CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Modesto Nuts 0
Stockton Ports 2
WP: Milburn 8-5 / 3.51
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Matt Milburn
(9 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K / Win)
Starter Matt Milburn was nearly perfect for the Ports on Thursday. 2016’s 29th-round draft pick for the A’s tossed a one-hit, complete-game shutout to earn his 8th win for Stockton. The 25-year-old’s second complete-game shutout of the season lowered his ERA to 3.51, which is good for fourth best in the eight-team California League. Milburn was perfect until allowing a double with two outs in the 6th inning, and he was perfect thereafter. Designated hitter Sandber Pimentel returned from the disabled list and doubled in a pair of runs to provide all the offense the Ports would need on Thursday. In other news, Stockton second baseman Trace Loehr was also activated from the disabled list, while infielder Cobie Vance landed on the disabled list, and infielder Eric Marinez was reassigned to the RockHounds on Thursday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 4
Round Rock Express 2
WP: Jokisch 5-10 / 4.25
HR: Barreto (17), Fowler (4), Maxwell (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Eric Jokisch
(6 IP/ 5 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 3 K / Win)
LHP Eric Jokisch turned in his second straight quality start for the Sounds on Thursday. The 29-year-old allowed just 1 run over 6 innings of work to earn his 5th win, while RHP Liam Hendriks tossed a scoreless 9th to notch his 6th save for Nashville. Second baseman Franklin Barreto singled, walked and also homered for the second straight night, hitting his 17th for the Sounds, and Barreto is now batting .424 with 4 home runs over his last 9 games for Nashville. Center fielder Dustin Fowler and catcher Bruce Maxwell also homered, while designated hitter Matt Joyce went 0 for 4 in his second rehab appearance with the Sounds. Meanwhile, LHP Jesus Luzardo is set to take the mound against Memphis on Friday.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 5
Corpus Christi Hooks 0
WP: Bracewell 4-7 / 3.09
HR: Sportman (12), Martin 2 (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Ben Bracewell
(8 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 10 K / Win)
The RockHounds shut out the Hooks on just three hits on Thursday, and RHP Ben Bracewell looked impressive while turning in his sixth straight quality start for Midland. The 27-year-old allowed just 3 hits and struck out 10 over 8 scoreless innings to earn the win, while LHP Jarret Martin struck out the side in order in the 9th to complete the shutout for the Hounds. Second baseman Richie Martin hit a pair of home runs, and he’s now 6 for 9 with 3 extra-base hits and 5 RBIs over his last 3 games, while right fielder J.P. Sportman ripped a two-run homer for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, Midland catcher Sean Murphy was sent to the AZL A’s on a rehab assignment, while Stockton infielder Eric Marinez was reassigned to the RockHounds on Thursday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels 4
Beloit Snappers 5
WP: Andueza 4-9 / 5.44
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Lazaro Armenteros
(3 for 3 / Double / Walk / HBP / 2 Runs)
Third baseman Miguel Mercedes may have had the big hit of the night, but designated hitter Lazaro Armenteros turned in the most impressive performance, reaching base 5 times for the Snappers on Thursday. The 19-year-old singled twice, doubled, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch while also scoring a pair of runs, including the tying run for the Snappers. Center fielder Austin Beck had 3 hits and drove in a run, and Mercedes doubled in the bottom of the 7th to drive in both Armenteros and Beck and provide the tying and winning runs for Beloit. This year’s 14th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Gus Varland, made the start and allowed just 1 run over 4 frames, while LHP Ivan Andueza picked up the win despite giving up 3 runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief, and RHP Jesus Zambrano got the final four outs for the Snappers to post his 6th save.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
GAME #1
Vermont Lake Monsters 7
Lowell Spinners 3
WP: Kohler 3-2 / 3.91
HR: Osborne (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Chris Kohler
(5 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 2 K / Win)
Vermont notched the victory in the completion of a suspended game from earlier in the month on Thursday. Starter Adam Reuss gave up 1 run over 3 innings of work, while LHP Chris Kohler allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, over 5 frames to earn the victory for Vermont. Shortstop Jeremy Eierman singled, doubled, stole a base and drove in a pair, while right fielder Nick Osborne ripped a two-run homer, and first baseman Aaron Arruda singled twice and swiped a pair of bases for the Lake Monsters.
GAME #2
Vermont Lake Monsters 4
Lowell Spinners 0
WP: Mejia 2-1 / 2.74
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Chase Cohen
(4 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 6 K)
The Lake Monsters shut out the Spinners on three hits to earn their second win of the day on Thursday. This year’s 9th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Chase Cohen, made the start and struck out 6 over 4 shutout frames, while RHP Jeferson Mejia threw 3 scoreless innings in relief to complete the 7-inning shutout and earn the victory for Vermont. Designated hitter Jonah Bride doubled twice and drove in 2 runs, while second baseman Marcos Brito and right fielder Nick Osborne had a pair of hits apiece for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 4
AZL D-backs 3
WP: Morban 6-3 / 1.92
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Richard Morban
(5 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 8 K / Win)
The AZL A’s snapped their three-game losing streak on Thursday. 21-year-old Venezuelan RHP Jesus Monserratt made the start and gave up 1 run over 3 innings of work, while 20-year-old Dominican RHP Richard Morban allowed just 2 unearned runs and struck out 8 over 5 frames to earn his 6th win and lower his ERA to a league-best 1.92. RHP Daniel Martinez tossed a scoreless 9th to notch his 4th save for the A’s. Shortstop Nick Ward tripled in a pair of runs, while RockHounds catcher Sean Murphy went 0 for 2 in his first rehab appearance with the AZL A’s.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Memphis: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Midland @ Corpus Christi: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Stockton @ Visalia: 7:00pm PT
Beloit @ Peoria: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Vermont @ Lowell: 3:35pm PT / 6:35pm ET
AZL A’s @ AZL Giants Orange: 7:00pm PT
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