TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Frisco RoughRiders 0
Midland RockHounds 6
WP – Holmes 5-5 / 4.79
HR – Boyd (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Grant Holmes
(8 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 8 K / Win)
On Saturday, RHP Grant Holmes turned in one of the best pitching performances of any A’s minor leaguer so far this season. Despite struggling during much of his debut season in the Double-A Texas League, the former 1st-round draft pick of the Dodgers was impressive in Saturday’s start against Frisco, flashing the form that the A’s have been hoping to see since acquiring him last summer in the Josh Reddick deal. The 21-year-old South Carolina native was perfect through his first 5 innings on Saturday, and he didn’t surrender a hit until he’d registered one out in the 7th. Holmes ended up allowing just 2 hits while walking none and striking out 8 over 8 shutout innings to earn his 5th win, and he’s now recorded 17 strikeouts over his last 14 frames for the RockHounds. LHP Brandon Mann gave up 1 hit in a scoreless 9th to complete the 3-hit shutout, while left fielder B.J. Boyd had 3 hits, including his 1st home run of the season, and second baseman J.P. Sportman singled, doubled and drove in a pair of runs to help the RockHounds win their third straight on Saturday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 6
Memphis Redbirds 3
WP – Jensen 3-0 / 2.08
HR – Chapman (15), Barreto (8)
Prospect Of The Game:
Left Fielder Renato Nunez
(2 for 3 / 2 Doubles / 2 RBIs)
The Sounds mounted a late comeback to claim victory on Saturday. With scheduled starter Daniel Gossett scratched, LHP Dalton Sawyer was called up from Beloit to make the start for the Sounds on Saturday. Last year’s 9th-round draft pick for the A’s delivered a quality start, allowing 3 runs over 6 innings of work, and he exited with the game a 3-3 tie. Third baseman Matt Chapman hit a 2-run homer to put the Sounds on the board in the top of the 4th, and shortstop Franklin Barreto slugged a solo shot in the 6th to tie things up. Then, with the bases loaded in the 8th, left fielder Renato Nunez stepped to the plate and lined his second double of the game to drive in a pair of runs and provide the margin of victory for Nashville on Saturday. RHP Chris Jensen threw 3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. With A’s starter Andrew Triggs landing on the disabled list on Saturday, the natural assumption is that Gossett was scratched so that he could assume Triggs’ spot in the A’s rotation next week, and the Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported that she’d confirmed that this is indeed the case. In the meantime, with Triggs’ injury opening up an immediate spot on the major league roster, first baseman Matt Olson rejoined the A’s on Saturday. And in addition to Sawyer, RHP Joseph Camacho joined the Sounds pitching staff from extended spring training in Arizona, and Nashville RHP Daniel Mengden landed on the disabled list with a lat strain.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 0
Modesto Nuts 3
LP – Duno 5-2 / 5.46
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Angel Duno
(6 1/3 IP / 6 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K)
Stockton was shut out on just 2 hits on Saturday. Starter Angel Duno was solid, allowing just 2 unearned runs over 6 1/3 innings of work, but he still ended up suffering his 2nd loss for Stockton. Shortstop Eli White and right fielder Tyler Ramirez both singled in the loss. First baseman Sandber Pimentel was activated from the disabled list but did not make an appearance in Saturday’s game.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Quad Cities River Bandits 13
Beloit Snappers 5
LP – Hurtado 0-1 / 6.75
HR – Diaz (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Edwin Diaz
(2 for 4 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
With scheduled starter Dalton Sawyer sent to Nashville, the Snappers had to count on 18-year Panamanian RHP Abdiel Mendoza to make the start on Saturday. He ended up being charged with 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings of work, while 21-year-old Jhenderson Hurtado, also freshly arrived from extended spring training in Arizona, allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief to suffer the loss as the Snappers dropped their third straight. Shortstop Edwin Diaz slugged a 3-run homer to put Beloit on the board in the bottom of the 1st, while catcher Jason Goldstein had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in a run, and first baseman Miguel Mercedes singled, doubled, walked and scored twice for the Snappers. Meanwhile, RHP Nick Highberger returned to the disabled list on Saturday.
Sunday’s Games:
Nashville @ Memphis – 12:05pm PT / 2:05pm CT
Frisco @ Midland – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
Stockton @ Modesto – 2:05pm PT
Quad Cities @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
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