TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Arkansas Travelers 5
Midland RockHounds 7
WP – Manarino 1-0 / 3.00
HR – Sportman (6), Munoz (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman J.P. Sportman
(3 for 4 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The RockHounds scored 7 runs on 16 hits to snap their four-game losing streak on Wednesday. J.P. Sportman, playing second base with Max Schrock on the disabled list, led the attack, collecting 3 hits, including his 6th home run, and driving in a pair of runs for Midland. Shortstop Yairo Munoz smacked his 3rd home run, and a number of players making their season debuts for the Hounds made key contributions as well. Catcher Beau Taylor, returning from a 50-game suspension, had 3 hits, including a triple, and drove in a run, while center fielder Kenny Wilson, who spent most of the season with the Sounds, singled, tripled and scored, and third baseman Jermaine Curtis, a minor league free agent signee who was sidelined with a hamstring injury in the spring, had a pair of doubles and drove in a run for Midland. The trio replaced three RockHounds who landed on the disabled list on Wednesday. Shortstop Richie Martin, who was hit in the head with a fastball in Tuesday’s game, is headed to Arizona for treatment after suffering a broken nose in the incident according to Hounds’ play-by-play man Bob Hards, while second baseman Max Schrock has been dealing with leg and foot injuries that caused him to miss four games last week, and RHP James Naile hasn’t pitched in over two weeks due to an abdominal strain. Meanwhile, back on the field, LHP Evan Manarino made his Double-A debut for Midland on Wednesday and allowed 2 runs on 9 hits over 6 innings of work to earn the win, while RHP Kyle Finnegan tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to post his 7th save for the RockHounds.
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CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 2
Stockton Ports 3
WP – Gilbert 1-1 / 7.13
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Sean Murphy
(1 for 3 / Double / 2 RBIs)
With two men on and Stockton down by a run in the bottom of the 6th inning, catcher Sean Murphy lined a double down left-field line to bring home both runners and provide the margin of victory for the Ports as the team won its fourth straight on Wednesday. A’s RHP Jesse Hahn, making a rehab start for Stockton, allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and struck out 4 in 5 1/3 innings of work, while LHP Will Gilbert tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win, and RHP Nolan Blackwood pitched a perfect 9th to pick up his 5th save for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Clinton LumberKings 13
Beloit Snappers 3
LP – Jordan 1-4 / 5.56
HR – Mercedes (10)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Miguel Mercedes
(1 for 4 / Home Run)
RHP Mitchell Jordan had a rough start for the Snappers, allowing 9 runs in just 3 innings of work to suffer his 4th loss for Beloit. 8 of those runs came courtesy of two grand slams off Jordan. His tandem-pitching partner, RHP Jesus Zambrano, gave up another 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief. First baseman Miguel Mercedes belted his team-leading 10th home run, while second baseman Nate Mondou singled and doubled, and left fielder Luis Barrera had a pair of hits in the loss. Meanwhile, outfielder Mike Martin landed on the disabled list on Wednesday and J.C. Rodriguez replaced him on the Snappers roster.
Thursday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 5:08pm PT / 7:08pm CT
Arkansas @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Lancaster @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Clinton @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
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