(3 for 4 / 3 HRs / 5 RBIs)
Salt Lake Bees 9
Las Vegas Aviators 13
WP: Finnegan 1-0 / 2.31
HR: Neuse (17), Payton 3 (13), Joseph (10)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Mark Payton
(3 for 4 / 3 Home Runs / 5 RBIs)
Right fielder Mark Payton had a big night at the plate to help the Aviators best the Bees on Saturday. The 27-year-old collected 3 home runs on the night – a two-run blast in the 2nd inning, followed by another two-run drive in the 5th, and a solo shot in the 8th. And Payton’s slugging percentage on the season now stands at a robust .603, which puts him in the top ten in the league. Shortstop Sheldon Neuse slugged his 17th home run, doubled twice, drew a walk and scored 3 runs, while second baseman Corban Joseph homered, doubled and drove in 4 runs for the Aviators. Starter Tyler Alexander surrendered 5 runs over 4 1/3 frames, while RHP Kyle Finnegan threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. RHP Jharel Cotton allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 in 1 2/3 innings of work, throwing 37 pitches, 22 for strikes, in his first rehab appearance for Las Vegas. RHP Ben Bracewell picked up the save despite giving up 2 runs in the top of the 9th for the Aviators.
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A’s Highlights…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Corpus Christi Hooks 6
Midland RockHounds 7
WP: Cochran-Gill 3-3 / 5.35
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Collin Theroux
(2 for 4 / Walk / GWRBI)
The RockHounds won in extra innings on Saturday. Catcher Collin Theroux singled twice, scored twice, drew a walk and drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to help the RockHounds win in a walk-off. Second baseman Kevin Merrell singled, walked twice, scored twice, stole a base and drove in a run, while first baseman Chase Calabuig had 2 hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs for the RockHounds. Starter Grant Holmes gave up 4 runs over 3 innings of work, while RHP Trey Cochran-Gill got the final six outs for Midland to pick up the win on Saturday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 4
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6
LP: Manaea 0-2 / 17.36
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Alfonso Rivas
(3 for 4 / Walk / Run)
Stockton suffered its third straight loss on Saturday. Starter Sean Manaea was charged with 5 runs on 3 hits, including a three-run homer, and 2 walks while striking out 4 in 2 1/3 innings of work to take the loss in his second rehab start for Stockton. Manaea threw 53 pitches, 36 for strikes, and Ports play-by-play man Zack Bayrouty reported that Manaea’s fastball was sitting at 88-90 mph. Meanwhile, RHP Brady Feigl was outstanding in relief, allowing just 2 hits while throwing 4 scoreless frames to lower his ERA to 3.24, which puts him in the top five in the league. First baseman Alfonso Rivas reached base 4 times, on a double, a pair of singles and a walk, to lift his on-base percentage to .395, which is currently the third-best mark in the league. Left fielder Lazaro Armenteros had a pair of hits, drew a walk and drove in a run, while designated hitter Ryan Gridley drew a walk and singled in a run in the loss.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 0
Dayton Dragons 3
LP: Nightengale 1-3 / 4.21
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Angello Infante
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 2 K)
The Snappers had their three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday. Starter Bryce Nightengale was charged with 3 runs, 1 earned, over 3 innings of work to suffer the loss, but 20-year-old Venezuelan RHP Angello Infante was outstanding in relief, allowing just 1 hit while throwing 5 scoreless frames for the Snappers. Right fielder Nick Osborne doubled twice and drew a walk for Beloit in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Batavia Muckdogs 0
Vermont Lake Monsters 2
WP: Cushing 1-2 / 5.25
HR: Richards (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Kevin Richards
(1 for 3 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
Vermont shut out Batavia on three hits on Saturday. And the Lake Monsters managed just a pair of hits in the win. 19-year-old Dominican center fielder Kevin Richards slugged a two-run homer in the 2nd inning to provide all the offense Vermont would need on Saturday. Three Lake Monsters pitchers combined on the shutout. Last year’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s, LHP Hogan Harris, made the start and threw 3 scoreless innings, while this year’s 22nd-round pick, RHP Jack Cushing, threw 4 shutout frames to earn the win, and 21-year-old Panamanian RHP Carlos Sanchez tossed 2 scoreless innings to complete the shutout and pick up the save for Vermont.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s Green 2
AZL Giants Black 6
LP: L..Sanchez 0-5 / 10.80
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Givaine Basilia
(1 for 3 / Triple / Run)
21-year-old Dominican LHP Livan Sanchez made the start and allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, in 2 1/3 innings of work to suffer the loss on Saturday. 19-year-old second baseman Givaine Basilia tripled and scored a run, while 18-year-old designated hitter Jhoan Paulino singled and walked, and last year’s 12th-round draft pick for the A’s, left fielder Noah Vaughan, doubled in a run for the A’s in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Cubs-1 5
AZL A’s Gold 3
LP: Munoz 0-2 / 5.73
HR: Hundley (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Nick Hundley
(1 for 2 / Home Run / 3 RBIs / Walk)
19-year-old Cuban RHP Pedro Santos made the start and allowed 1 run and struck out 7 over 3 innings of work, while 20-year-old Dominican RHP Keiro Munoz gave up 4 runs in 2 innings of relief to suffer the loss on Saturday. And in his second rehab game, designated hitter Nick Hundley drew a walk and drilled a three-run homer to provide all the scoring for the A’s in the loss.
Sunday’s Games:
Salt Lake @ Las Vegas: 7:05pm PT
Corpus Christi @ Midland: Noon PT / 2:00pm CT
Stockton @ Rancho Cucamonga: 2:05pm PT
Beloit @ Dayton: 11:00am PT / 1:00pm CT
Batavia @ Vermont: 2:05pm PT / 5:05pm ET
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