MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Kane County Cougars 2
Beloit Snappers 3
WP: Bowers 5-2 / 4.17
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Miguel Mercedes
(2 for 4 / Triple / Double / RBI)
Beloit won in a walk-off on Wednesday to remain tied for second place and just three games behind Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League Western Division. Second baseman Ryan Gridley may have had the big hit, but third baseman Miguel Mercedes had the most impressive performance of the night for the Snappers. In just his second game since returning to the team from the AZL A’s, Mercedes tripled in Beloit’s first run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Then, with the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Mercedes doubled to lead off the home half of the inning before Gridley singled to bring home pinch-runner Mickey McDonald as the Snappers won in a walk-off. Mercedes is obviously happy to be back in Beloit. In his first two games since returning to the Midwest League, the 22-year-old is 5 for 9 with a double, a triple, a home run and 4 RBIs for the Snappers. Gridley singled twice in the game, while center fielder Austin Beck had 2 hits, including a double. LHP Jared Poche turned in a solid start, allowing 2 runs over 6 nnings of work, while RHP Heath Bowers was outstanding in relief, throwing 3 scoreless frames to pick up his 5th win for the Snappers.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Fresno Grizzlies 2
Nashville Sounds 5
WP: Jokisch 4-9 / 4.60
HR: Laureano (14)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Eric Jokisch
(6 IP / 9 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 7 K / Win)
LHP Eric Jokisch turned in his seventh quality start of the season to help the Sounds win their third straight on Wednesday. Jokisch allowed 2 runs and struck out 7 over 6 innings of work to earn his 4th win, while RHP Raul Alcantara was solid in relief, throwing 3 scoreless innings to notch his 4th save for Nashville. Left fielder Ramon Laureano launched his 14th home run, while shortstop Jorge Mateo had 2 hits, including a double, and first baseman Steve Lombardozzi singled twice, walked twice and scored 3 runs for the Sounds. In other news, the A’s sent center fielder Dustin Fowler back to the Sounds on Wednesday, while outfielder Boog Powell was activated from the disabled list and assigned to the Sounds, and RHP Carlos Ramirez was designated for assignment. Meanwhile, Laureano looks to be headed to Oakland after he was pulled from the game in the 6th inning and was seen being congratulated by his teammates in the dugout according to Sounds play-by-play man Jeff Hem.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Frisco RoughRiders 10
Midland RockHounds 8
LP: Bragg 3-4 / 4.06
HR: Heim (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Skye Bolt
(3 for 4 / Double / Walk / 2 RBIs / Stolen Base)
The Rockhounds fell for the fourth time in their last five games on Wednesday. Starter Norge Ruiz allowed 4 runs over 4 frames, while RHP Sam Bragg gave up 5 runs in 2 innings of relief to suffer his 4th loss for the Hounds. Center fielder Skye Bolt had 3 hits, including a double, drew a walk, stole a base and drove in 2 runs, while catcher Jonah Heim singled and belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th, and first baseman Seth Brown doubled twice, drew a walk and drove in a run for the RockHounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Modesto Nuts 10
Stockton Ports 2
LP: Manarino 3-5 / 5.76
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Greg Deichmann
(2 for 3 / Walk / RBI)
Stockton suffered its eighth loss in its last nine games on Wednesday. Stockton starter Evan Manarino struggled, allowing 9 runs over 4 2/3 frames to take the loss. Left fielder Greg Deichmann had 2 hits, drew a walk and drove in a run, while center fielder Chase Calabuig singled, doubled, walked and scored a run, and second baseman Trace Loehr collected 3 singles in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 1
Connecticut Tigers 3
LP: Mendoza 2-3 / 3.89
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Payton Squier
(3 for 4 / Run)
This year’s 5th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Brady Feigl, made the start on Wednesday and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.35 over his first 20 frames for Vermont. 19-year-old Panamanian RHP Abdiel Mendoza allowed 1 run in 3 1/3 innings of relief to suffer his 3rd loss for the Lake Monsters. Left fielder Payton Squier collected 3 hits, while right fielder Nick Osborne singled twice, and first baseman Alfonso Rivas singled in Vermont’s sole run in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 4
AZL Angels 3
WP: Aquino 1-0 / 3.26
HR: Dingcong (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Gio Dingcong
(1 for 2 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The AZL A’s notched their third win in their last four games on Wednesday. This year’s 30th-round draft pick for the A’s, first baseman Gio Dingcong, slugged a two-run homer in the top of the 1st inning to give the A’s a lead they would never surrender. This year’s 28th-round pick, RHP Reid Birlingmair, made the start and gave up 1 run in 2 1/3 innings of work, while 19-year-old Dominican RHP Ismael Aquino allowed 1 run in 3 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win, and this year’s 29th-round pick, LHP Austin Briggs, tossed a scoreless 9th to pick up his first pro save for the A’s.
Thursday’s Games:
Fresno @ Nashville: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
San Antonio @ Midland: 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Modesto @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT
Kane County @ Beloit: 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Hudson Valley @ Vermont: 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
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