TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 4
Frisco RoughRiders 1
WP – Holmes 11-12 / 4.49
HR – Murphy (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Grant Holmes
(8 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / Win)
The RockHounds won on Sunday to reduce their magic number for a playoff berth to one with one game left to play. A Midland win or a Corpus Christi loss on Monday will put the Hounds in the Texas League playoffs for the fourth straight season. RHP Grant Holmes was the star of the game, allowing just 1 unearned run on 3 hits while striking out 5 over 8 innings of work to earn his team-leading 11th win. The 21-year-old extended his league-leading strikeout tally to 150 and also set a RockHounds single-season franchise record with the total. Catcher Sean Murphy homered for the second straight night to tie the game in the top of the 5th inning. Second baseman Max Schrock had a pair of hits and drove in the winning run in the 9th, while first baseman Viosergy Rosa singled twice and drove scored a run, and Murphy drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the 9th. RHP Kyle Finnegan got the final three outs to notch his 9th save for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, RHP Heath Fillmyer is set to make the start for Midland on Monday.
Click here for more on Nashville, Stockton, Beloit & Vermont…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 4
New Orleans Baby Cakes 3
WP – Bawcom 2-5 / 3.31
HR – Carter (9), Decker (6)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Jaff Decker
(2 for 4 / Home Run)
For the second straight night, center fielder Jaff Decker came up big for Nashville in the 9th inning. On Sunday, he led off the 9th by slugging his 6th home run to tie the game. Then, later in the same frame, first baseman Chris Carter drove in the winning run for the Sounds with a sacrifice fly. Starter Daniel Mengden allowed 3 runs over 4 2/3 frames, while RHP Logan Bawcom picked up the win with 1 scoreless inning in relief, and RHP Raul Alcantara pitched a perfect 9th to notch his 4th save for Nashville.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
San Jose Giants 5
Stockton Ports 6
WP – Friedrichs 2-2 / 2.98
HR – Brown (30), M.White (17)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Seth Brown
(2 for 3 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
Stockton’s comeback win, combined with Visalia’s loss, on Sunday guaranteed the team a trip to the California League playoffs. The Ports put 4 runs on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning. Center fielder Skye Bolt singled in a run, while right fielder Seth Brown homered for the fourth straight night, belting a 2-run blast, and Brown now leads the league with 30 home runs and 109 RBIs. Designated hitter Mikey White then followed Brown’s blast by slugging a solo shot for Stockton. Starter Angel Duno was charged with 4 runs over 4 2/3 innings of work, but second baseman Nate Mondou came through with the big hit, singling in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 8th for Stockton. Mondou, Brown and catcher Argenis Raga had a pair of hits apiece for the Ports, while RHP Kyle Friedrichs picked up the win after being charged with 1 run in 3 1/3 innings of relief, and RHP Nolan Blackwood got the final three outs in the 9th to notch his 19th save for Stockton.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels 2
Beloit Snappers 3
WP – Damron 5-5 / 4.53
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Zack Erwin
(6 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K)
LHP Zack Erwin turned in another outstanding start for the Snappers, allowing 1 unearned run on just 2 hits over 6 innings of work on Sunday. LHP Ty Damron tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. Left fielder J.C. Rodriguez doubled in a pair of runs, while second baseman Josh Vidales singled twice, walked and scored the winning run, and third baseman Jesus Lopez singled and drove in the winning run with a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the 8th for Beloit.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Tri-City ValleyCats 0
Vermont Lake Monsters 0
(POSTPONED)
Monday’s Games:
Nashville @ New Orleans – 11:00am PT / 1:00pm CT
Midland @ Frisco – 2:05pm PT / 4:05pm CT
San Jose @ Stockton – 6:10pm PT
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit – Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
Tri-City @ Vermont (Game #1) – 10:05am PT / 1:05pm ET
Tri-City @ Vermont (Game #2)
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.
Wow!! Holmes turned in his most impressive start of year…a game after he walked 8, he had 5k thru 3, but didn’t have another and it was fine because his control was clearly there and didn’t have bb till the 8th and 2 of the called balls were well in k zone. If this is sign to things to come and he pitches like this in Nashville, we may see him by late may early July or sooner as he is already an upgrade to most of our guys. I’ve seen enough from: J.Smith, C.Smith, S.Casilla, C.Hatcher(yes in few app awful), Mengden. I’ll let rookies slide especially since as awful as Cotton and Gossett have been at times they have had some eye brow raising performances especially Cotton vs KC when He had Pedro raving about his change up. My point is I’m ready to see some of these young arms that “arnt ready” even though what I’m seeing is no where near acceptable and flounders at replacement level. Even if Holmes and Puk could use more time might as well see what they can do vs MLB hitters… especially Puk who in his last start didn’t give up a ER had 13k 0bb, has not given up more than 3 in 9/10 and has 74k/16bb over last 10 with 3x in last 6 throwing 9k or more(13k*2). Also only 3 hr allowed on year 2 in AA. Fillmyer is another guy that has been stellar maybe never showing the upside that hmes or puk has, but consistency.
We will see when Triggs and Blackburn comeback next year and if pitch like they did this year, we may be able to hold off the promotions, but with other guys like Zack Erwin and almost the entire Vermont lake Monsters from the most highly ranked pitcher prospect after Puk, Jesus Luzardo and he’s not even the one pitching the best Parker Dunshee has yet to allow a run in 38.1 inn for Vermont. 6’9″ Brian Howard has also been lights out in tandem with Dunshee to shut teams down completely, then you have Columbian Jean Ruiz who has been just as good all post era under 1.50 or Dunshee case 0. Yes it’s short season rookie, but look up how many great starting pitchers posted numbers there like they did and then you will be as excited as I am for the athletics pitching future.
Yep, there’s definitely plenty to look forward to!