PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 4
Omaha Storm Chasers 0
WP – Smith 4-2 / 2.96
HR – Nunez (16), McBride (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Chris Smith
(6 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 4 K / Win)
On a warm Wednesday night in Omaha, four Sounds pitchers combined to throw Nashville’s first no-hitter since 2007. RHP Chris Smith led the effort, tossing 6 hitless innings and striking out 4 while throwing a total of 93 pitches. Rehabbing reliever Sean Doolittle registered a pair of strikeouts in the 7th, while RHP Tucker Healy retired the side on just 9 pitches in the 8th, and RHP Simon Castro walked a batter but got the final three outs in the 9th to nail down the no-hitter for Nashville. Catcher Matt McBride homered in his third straight game, belting a 2-run blast to put Nashville on the board in the 2nd, while designated hitter Renato Nunez singled and slugged his team-leading 16th home run, a solo shot in the 3rd, and right fielder Jaff Decker doubled, walked, singled twice and scored twice for the Sounds. Shortstop Franklin Barreto was not in the lineup for Wednesday’s contest, and Sounds play-by-play man Jeff Hem reported that the plan is for the top prospect to sit out for three games after going 0 for his last 13 with 9 strikeouts. Meanwhile, MiLB.com writer Kelsie Heneghan reported she’d heard that Nashville outfielder Jaycob Brugman was called up to Oakland while celebrating Wednesday night’s no-hitter.
Click here for more on Midland & Beloit…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 6
San Antonio Missions 8
LP – Finnegan 1-3 / 3.16
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Viosergy Rosa
(3 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)
Despite coming back to tie the game three separate times, the RockHounds fell for the eighth time in their last eleven games on Wednesday. Starter Heath Fillmyer gave up 4 runs over 3 frames, while RHP Sam Bragg allowed 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief, and RHP Kyle Finnegan surrendered 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the loss. First baseman Viosergy Rosa had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs for the RockHounds in the loss.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 4
Burlington Bees 3
WP – Altamirano 2-1 / 2.08
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Luis Barrera
(3 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)
Right fielder Luis Barrera’s 6th multi-hit game in his last 10 contests helped lead the Snappers to their 30th win on Wednesday. Barrera singled twice in the game and also doubled in a pair of runs to put Beloit on the board in the top of the 2nd, and the Snappers never surrendered the lead. Starter Zack Erwin allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 3 2/3 innings of work, while RHP Xavier Altamirano threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, and RHP Sam Sheehan got the final six outs for the Snappers to post his 3rd save for Beloit. Meanwhile, second baseman Nate Mondou, outfielder Luke Persico and LHP Dalton Sawyer were all named to the Midwest League Western Division All-Star team, and RHP Nick Highberger was activated off the disabled list on Wednesday.
Thursday’s Games:
Nashville @ Omaha – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Modesto – 7:05pm PT
Beloit @ Burlington – 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our exclusive A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.