CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 5
Modesto Nuts 0
WP – Butler 1-0 / 0.00
HR – Bolt (6)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brendan Butler
(5 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K / Win)
RHPs Brendan Butler and Boomer Biegalski, both of whom started the season with Beloit, teamed up to shut out Modesto on 5 hits on Thursday as the Ports prevailed for the eighth time in their last ten games. Butler, who was promoted to the Ports on Tuesday, struck out 5 over 5 shutout innings to earn the win in his first appearance for Stockton this season. Biegalski then came on to strike out 4 in 4 scoreless frames to complete the shutout and pick up his first save for the Ports. Center fielder Skye Bolt slugged his 6th home run, a solo shot in the 3rd, and then singled in a pair of runs in the 7th, while left fielder James Harris singled, doubled and drove in a run, and shortstop Eli White had a pair of hits for the Ports. In other news, Stockton infielder Trent Gilbert and LHP Will Gilbert were sent to extended spring training in Arizona to rehab from recent injuries.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 2
Omaha Storm Chasers 4
LP – Sturdevant 1-1 / 3.70
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Corey Walter
(5 2/3 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 3 K)
One night after no-hitting Omaha, the Sounds came up short on Thursday. RHP Corey Walter turned in a strong start, allowing just 1 unearned run over 5 2/3 innings of work, and he left the game with his team up by a run. LHP Felix Doubront was charged with 1 unearned run in 1 inning of relief, and RHP Tyler Sturdevant allowed 2 runs, 1 earned over 1 1/3 innings to suffer the loss for the Sounds. A pair of fielding errors by second baseman Joey Wendle led to 3 unearned runs on the night. Wendle doubled and drove in a run, while left fielder Renato Nunez doubled and scored. Right fielder Jaff Decker singled and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and designated hitter Matt McBride had a pair of hits for the Sounds. Meanwhile, with multiple reports claiming Jaycob Brugman is set to join the A’s, he was out of the Nashville lineup on Thursday night. And with Brugman’s absence, the plan to bench slumping shortstop Franklin Barreto for a few games was set aside and he went 0 for 5 with a pair of strikeouts in the loss.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 6
San Antonio Missions 5
WP – Bracewell 2-1 / 5.40
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Viosergy Rosa
(2 for 4 / Double / 2 RBIs)
The RockHounds battled back to claim victory on Thursday night. RHP Brett Graves had a rough start for the RockHounds, giving up 5 runs over 4 frames, but Midland managed to mount a successful comeback. Right fielder Tyler Marincov singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored twice, while designated hitter Jermaine Curtis had a pair of hits and drove in a run. Shortstop Yairo Munoz doubled in a run, and first baseman Viosergy Rosa singled, doubled and drove in 2 runs, including the winning run in the top of the 5th for the RockHounds. RHP Ben Bracewell threw 4 scoreless frames in relief to pick up the win, while RHP Carlos Navas pitched a perfect 9th to notch his 1st save for Midland.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 2
Burlington Bees 3
LP – Highberger 1-1 / 6.60
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Edwin Diaz
(2 for 3 / Triple / Walk / RBI)
RHP Brandon Bailey turned in another solid start for the Snappers on Thursday, allowing 2 runs while striking out 6 over 5 innings of work, and he left with the game a 2-2 tie. But RHP Nick Highberger surrendered the winning run in the 6th to suffer the loss in his first appearance for the Snappers since returning from the disabled list. Shortstop Edwin Diaz singled, tripled, walked and drove in a run, while right fielder Luke Persico doubled, walked and scored a run in the loss.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Memphis – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ San Antonio – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Modesto – 7:05pm PT
Quad Cities @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
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