by Liz Rudolph / A’s Farm Beloit Correspondent
(photo: Liz Rudolph)
The 2018 season got underway for the Snappers on Thursday night in Beloit with 15 newcomers on the roster, a critical new rule in place, and a 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 11 innings.
Heading into opening day, the Snappers roster was generating considerably more buzz than it had in recent years. Featuring four of the A’s top 30 prospects (per Baseball America), Beloit’s lineup has the potential to flash some real star power. It is one of the most exciting lineups since 2013, the Snappers’ first year as an A’s affiliate, when the team boasted a roster that included names like Matt Olson, Bruce Maxwell, Renato Nunez and Daniel Robertson.
Thursday night’s game included the debut of two of the A’s top draft picks from 2017, outfielder Austin Beck (first round) and shortstop Nick Allen (third round).
Allen was an opening night standout. The 19-year-old is highly regarded for his speed and defensive ability, but he was impressive at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI and a walk while also swiping a base.
Beck, who’s also 19 and is the A’s sixth-ranked prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, went 0 for 5 with a pair of strikeouts in his Midwest League debut.
On the mound, the Snappers were supported by a strong outing from starting pitcher Jean Ruiz, who allowed just four hits and tied a career-high by striking out seven batters in his five innings of work.
The two runs driven in by Allen were good enough to enable Beloit to head into extra innings locked in a 2-2 tie with the Timber Rattlers. And fans quickly got a chance to see the effects of the new minor league pace-of-play rule. This year, each team now begins each half inning in extras with a runner on second base.
The Timber Rattlers saw the benefit of the new rule first, with Wisconsin shortstop Trevor Morrison scoring on a two-out balk by Snappers lefty Logan Salow. Beloit answered in the bottom of the tenth, however, when Snappers third baseman Jake Lumley came around to score on a passed ball.
Snappers right-hander Jesus Zambrano held Wisconsin scoreless in the top of the 11th inning. Beloit began the bottom of the inning with Jack Meggs as a pinch-runner for first baseman Miguel Mercedes at second base. Catcher Sklyer Weber quickly laid down a bunt to advance Meggs to third, but a throwing error by Wisconsin third baseman Gabriel Garcia allowed Meggs to score, giving the Snappers the 4-3 walk-off win on opening night in Beloit.
The Snappers will take on the Timber Rattlers in game two of the series on Friday in Beloit. Oakland’s 26th-ranked prospect Wyatt Marks will take the mound for Beloit against right-hander Nelson Hernandez for Wisconsin. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the forecasted game-time temperature is 31 degrees. RHP Xavier Altamirano is set to take the mound for Beloit on Saturday, with RHP Michael Danielak going on Sunday, and LHP Jared Poche expected to make the start for the Snappers on Monday.
Be sure to check out our complete recap of all the opening night action in the A’s system here.
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And salow managed 3 k’s