Tuesday, July 16th: Blackburn Impresses for Vegas but Cotton Takes the Loss while Puk & Friedrichs Lead Hounds to Shutout Win

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Las Vegas Aviators Pitcher Paul Blackburn (7 IP / 5 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K)
A’s Prospect Of The Day: Las Vegas Aviators Pitcher Paul Blackburn (7 IP / 5 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K)

 
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Las Vegas Aviators  0

Tacoma Rainiers        2

LP: Cotton 0-1 / 13.50

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Paul Blackburn

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

Despite the fact that the Aviators had their three-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday, Las Vegas starter Paul Blackburn still managed to turn in the most impressive performance of the day. Blackburn threw 7 shutout innings to lower his ERA over his last 3 outings to 1.80, but he exited with the game a scoreless tie. Rehabbing RHP Jharel Cotton took over in the 8th inning and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, including a home run, while walking none and striking out 1 in 1 inning of work to suffer the loss for Las Vegas. Cotton threw 16 pitches, 10 for strikes. Catcher Jonah Heim, first baseman Seth Brown, second baseman Corban Joseph, shortstop Jorge Mateo and center fielder Dustin Fowler each singled to account for the Aviators’ five hits in the shutout loss.

 
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TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  2

Arkansas Travelers        0

WP: Stull 2-2 / 2.67

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Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Kyle Friedrichs

(5 IP / 4 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 3 K)

 

Four RockHounds pitchers combined to shut out Arkansas on six hits on Tuesday. LHP A.J. Puk made the start and allowed just 1 hit while walking none and striking out 4 over 2 scoreless innings, throwing 17 pitches, 15 for strikes, along the way. RHP Kyle Friedrichs was outstanding in relief, throwing 5 scoreless frames to keep the shutout intact through the 7th. LHP Cody Stull tossed a scoreless 8th to earn the win, and RHP Jesus Zambrano got the final three outs in the 9th to record the save for the RockHounds. Third baseman Dan Gamache, who was recently acquired from the independent Atlantic League, went 0 for 3 but brought in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the 9th in his Texas League debut, while second baseman Nate Mondou singled, walked and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the RockHounds’ only other run in the 9th.

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL D-backs    18

AZL A’s Green  3

LP: L.Martinez 1-1 / 2.04

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Prospect Of The Game:

Designated Hitter Nico Giarratano

(2 for 3 / Walk / 3 Runs)

 

The AZL A’s Green squad suffered a double-digit loss on Tuesday. 18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Luis Martinez made the start and was charged with 2 unearned runs in 2 innings of work to take the loss, while RHP Malik Jones gave up 6 runs, 3 earned, in 3 innings of relief, and 22-year-old Venezuelan RHP Jesus Monserratt surrendered 7 runs, 4 earned, in just 1 1/3 innings for the A’s. Designated hitter Nico Giarratano had a pair of hits, drew a walk and scored all 3 of the A’s runs in the loss.

 

ARIZONA LEAGUE  (Rookie Short-Season)

AZL A’s Gold   8

AZL Rangers   11

LP: Dicochea 0-1 / 15.43

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Prospect Of The Game:

Shortstop Elvis Peralta

(3 for 4 / RBI)

 

This year’s 8th-round draft pick for the A’s, 18-year-old RHP Jose Dicochea, made the start on Tuesday and was charged with 4 runs in 1 1/3 innings of work to suffer the loss. This year’s 26th-round draft pick, shortstop Elvis Peralta, and 22-year-old Venezuelan center fielder Yhoelnys Gonzalez each collected 3 hits, drove in a run and scored twice for the A’s in the loss.

 

Wednesday’s Games:

Las Vegas @ Tacoma: 7:05pm PT

Midland @ Arkansas: 5:10pm PT / 7:10pm CT

Lancaster @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT

West Michigan @ Beloit: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT

Vermont @ Staten Island: 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET

AZL A’s Gold @ AZL A’s Green: 6:00pm PT

 

Paul Blackburn
Paul Blackburn

 

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