TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 2
Arkansas Travelers 1
WP: Duno 3-3 / 6.23
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Grant Holmes
(5 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 5 K)
After he missed most of last season due to shoulder injuries and then was sidelined for a little over a month earlier this season, the A’s have been bringing RHP Grant Holmes along slowly, limiting his outings to no more than 3 innings until the past few weeks. It seems like Holmes has been slowly regaining his form over the past couple of months and, on Thursday, he looked strong in his longest outing of the season. Holmes threw 5 scoreless frames, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 5, and since his return from the injured list on May 22, Holmes has compiled an ERA of just 2.63 in 12 outings for the RockHounds. The 23-year-old exited on Thursday with the game a scoreless tie. RHP Angel Duno followed him on the mound and picked up the win by tossing 2 scoreless innings, and LHP Zack Erwin recorded the save despite giving up 1 run in 2 innings of relief for the RockHounds. Third baseman Dan Gamache drew 3 walks and scored a run, while catcher Cooper Goldby singled, walked and scored a run. First baseman Chase Calabuig singled and stole a base, and right fielder Taylor Motter singled in the go-ahead run in the 8th inning for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, Midland infielder Mikey White was placed on the injured list and outfielder Mickey McDonald was promoted from the Ports to the RockHounds on Thursday.
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A’s Highlights…
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Las Vegas Aviators 3
Tacoma Rainiers 9
LP: Buchanan 3-6 / 6.23
HR: Payton (17)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Mark Payton
(1 for 3 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Right fielder Mark Payton slugged his 7th home run in his last 6 games, a three-run shot in the 5th inning, to account for all the Aviators’ scoring on Thursday. And Payton now leads the Pacific Coast League with a slugging percentage of .639. Starter Jake Buchanan surrendered 6 runs over 5 frames to suffer his 6th loss for Las Vegas.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Lancaster JetHawks 1
Stockton Ports 9
WP: Kaprielian 2-2 / 4.46
HR: Armenteros (14)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Lazaro Armenteros
(1 for 2 / Home Run / 3 RBIs / 3 Walks)
Stockton won its fourth straight on Thursday, and LHP Sean Manaea and RHP James Kaprielian both pitched well for the Ports in the victory. Left fielder Lazaro Armenteros reached based 4 times. The 20-year-old tagged a two-run homer in the 2nd inning to give Stockton an early lead it would never surrender. He also drew 3 walks, including a bases-loaded walk to bring home another run in the 3rd, and he now leads the team with 55 free passes. First baseman Alfonso Rivas had a pair of hits, drew a walk and drove in a run, while third baseman Jonah Bride tripled, walked and scored twice, and designated hitter Nick Hundley went 1 for 3 with a pair of walks in his second rehab game with the Ports. LHP Sean Manaea made the start and struck out 4 over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He threw 64 pitches, 39 for strikes and, according to play-by-play man Alex Jensen, Manaea’s fastball was sitting at 88-90 mph on Thursday. RHP James Kaprielian picked up the win after allowing just 1 run while walking none and striking out 7 over 4 frames, throwing 62 pitches, 44 for strikes, in what was perhaps his most impressive performance for the Ports. Meanwhile, outfielder Mickey McDonald was promoted from the Ports to the RockHounds and infielder Nico Giarratano was assigned to Stockton on Thursday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
West Michigan Whitecaps 13
Beloit Snappers 7
LP: Birlingmair 2-6 / 5.35
HR: Farrar (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Logan Farrar
(1 for 4 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
The Snappers suffered their fifth straight loss on Thursday. Starter Reid Birlingmair surrendered 6 runs over 5 1/3 frames to take the loss. Right fielder Logan Farrar ripped a three-run homer, while catcher Skyler Weber singled, doubled, drew a walk and drove in a run, and second baseman Joseph Pena had 3 hits and drove in a run for the Snappers in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
GAME #1
Vermont Lake Monsters 5
Staten Island Yankees 13
LP: Peluse 0-1 / 2.89
HR: J.Diaz (6)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Jordan Diaz
(1 for 4 / Grand Slam)
The Lake Monsters went down to defeat in the completion of Wednesday’s suspended game on Thursday. This year’s 9th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Colin Peluse, made the start and allowed 1 run in 2 innings of work to suffer the loss. 18-year-old Colombian third baseman Jordan Diaz slugged a grand slam in the 7th inning to account for all but one of Vermont’s runs in the loss.
GAME #2
Vermont Lake Monsters 0
Staten Island Yankees 7
LP: Harris 1-2 / 2.70
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Shane Selman
(1 for 2 / Walk)
The Lake Monsters were shut out on just four hits in Thursday’s regularly-scheduled game. Last year’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s, LHP Hogan Harris, made the start and allowed 3 runs in just 2/3 of an inning to suffer his 2nd loss. This year’s 6th-round draft pick, RHP Seth Shuman, tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, and this year’s 21st-round pick, left fielder Shane Selman, singled and walked for the Lake Monsters in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s Green 7
AZL Cubs-1 6
WP: Yearego 2-0 / 0.68
HR: H.Lopez (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Catcher Hansen Lopez
(2 for 4 / Home Run / Triple / 5 RBIs)
The AZL A’s Green squad notched a one-run win on Thursday. 19-year-old Mexican catcher Hansen Lopez had a big night at the plate, hitting a two-run homer and tripling with the bases loaded to drive in 5 runs on the night. This year’s 11th-round draft pick, first baseman Dustin Harris, had 3 hits, drew a walk and scored a run for the A’s. 21-year-old Dominican LHP Livan Sanchez made the start and threw 3 2/3 scoreless frames, while RHP Dominic Yearego tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win, and this year’s 40th-round pick, RHP Sam Romero, got the final three outs in the 9th to notch the save.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Angels 4
AZL A’s Gold 5
WP: Whittlesey 2-0 / 4.76
HR: Rincones (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Rafael Rincones
(2 for 4 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The AZL A’s Gold squad won in extra innings on Thursday. 20-year-old Venezuelan left fielder Rafael Rincones singled and slugged a two-run homer to tie the game in the bottom of the 10th, while this year’s 26th-round draft pick for the A’s, shortstop Elvis Peralta, doubled in the winning run in the 10th as the A’s won in a walk-off. 18-year-old Panamanian third baseman Joshwan Wright singled twice and drove in a pair, and designated hitter Sean Murphy went 0 for 5 in his fourth rehab game with the A’s. This year’s 20th-round draft pick, RHP Jack Weisenburger, made the start and gave up 2 runs in 1 inning of work, while 19-year-old Cuban RHP Pedro Santos tossed 4 scoreless frames in relief, and RHP Brock Whittlesey picked up the win despite allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, in the top of the 10th on Thursday.
Friday’s Games:
Las Vegas @ Salt Lake: 6:05pm PT
Midland @ Tulsa: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Lancaster @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT
West Michigan @ Beloit: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Vermont @ Staten Island: 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET
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