PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Salt Lake Bees 3
Las Vegas Aviators 7
WP: Blackburn 5-1 / 4.37
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Sheldon Neuse
(1 for 5 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Las Vegas suffered a loss in extra innings on Friday. Starter Paul Blackburn wasn’t particularly sharp, and he ended up allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits and 4 walks over 5 frames. When Blackburn threw his final pitch, the game was tied 3-3, but third baseman Sheldon Neuse belted a long, three-run blast over the left-field wall in the bottom of the 5th inning to give Las Vegas a three-run lead. The Aviators tacked on another run in the 6th. But RHP Ryan Dull gave up 2 runs in the top of the 9th before departing with a man on. RHP Brian Schlitter then came on and surrendered a two-run homer to tie the game, and LHP Kyle Lobstein eventually allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the 11th to suffer the loss for Las Vegas. Shortstop Jorge Mateo slugged a two-run shot in the 3rd to give Las Vegas an early lead, while second baseman Franklin Barreto singled twice, walked twice and stole a base. Center fielder Mark Canha went 1 for 4 with a double, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and threw out a runner at second base in his first rehab game with Las Vegas, while left fielder Nick Martini went 2 for 3, drew a walk and drove in a run in his second rehab game, and right fielder Skye Bolt went 0 for 5 with 5 strikeouts in his first start since being sent back to Las Vegas.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
A’s Highlights…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Frisco RoughRiders 8
Midland RockHounds 5
LP: McNutt 2-2 / 5.63
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Mikey White
(3 for 4 / Double / 2 RBIs)
Midland fell to Frisco for the second straight night on Friday. Starter Brian Howard allowed 3 runs while walking none and striking out 8 over 6 innings of work for the RockHounds. RHP Trey McNutt was charged with 4 runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief to take the loss, and RHP Kyle Finnegan gave up 2 keys hits in relief of McNutt and was tagged with 1 run in just 1/3 of an inning. First baseman Mikey White had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs, while second baseman Nate Mondou and center fielder Dairon Blanco each tripled and drove in a run for the RockHounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 2
Inland Empire 66ers 7
LP: Krall 0-2 / 5.94
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Nick Allen
(2 for 4 / Triple / Double)
Stockton suffered its fourth straight loss on Friday. The Ports managed just two hits in the game, both off the bat of second baseman Nick Allen, who tripled, doubled and scored a run for Stockton. And Allen now leads the team with 18 extra-base hits. Left fielder Jameson Hannah drove in both Stockton runs with a pair of sacrifice flies. Starter Xavier Altamirano allowed 2 unearned runs over 4 frames, while LHP Pat Krall was charged with 3 runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief to suffer the loss for Stockton.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Fort Wayne TinCaps 4
Beloit Snappers 1
LP: Cerny 0-2 / 4.30
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Bryce Nightengale
(4 2/3 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 3 BB / 5 K)
The Snappers fell for the fifth straight time on Friday. Starter Reid Birlingmair allowed just 1 run in 3 1/3 innings of work, while his tandem-pitching partner, RHP Bryce Nightengale, was outstanding in relief, striking out 5 while throwing 4 2/3 scoreless frames, and he left with the game a 1-1 tie. But RHP Charlie Cerny gave up 3 runs in the top of the 9th to take the loss for the Snappers. Beloit batters managed just four hits on the night. First baseman Noah Vaughan tripled and scored the Snappers’ sole run, and third baseman Cobie Vance, right fielder Nick Osborne and left fielder Anthony Churlin all singled for the Snappers in the loss.
Saturday’s Games:
Tacoma @ Las Vegas: 7:05pm PT
Frisco @ Midland: 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Stockton @ Inland Empire: 6:05pm PT
Fort Wayne @ Beloit: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our exclusive A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.