CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
San Jose Giants 2
Stockton Ports 13
WP – Puk 1-3 / 4.26
HR – Iriart (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher A.J. Puk
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 9 K / Win)
Last year’s top draft pick for the A’s, LHP A.J. Puk, turned in his most impressive performance of the season for Stockton on Saturday. The 22-year-old allowed just 1 hit while walking none and notching a pro-career-best 9 strikeouts over a season-high 5 shutout innings to post his 1st win for the Ports. Puk threw a total of 67 pitches, 49 for strikes, in his first post-tandem start for Stockton. LHP Will Gilbert replaced Puk on the mound and gave up 2 runs in 3 innings of relief, while LHP Andrew Tomasovich pitched a perfect 9th to close things out for the Ports. Meanwhile, Stockton’s lineup put a season-high 13 runs on the board on Saturday. Left fielder Tyler Ramirez led the attack by lining 3 hits and driving in 3 runs, while first baseman Chris Iriart hit his 5th home run. Shortstop Eli White singled twice, walked, drove in a run and scored 3 times, and designated hitter Mikey White doubled, drew a walk and drove in 3 for the Ports. Saturday’s game marked the first time that Puk was not pitching as part of a two-man tandem for Stockton. The tandem of RHPs Casey Meisner and Angel Duno is set to pitch on Sunday, while RHP Logan Shore will be the starter on Tuesday, with LHP Evan Manarino making the start on Wednesday, and the tandem of RHPs Dustin Hurlbutt and Boomer Biegalski scheduled to pitch for Stockton on Thursday.
(photo:Josh Moore)
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
El Paso Chihuahuas 3
Nashville Sounds 7
WP – Brady 2-1 / 3.57
HR – Chapman (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Ryan Lavarnway
(Double / Walk / 3 RBIs / GWRBI)
Nashville broke a 3-3 tie by putting 4 runs on the board in the bottom of the 8th inning to secure the win on Saturday. With two outs and the game tied in the bottom of the 8th, the Sounds managed to load the bases on a pair of walks and a third-strike wild pitch that got away from El Paso catcher Tony Cruz. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway then stepped to the plate and lined a bases-clearing double to right-center to drive in 3 runs and provide the margin of victory for Nashville on Saturday night. Lavarnway then came in to score on designated hitter Chris Parmelee’s RBI double; he also walked and scored the Sounds’ second run in the 5th. Third baseman Matt Chapman hit his 4th home run in the last 5 days to put Nashville on the board in the bottom of the 5th and also drove in the tying run for the Sounds in the 6th, while shortstop Franklin Barreto had a pair of singles and drove in a run. Starter Daniel Gossett allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 5 innings of work, while RHP Michael Brady was outstanding in relief, throwing 3 scoreless frames to earn his 2nd win for the Sounds. It previously had been announced that RHP Chris Bassitt would make a rehab start for Nashville on Tuesday, and now it looks like RHP Daniel Mengden will also be making a rehab start for the Sounds on Monday. And with catcher Bruce Maxwell recently rejoining the A’s, infielder Melvin Mercedes returned to Nashville from the RockHounds on Saturday.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Frisco RoughRiders 2
Midland RockHounds 3
WP – Bragg 3-1 / 1.35
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Andy Paz
(2 for 4 / GWRBI)
With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th, catcher Andy Paz stepped to the plate and singled home the winning run to help the RockHounds win in a walk-off and post their fifth straight victory on Saturday. It was Paz’s second single of the game, while center fielder B.J. Boyd also had a pair of hits to raise his league-best batting average to .386. Second baseman Max Schrock collected 3 hits, including a double, and right fielder Tyler Marincov doubled and drove in a pair for Midland. Starter Corey Walter allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, over 5 innings of work, while LHP Brandon Mann threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, and RHP Sam Bragg got the final two outs in the top of the 9th to pick up the win for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, Midland will be leaving its two-man pitching tandems behind. RHP Brett Graves will make his first Texas League start on Sunday. RHP James Naile is set to make the start on Monday, while RHP Grant Holmes will be the starter on Tuesday, with RHP Heath Fillmyer scheduled to start on Thursday, and RHP Corey Walter going again on Friday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Bowling Green Hot Rods 2
Beloit Snappers 3
WP – Bowers 1-0 / 1.23
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Heath Bowers
(3 2/3 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 1 K / Win)
Beloit won on a bases-loaded walk-off walk in extra innings on Saturday. After a pair of singles and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th, pinch-hitter Kyle Nowlin drew his 10th walk of the season to deliver the walk-off win for the Snappers. Center fielder JaVon Shelby singled, doubled and walked, while shortstop Eric Marinez doubled, drew a pair of walks and scored the Snappers’ first run in the 3rd, and first baseman Miguel Mercedes and designated hitter Nate Mondou both had a pair of hits and droves in runs for Beloit. Starter Michael Murray allowed just 1 run and struck out 7 in 5 innings of work, while LHP Ty Damron gave up 1 run over 3 1/3 frames, and RHP Heath Bowers earned the win after holding Bowling Green hitless over 3 2/3 scoreless innings and giving the Snappers the chance to prevail in 12 innings on Saturday. You can view video of the game-winning walk by our Beloit correspondent Ryan Christoffersen below…
Sunday’s Games:
El Paso @ Nashville – 12:05pm PT / 2:05pm CT
Frisco @ Midland – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
San Jose @ Stockton – 2:09pm PT
Bowling Green @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
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