(Grand Slam)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 5
Iowa Cubs 2
WP – Jensen 2-0 / 2.57
HR – Barreto (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Franklin Barreto
(Grand Slam)
With the bases loaded, two outs and his team down by a run in the top of the 9th, shortstop Franklin Barreto stepped to the plate and slugged a grand slam to help the Sounds win their third straight on Thursday. Before Barreto’s blast, Sounds hitters had mustered just 5 hits in the game. Outfielders Jaycob Brugman and Ryan LaMarre had a pair of hits apiece, and first baseman Matt Olson singled and drew a pair of walks. RHP Michael Brady turned in a strong start for the Sounds, allowing 2 runs on just 2 hits while walking none and striking out 6 over 6 innings of work, but he left the game with his team down by a run. RHP Chris Jensen tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, and RHP Jake Sanchez got the final three outs in the bottom of the 9th to notch his 2nd save for Nashville.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Arkansas Travelers 7
Midland RockHounds 6
LP – Mann 2-4 / 3.57
HR – Munoz (4), Curtis (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Yairo Munoz
(2 for 5 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Starter Heath Fillmyer allowed 3 runs over 5 2/3 innings of work and left with the game a 3-3 tie on Thursday. But the second error of the game by second baseman J.P. Sportman in the 7th inning opened the door for 4 unearned runs to score off LHP Brandon Mann, who suffered the loss. Shortstop Yairo Munoz continued his hot hitting of late, going 2 for 5 and homering for the second straight night while driving in 3 runs for the RockHounds. Munoz is now hitting .500 with a pair of home runs over his last 4 games for Midland. Third baseman Jermaine Curtis homered in the bottom of the 6th to briefly give the Hounds the lead, while designated hitter Brett Vertigan tripled and scored in the 1st and drove in a run with a ground out in the 9th. Munoz drove in another run in the 9th to bring the RockHounds back within a run, but the that’s as close as the Hounds would get as they fell for the fifth time in their last six games on Thursday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 6
Stockton Ports 7
WP – Tomasovich 1-1 / 4.00
HR – M.White 2 (7), Bolt (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Mikey White
(2 for 5 / 2 Home Runs / 3 RBIs)
It took 11 innings, but the Ports picked up their fifth straight win on Thursday night. Center fielder Skye Bolt homered in the bottom of the 1st inning to put the Ports on the board, and third baseman Mikey White followed with his first homer of the night in the 2nd inning to give Stockton an early 2-0 lead. Starter Dustin Hurlbutt was cruising through the first 6 frames, allowing just 2 base runners, both on singles. But 3 singles to lead off the top of the 7th led to 3 runs off Hurlbutt. Bolt then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game. And the contest remained knotted until the top of the 10th, when a throwing error by shortstop Eli White helped open the door for 3 unearned runs to score off LHP Jared Lyons. But Stockton came back to score 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the 10th, with Mikey White delivering the big blow with his second home run of the night, this one a 2-run shot to tie things up again. A bases-loaded walk to left fielder James Harris in the bottom of the 11th finally brought the home decisive run as Stockton won its fifth straight in a walk-off on Thursday. LHP Andrew Tomasovich picked up the win after getting the final four outs for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Clinton LumberKings 1
Beloit Snappers 9
WP – Butler 2-3 / 2.32
HR – Theroux 2 (8)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brendan Butler
(6 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 9 K / Win)
RHP Brendan Butler turned in an outstanding start for the Snappers on Thursday, allowing just 1 run and striking out 9 over 6 innings of work to earn his 2nd win. RHP Xavier Altamirano was solid in relief, throwing 3 scoreless frames to post his 1st save for the Snappers. Catcher Collin Theroux had a big night at the plate, belting a pair of home runs for Beloit. He slugged a solo shot in the 3rd to give the Snappers the lead and then added a 2-run shot in the 8th. Right fielder Luis Barrera singled, doubled and scored twice, while second baseman Nate Mondou singled twice and drove in 2 runs, and designated hitter Kyle Nowlin walked and doubled in a pair for the Snappers.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 5:08pm PT / 7:08pm CT
NW Arkansas @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Lancaster @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Wisconsin – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
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