by Ryan Christoffersen / A’s Farm Beloit Correspondent
The Beloit Snappers lost two out of three games to the Quad Cities River Bandits, the Astros’ Midwest League affiliate, at Pohlman Field in Beloit this week.
The River Bandits’ .427 team slugging percentage is the best in the league by far. A number of the team’s top hitters have been promoted this season, but the Astros’ deep farm system has been able to replenish the River Bandits’ lineup throughout the season.
The Snappers, on the other hand, were reeling after getting swept by Cedar Rapids in a recent four-game series. With Beloit’s playoff chances hanging by a thread, would the Snappers be able to find a way to beat the second-half Western Division leader?
Game #1: Quad Cities 4 – Beloit 1
*RHP Matt Milburn, the A’s 29th-round pick in 2016, bounced back with a strong start after allowing 7 runs in 5 innings against Wisconsin his last time out. In this one, he induced 8 groundball outs and struck out 8 while allowing just 1 run in 6 innings of work for the Snappers.
*RHP John Gorman needed just 12 pitches to get through 1 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief, and he was promptly rewarded be being promoted to Stockton the next day. Gorman had been sensational out of the Beloit bullpen, putting up a 0.93 ERA and a 0.47 WHIP while striking out 24 and walking just 1 in 19 ⅓ innings for the Snappers.
*Right fielder Luke Persico, Oakland’s 12th-round pick in 2016, went 2 for 4 with his 4th triple to raise his batting average for Beloit to .267.
*Third baseman Jesus Lopez went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. It was nearly a 2-RBI single, but left fielder J.C Rodriguez was thrown out at the plate by River Bandits right fielder Luis Payano.
Game #2: Beloit 3 – Quad Cities 0
*If you haven’t already heard, THE SNAPPERS NO-HIT THE RIVER BANDITS! Sorry for yelling, but it was kind of a big deal.
*LHP Zack Erwin tossed 6 innings of no-hit ball, walking just 1. He threw 79 pitches, which is close to what’s generally been his pitch limit for most of the season.
*RHP Joseph Camacho relieved Erwin to start the 7th inning, inheriting the task of preserving a no-hitter. The undrafted free agent who was signed by the A’s last summer did a wonderful job over the final 3 innings, giving up just 1 walk and, of course, no hits.
*Camacho got the final out of the no-hitter by retiring the Bandits #2 hitter, slugging catcher Chuckie Robinson, on a flyout to Snappers right fielder JaVon Shelby.
*Congratulations are in order for hurlers Zack Erwin and Joseph Camacho, as well as all the rest of the Beloit Snappers squad who contributed to the no-hitter!
Game #3: Quad Cities 5 – Beloit 2
*RHP Seth Martinez, the A’s 17th-round pick in 2016, continued his solid season with another quality start for the Snappers. His final line was 6 IP/5 H/3 R/1 ER/1 BB/3 K.
*Left Fielder J.C. Rodriguez batted in the leadoff spot for the first time this season and responded by going 2 for 3 while driving in a run.
*The Snappers got 2 scoreless and hitless innings of relief from LHP Ty Damron. The A’s 15th-round pick in 2016 started the season as a starter before being sidelined by an injury for about two months.
A’s Prospect of the Series:
LHP Zack Erwin
(6 IP / 0 H / 0 R / 1 BB / 4 K / Win)
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