Friday, July 27th: Howard Pitches Hounds to Victory while Barreto & Laureano Homer for Sounds and Stockton Drops 5th Straight

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Midland RockHounds Pitcher Brian Howard (7 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 8 K / Win)
A’s Prospect Of The Day: Midland RockHounds RHP Brian Howard (7 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 8 K / Win)

 
TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  5

Corpus Christi Hooks     3

WP: Howard 1-2 / 2.55

HR: Brown (11)

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Brian Howard

(7 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 8 K / Win)

RHP Brian Howard turned in one of his most impressive starts of the season to help the RockHounds win their fourth straight on Friday. Howard allowed just 2 hits and struck out 8 while throwing 7 shutout innings to earn his 1st win since joining Midland late last month, and the 23-year-old has now allowed just 1 earned run over his last 14 frames for the Hounds. RHP Kyle Finnegan got the final two outs on Friday to secure his 7th save. First baseman Seth Brown hit his 11th home run, while center fielder Luis Barrera had 2 hits and drove in a pair. Shortstop Richie Martin singled twice and stole a base, and second baseman Eli White had 2 hits, walked and drove in a run for the RockHounds.

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

 

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Nashville Sounds  6

Salt Lake Bees        8

LP: Alcantara 4-3 / 5.35

HR: Laureano (12), Barreto (11)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Second Baseman Franklin Barreto

(2 for 4 / Home Run / Walk / 2 RBIs / 2 Runs)

 

The Sounds suffered their third straight loss on Friday. RHP Raul Alcantara surrendered 7 runs over 4 2/3 frames to take his 3rd loss for the Sounds. Second baseman Franklin Barreto singled, homered, drew a walk and drove in a pair, while center fielder Ramon Laureano homered and doubled. Left fielder Anthony Garcia doubled twice and scored twice, and designated hitter Bruce Maxwell drew 4 walks in the loss.

 

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Stockton Ports         2

Lake Elsinore Storm  8

LP: Milburn 6-4 / 3.59

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Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Matt Milburn

(7 IP / 7 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 5 K)

 

Stockton lost its fifth straight on Friday. RHP Matt Milburn turned in a solid start, allowing 3 runs, just 1 earned, over 7 innings of work, but he still ended up suffering his 4th loss for Stockton. Designated hitter Trace Loehr had 3 hits and drove in a run, while center fielder Chase Calabuig singled and drove in a run, and shortstop Edwin Diaz, third baseman Cobie Vance and right fielder Brett Siddall had a pair of hits apiece for the Ports.

 

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Beloit Snappers            6

Kane County Cougars  13

LP: Martinez 2-3 / 2.53

HR: Hargrove (8)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Hunter Hargrove

(2 for 4 / Home Run)

 

The Snappers fell for the fourth time in their last five games on Friday. Starter Jared Poche allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, over 5 frames, while RHP Seth Martinez surrendered 3 runs in 2 innings of relief to suffer his 3rd loss for the Snappers. Designated hitter Hunter Hargrove singled and homered, while catcher Skyler Weber singled, doubled and drove in a pair for Beloit.

 

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

Batavia Muckdogs             2

Vermont Lake Monsters  5

WP: Mejia 1-0 / 3.55

HR: Brito (1)

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Prospect Of The Game:

Outfielder Payton Squier

(3 for 4 / RBI / 2 Stolen Bases)

 

The Lake Monsters won their second straight on Friday. 22-year-old Venezuelan LHP Jhenderson Hurtado allowed 2 runs and struck out 7 over 4 1/3 frames, while 23-year-old Dominican RHP Jeferson Mejia tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win, and this year’s 7th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Charlie Cerny, got the final six outs for Vermont to secure the save. Last year’s 16th-round pick, left fielder Payton Squier, collected 3 hits, swiped a pair of bases and drove in a run, while 18-year-old Dominican second baseman Marcos Brito homered, and this year’s 20th-round pick, third baseman Max Schuemann, walked, stole a base and singled in a run for the Lake Monsters.

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL A’s            4

AZL Indians-1   0

WP: Birlingmair 2-0 / 1.10

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Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Reid Birlingmair

(4 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 5 K / Win)

 

The A’s shut out the Indians on just 4 hits on Friday. 19-year-old Dominican RHP Ismael Aquino made the start and tossed 2 scoreless innings, while this year’s 28th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Reid Birlingmair, was outstanding in relief, striking out 5 over 4 scoreless frames to earn his 2nd win. 20-year-old Italian catcher Cesarre Astorri singled twice, while rehabbing right fielder Greg Deichmann singled, drew a walk and drove in a pair for the A’s.

 

Saturday’s Games:

Nashville @ Salt Lake: 5:35pm PT / 7:35pm CT

Midland @ Corpus Christi: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Stockton @ Lake Elsinore: 6:00pm PT

Beloit @ Burlington: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT

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

 

Brian Howard
Brian Howard

 

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