hits, including a double, and drove in a run, while shortstop Eric Marinez singled, doubled, walked and scored, and third baseman Trace Loehr singled twice, walked and drove in a run in the loss. As with Stockton, it looks like the Snappers’ 8-man tandem pitching rotation will also be undergoing some changes, with Butler and LHP Dalton Sawyer no longer pitching out of the tandem arrangement and free to go deeper into games in the future.
Saturday’s Games:
El Paso @ Nashville – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Frisco @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
San Jose @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Bowling Green @ Beloit – 2:00pm PT / 4:00pm CT
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