PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 6
Sacramento River Cats 0
WP – Blackburn 2-4 / 3.89
HR – Nunez (11), Lavarnway (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Paul Blackburn
(6 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 4 K / Win)
After giving up 14 earned runs in 13 2/3 frames over his last 3 outings, RHP Paul Blackburn bounced back to deliver one of his best starts of the season for the Sounds. The 23-year-old allowed just 2 hits over 6 shutout innings to earn his 2nd win as Nashville won for the fourth time in its last five games on Friday. RHP Tucker Healy tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief, and RHP Tyler Sturdevant notched the final three outs in the 9th to complete the 3-hit shutout for the Sounds. Designated hitter Renato Nunez homered for the second straight day, hitting his team-leading 11th home run, a 2-run shot, with two outs in the top of the 1st inning to give Nashville an early edge. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway belted a 3-run blast to extend the lead in the 4th, and center fielder Jaycob Brugman singled in a run, walked and stole a base for the Sounds.
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TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
San Antonio Missions 5
Midland RockHounds 6
WP – Finnegan 1-1 / 3.12
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder J.P. Sportman
(2 for 4 / 2 RBIs)
Right fielder J.P. Sportman singled twice and drove in a pair of runs in the 6th to give the RockHounds the lead and raise his team-leading RBI total to 30 on Friday. Then, with the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, after designated hitter Tyler Marincov walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, shortstop Richie Martin lined a single to center field to bring home Marincov as the RockHounds won in a walk-off on Friday. RHP James Naile, who was presented with his Rawlings Gold Glove Award before the game, didn’t make Friday’s scheduled start. Instead, reliever Cody Stull got the call and gave up just 1 run over 3 1/3 innings of work but left with his team down by a run. RHP Joel Seddon allowed 2 unearned runs in 3 innings of relief, while RHP Lou Trivino was charged with 2 runs in the top of the 8th to tie the game, but RHP Kyle Finnegan got the final four outs to register the win for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, RHP Trey Cochran-Gill, who appeared in 42 games for Midland last year but had been on the disabled list all season, was activated and reassigned to Stockton on Friday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lake Elsinore Storm 9
Stockton Ports 4
LP – Vidales 0-1 / 33.75
HR – Brown (8)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Casey Meisner
(5 IP / 6 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 6 K)
The Ports lost a wild one in 12 innings on Friday night. RHP Casey Meisner turned in a strong start, allowing just 1 run while striking out 6 over 5 innings of work, and the 21-year-old has now allowed just 4 earned runs in 17 2/3 frames over his last 4 appearances. Right fielder Seth Brown slugged a 3-run homer in Stockton’s 4-run 6th to give his team the lead, but RHP Trey Cochran-Gill, who was activated from the disabled list and assigned to Stockton earlier in the day, surrendered 3 runs with two outs in the top of the 9th to tie the game. As the contest entered the 11th inning, the Ports brought second baseman Josh Vidales on to pitch. The infielder tossed a scoreless frame in the 11th but surrendered 5 runs in the top of the 12th before being replaced on the mound by first baseman Chris Iriart, who left the field with a possible injury after facing just one batter. Outfielder Seth Brown then took his turn on the mound and got the final two outs in the 12th. Vidales took the loss, while Cochran-Gill was charged with the blown save in his first appearance of the season.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 2
Peoria Chiefs 1
WP – Sheehan 1-0 / 5.06
HR – Mercedes (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Dalton Sawyer
(5 IP / 2 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 8 K)
After falling in a 15-inning game on Thursday, the Snappers came out on the winning end of a 12-inning contest on Friday. LHP Dalton Sawyer delivered another outstanding start for the Snappers, allowing just 1 run and striking out 8 over 5 innings of work. He left the game with his team down by a run, but first baseman Miguel Mercedes slugged his team-leading 7th home run in the 7th inning to tie the game. RHP Heath Bowers was solid in relief once again, allowing just 1 hit over 3 1/3 scoreless frames for the Snappers. Center fielder JaVon Shelby doubled to lead off the 12th, moved to third on a single by shortstop Edwin Diaz, then came in to score the winning run on a suicide squeeze by third baseman Trace Loehr. RHP Sam Sheehan was credited with the win after tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, while designated hitter Kyle Nowlin picked up the save after taking the mound to toss a scoreless frame in the bottom of the 12th for the Snappers.
Saturday’s Games:
Nashville @ Sacramento – 7:05pm PT / 9:05pm CT
San Antonio @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Lake Elsinore @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Peoria – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
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