Friday, July 6th: Hargrove Helps Snappers Win while Heim Has Big Night for Ports & Mengden Notches Victory for Nashville

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Beloit Snappers First Baseman Hunter Hargrove (4 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)
A’s Prospect Of The Day: Beloit Snappers First Baseman Hunter Hargrove (4 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)

 
MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Clinton LumberKings  5

Beloit Snappers        9

WP: Ruiz 2-6 / 5.40

Prospect Of The Game:

First Baseman Hunter Hargrove

(4 for 5 / Double / 2 RBIs)

First baseman Hunter Hargrove helped the Snappers win their third straight on Friday. The 23-year-old had 4 hits, including his team-leading 17th double, while driving in 2 runs to increase his team-best RBI total to 37. Left fielder JaVon Shelby tripled, walked, stole a base and drove in 2 runs, while second baseman Ryan Gridley singled, walked twice and scored twice, and center fielder Austin Beck singled in a pair of runs for the Snappers. RHP Jean Ruiz turned in his best start of the season, allowing just 1 run while striking out 7 over 5 frames to earn his 2nd win for the Snappers.

Click here for more on Nashville, Midland, Stockton, Vermont & AZL A’s…

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Iowa Cubs               1

Nashville Sounds  4

WP: Mengden 1-0 / 0.00

HR: Garcia (14)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Outfielder Anthony Garcia

(1 for 4 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)

 

Left fielder Anthony Garcia slugged a two-run homer in the 5th inning to help Nashville notch the win over Iowa on Friday, and the 26-year-old minor league free agent signee now leads the squad with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. Center fielder Jake Smolinski singled twice, walked and stole a base, while right fielder Ramon Laureano tripled and scored a run, and first baseman Steve Lombardozzi walked, stole a base and singled in a run. A’s RHP Daniel Mengden was set to make a rehab start for the Sounds on Friday. But after a rain delay, RHP Raul Alcantara came on to make the start and threw 3 scoreless innings. Mengden then took over for Alcantara and tossed 3 2/3 frames, allowing just 1 unearned run and striking out 5 to earn the win. RHP Bobby Wahl got the final five outs for the Sounds to tally his team-leading 10th save on Friday.

 

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  5

Tulsa Drillers                  6

LP: Bragg 3-3 / 4.17

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Prospect Of The Game:

Outfielder J.P. Sportman

(3 for 5 / 2 Doubles)

 

The RockHounds dropped their third straight to the Drillers on Friday. Starter Logan Shore allowed 3 runs and struck out 7 over 6 2/3 frames and left the game with a one-run lead. But RHP John Gorman gave up the tying run in the bottom of the 9th and then, after the RockHounds had scored a run in the top of the 10th to take back the lead, allowed the tying run to score again in the bottom of the 10th. RHP Sam Bragg then surrendered the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 11th to suffer the loss as Tulsa won in a walk-off on Friday. Right fielder J.P. Sportman had 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored a run, while second baseman Eli White singled, doubled and drove in a run. Center fielder Skye Bolt tripled in a run, and left fielder Tyler Ramirez doubled in a pair of runs for the RockHounds. Midland catcher Sean Murphy exited the game in the 3rd inning after going all out trying to stretch a single into a double in the 2nd.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Stockton Ports         6

Inland Empire 66ers  7

LP: Duno 3-1 / 2.09

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Prospect Of The Game:

Catcher Jonah Heim

(2 for 3 / Triple / Walk / 4 RBIs)

 

Stockton suffered its second straight loss to the 66ers on Friday. Starter Matt Milburn allowed 3 runs over 6 innings of work, while RHP Sam Sheehan was charged with 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th before RHP Angel Duno surrendered the winning run in the 9th to take the loss as Inland Empire won in a walk-off on Friday. Catcher Jonah Heim had big night at the plate for the Ports. The 23-year-old had 2 hits, including a triple, drew a walk and drove in a total of 4 runs for Stockton. Center fielder Luis Barrera singled, doubled, walked and scored 3 runs, while left fielder Nate Mondou drew a walk and doubled in a run in the loss.

 

NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE  (Class-A Short-Season)

Vermont Lake Monsters  1

Tri-City ValleyCats             6

LP: Kelly 1-3 / 5.76

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Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Rafael Kelly

(6 IP / 6 H / 2 ER / 0 BB / 4 K)

 

The Lake Monsters lost to Tri-City for the second straight night on Friday. 21-year-old Dominican RHP Rafael Kelly turned in a solid start, allowing 2 runs over 6 innings of work, but he still ended up suffering the loss for the Lake Monsters. This year’s 4th-round draft pick for the A’s, first baseman Alfonso Rivas, singled twice and drove in the sole run for Vermont, while center fielder Jameson Hannah and right fielder Noah Vaughan had a pair of hits apiece in the loss.

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL A’s     2

AZL Reds  3

LP: D.Martinez 0-1 / 1.59

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Prospect Of The Game:

Catcher Cesarre Astorri

(2 for 3 / Double / Walk)

 

The AZL A’s fell for the fourth time in their last five games on Friday. 19-year-old Dominican RHP Ismael Aquino made the start and allowed just 1 unearned run over 2 1/3 innings of work, while this year’s 28th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Reid Birlingmair, tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, but this year’s 21st-round pick, RHP Daniel Martinez, gave up 1 unearned run in the bottom of the 8th to suffer the loss. 20-year-old Italian catcher Cesarre Astorri had 2 hits, including a double, and drew a walk, while 17-year-old right fielder Danny Bautista doubled in a run in the loss.

 

Saturday’s Games:

Iowa @ Nashville: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Midland @ Springfield: 4:10pm PT / 6:10pm CT

Stockton @ Inland Empire: 6:05pm PT

Clinton @ Beloit: 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT

Connecticut @ Vermont: 3:05pm PT / 6:05pm ET

 

Hunter Hargrove
Hunter Hargrove

 

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