TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Springfield Cardinals 1
Midland RockHounds 10
WP – Bracewell 1-0 / 1.80
HR – Brown 2 (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Seth Brown
(2 for 4 / 2 Home Runs / 4 RBIs)
Midland first baseman Seth Brown didn’t waste much time picking up where he left off last season. The 25-year-old slugger led the California League with 30 home runs in 2017 while serving as Stockton’s starting right fielder. And on Saturday night in Midland, Brown belted a pair of two-run homers for the Hounds, one in the 3rd inning and one in the 4th. Brown also walked and scored a run in the 2nd as the RockHounds went on to register their third win in their first three games. Third baseman Mikey White collected a pair of doubles and drove in 3 runs, while left fielder Tyler Ramirez singled twice, walked and scored twice. Second baseman J.P. Sportman tripled and drew a walk, and designated hitter Tyler Marincov singled, doubled and drove in a run for the RockHounds. RHP Ben Bracewell was solid in his first start of the season, allowing just 1 run over 5 innings of work to earn the victory, while RHP John Gorman and LHP Jarret Martin each tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to close out the win for the RockHounds. Cuban RHP Norge Ruiz is set to make his Double-A debut for Midland on Sunday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 1
New Orleans Baby Cakes 2
LP – Cahill 0-1 / 2.25
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Renato Nunez
(1 for 3 / Walk / RBI)
After a lengthy rain delay, Nashville dropped its second straight to New Orleans on Saturday. RHP Trevor Cahill made his first start for the Sounds, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3 to suffer the loss. RHP Lou Trivino was solid in relief, striking out 4 over 2 scoreless innings for Nashville. Designated hitter Renato Nunez singled in the Sounds’ only run in the 1st and also drew a walk in the 3rd. Catcher Beau Taylor and third baseman Steve Lombardozzi each singled and walked, and shortstop Jorge Mateo, center fielder Dustin Fowler and left fielder B.J. Boyd all swiped bases for the Sounds. With infielder Franklin Barreto joining the A’s due to Chad Pinder‘s knee injury, Sheldon Neuse made his first career start at second base for the Sounds on Saturday. And with the A’s adding outfielder Trayce Thompson to the major league roster, RHP Daniel Gossett was optioned back to Nashville. LHP Eric Jokisch is set to make the start for the Sounds on Sunday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
GAME #1
Lake Elsinore Storm 0
Stockton Ports 2
WP – Howard 1-0 / 0.00
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Brian Howard
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / Win)
Stockton shut out Lake Elsinore on just 2 hits in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. 6-foot-9 RHP Brian Howard, the A’s 8th-round draft pick last year, was outstanding in his California League debut, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 5 over 5 shutout frames to pick up the win for the Ports. RHP Miguel Romero tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to complete the 2-hit shutout and earn the save for Stockton. Designated hitter Edwin Diaz singled in a run, while right fielder Greg Deichmann doubled for the Ports’ only extra-base hit of the game, and left fielder Dairon Blanco, center fielder Luis Barrera and first baseman Luke Persico all swiped bases for Stockton on Saturday.
GAME #2
Lake Elsinore Storm 1
Stockton Ports 2
WP – Sheehan 1-0 / 9.00
HR – Heim (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Parker Dunshee
(5 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 10 K)
RHP Parker Dunshee, last year’s 7th-round draft pick for the A’s, followed RHP Brian Howard’s outstanding performance in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader with an impressive performance of his own in the second game. The 23-year-old allowed just 2 hits while walking none and striking out 10 over 5 scoreless innings in his California League debut. And over the first three games, Stockton’s “Big Three” of Jesus Luzardo, Brian Howard and Parker Dunshee has now allowed just 1 run and struck out 21 over 14 2/3 frames. But Dunshee left the game with a slim one-run lead, which remained intact until RHP Sam Sheehan, who came in to lock down the save in the final frame, instead ended up allowing a run to tie the game. But designated hitter Jonah Heim drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half of the inning to provide the Ports with the walk-off win and the doubleheader sweep on Saturday. Heim had also homered in the 4th inning to account for Stockton’s only other run of the game. Shortstop Kevin Merrell singled and walked, while right fielder Greg Deichmann collected his second double of the day, and Sheehan poached the win for the Ports. RHP Matt Milburn is expected to make the start for Stockton on Sunday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 10
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1
WP – Marks 1-0 / 1.80
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Austin Beck
(3 for 6 / 4 RBIs)
Center fielder Austin Beck helped lead Beloit to a blowout win over Wisconsin on Saturday. Last year’s top draft pick for the A’s, Beck collected 3 hits and drove in 4 runs for the Snappers. Last year’s 3rd-round pick, shortstop Nick Allen singled twice, walked, stole a base and drove in a run and is now 4 for 9 with 3 RBIs, a pair of walks and a pair of stolen bases in just his first two games of the season. Second baseman Trace Loehr and catcher Jordan Devencenzi collected 3 hits apiece, while third baseman Jake Lumley singled twice, walked twice and drove in a run, and right fielder Jack Meggs doubled, drew 2 walks and drove in a pair. Beloit was also bolstered by a pair of outstanding pitching performances on Saturday. Starter Wyatt Marks, last year’s 13th-round pick for the A’s, allowed just 1 run over 5 innings of work to pick up the win in his Midwest League debut, while RHP Bryce Conley, last year’s 22nd-round pick, was even more impressive in relief, allowing just 1 walk while striking out 4 over 4 hitless and scoreless frames to earn the save. RHP Xavier Altamirano is set to make the start for the Snappers on Sunday.
Sunday’s Games:
Nashville @ New Orleans – 11:00am PT / 1:00pm CT
Tulsa @ Midland – 2:00pm PT / 4:00pm CT
Lake Elsinore @ Stockton – 2:09pm PT
Beloit @ Wisconsin – 11:05am PT / 1:05pm CT
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