PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 12
Iowa Cubs 3
WP – Smith 3-2 / 3.35
HR – Olson 2 (14), Nunez (14)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Matt Olson
(3 for 5 / 2 Home Runs / 4 RBIs)
A big 7-run 1st inning made it easy for Nashville to notch its fourth straight victory on Friday. First baseman Matt Olson led the attack, launching a pair of home runs – a 3-run blast in the 1st and a solo shot in the 7th. Olson also singled and scored in the 9th, while left fielder Renato Nunez homered, doubled and drove in a pair. Olson and Nunez now have 14 home runs apiece, tying them for the team lead. Third baseman Matt Chapman collected 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a run, and right fielder Ryan LaMarre singled twice, walked, drove in 2 runs and swiped a pair of bases for the Sounds. RHP Chris Smith turned in an outstanding start, striking out 8 over 6 shutout innings to earn his 3rd win for Nashville.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
NW Arkansas Naturals 9
Midland RockHounds 10
WP – Trivino 6-0 / 1.42
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Tyler Marincov
(3 for 5 / Double / RBI)
The RockHounds came back from a 7-run deficit to win in a walk-off on Friday. With rain threatening, reliever Carlos Navas started the game and threw 3 scoreless innings for Midland. Scheduled starter Brett Graves then took the mound and ended up allowing 9 runs, 8 earned, over 5 frames to put the Hounds in a deep hole. First baseman Viosergy Rosa singled, doubled and drove in 3 runs, while designated hitter Tyler Marincov collected 3 hits, including a double, drove in a run and scored twice. Right fielder J.P. Sportman singled, doubled, walked and drove in the tying run, and left fielder Brett Vertigan came through with his first hit of the game to drive in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to help the RockHounds win in a walk-off on Friday. RHP Lou Trivino notched his 6th win after tossing a scoreless top of the 9th for the Hounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 6
Stockton Ports 3
LP – Blackwood 0-2 / 3.47
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Tyler Ramirez
(2 for 3 / Triple / Double / Walk / RBI)
Stockton had its five-game winning streak snapped on Friday. Starter Boomer Biegalski allowed 2 runs over 4 innings of work, while LHP Cody Stull tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief. Rehabbing LHP Sean Doolittle retired the side in order in the 7th, but it took him 18 pitches to do it – 12 of them were strikes – but RHP Nolan Blackwood surrendered 4 runs in 2 innings of relief to suffer his 2nd loss for Stockton. Left fielder Tyler Ramirez continued his hot hitting of late, collecting a triple, a double and a walk while driving in a run, and last year’s 7th-round draft pick for the A’s is now hitting .424 over his last 8 games for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 5
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2
WP – Martinez 1-1 / 2.19
HR – Mercedes (11), Theroux (9)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Miguel Mercedes
(4 for 4 / Home Run / Double / 3 RBIs)
First baseman Miguel Mercedes had a big night at the plate for Beloit, collecting 4 hits, including his 11th home run and his 11th double, while driving in 3 runs for the Snappers. Center fielder Luis Barrera had 3 hits, and catcher Collin Theroux homered for the third time in the last two days. Starter Zack Erwin was solid, striking out 5 over 4 shutout frames, and he’s now thrown 7 scoreless innings since returning from the disabled list last weekend. RHP Seth Martinez allowed 2 runs in 4 innings of relief to pick up the win, while RHP Sam Sheehan pitched a perfect 9th to notch his 2nd save for the Snappers.
Saturday’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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