MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 6
Quad Cities River Bandits 2
WP: Birlingmair 6-6 / 4.47
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Reid Birlingmair
(6 IP / 1 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 9 K / Win)
RHP Reid Birlingmair turned in his second straight outstanding start to help the Snappers win the first game of their three-games series with Quad Cities on Wednesday. After throwing 5 scoreless frames in his last outing, Birlingmair allowed 2 runs on just 1 hit, a two-run homer, while walking 2 and striking out 9 over 6 innings of work to earn his team-best 6th win for Beloit. And the 22-year-old now has an ERA of 2.17 over his last 5 starts for the Snappers. Third baseman Max Schuemann had a pair of hits, including a double, drew a walk and swiped a pair of bases to increase his team-leading total to 15, while second baseman Joseph Pena singled, doubled, walked and drove in a run, and first baseman Nick Ward drew a pair of walks and doubled in a run for Beloit.
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A’s Highlights…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 3
Amarillo Sod Poodles 4
LP: Cochran-Gill 3-4 / 5.36
HR: E.Diaz (11), Motter (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Grant Holmes
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 6 K)
The RockHounds recorded their third straight one-run loss to drop their fourth in a row on Wednesday. But RHP Grant Holmes turned in his second straight scoreless start for Midland. The 23-year-old allowed just 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 6 over 5 scoreless frames, and he’s now struck out 15 while throwing 10 scoreless innings over his last 2 starts for the RockHounds. Holmes left with the Hounds holding a two-run lead on Wednesday, but RHP Trey Cochran-Gill gave up 4 runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief to suffer the loss. Shortstop Edwin Diaz and designated hitter Taylor Motter both homered, while right fielder Greg Deichmann singled, tripled, walked and scored a run for the RockHounds in the loss.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Inland Empire 66ers 7
Stockton Ports 1
LP: Feigl 5-9 / 4.22
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Alfonso Rivas
(2 for 4 / Double / RBI)
Stockton suffered its sixth loss in its last seven games on Wednesday. Starter Brady Feigl threw 4 scoreless frames before errors by shortstop Jeremy Eierman and second baseman Trace Loehr helped lead to 6 runs off Feigl and in the 5th and 6th innings, and he ended up being charged with 6 runs, just 2 earned, on 6 hits while walking none and striking out 5 over 5 1/3 frames to take the loss. First baseman Alfonso Rivas singled, doubled and drove in a run, while Loehr went 1 for 4 and scored a run in his return to Stockton from Las Vegas on Wednesday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Brooklyn Cyclones 2
Vermont Lake Monsters 10
WP: Murray 3-0 / 2.70
HR: Davidson (3), Bechina (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Marty Bechina
(2 for 5 / Home Run / Double / 4 RBIs)
The Lake Monsters snapped their four-game losing streak on Wednesday. Second baseman Marty Bechina slugged a two-run homer in the 2nd inning to give the Lake Monsters an early lead and also doubled in a pair of runs in the 6th, while shortstop Logan Davidson singled twice and socked a solo shot in the 3rd. Third baseman Jordan Diaz singled twice, walked twice, scored twice and drove in a run, and first baseman Dustin Harris had 3 hits and drove in a run for the Lake Monsters. RHP Michael Murray turned in a solid start, allowing just 1 run over 5 frames to earn the win, while RHP Alex Pantuso struck out 5 while pitching 2 perfect innings of relief in his debut for Vermont on Wednesday.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Cubs-2 6
AZL A’s Green 1
LP: Munoz 0-3 / 5.48
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Dennis Herrera
(4 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 2 K)
20-year-old Venezuelan LHP Dennis Herrera made the start on Wednesday and was solid, allowing just 1 hit over 4 scoreless frames, but 20-year-old Dominican RHP Keiro Munoz was charged with 5 runs in the top of the 9th to take the loss. 17-year-old Colombian right fielder Brayan Buelvas singled twice, drew a walk and swiped a pair of bases to give him a team-leading total of 10 in his first 34 games in the Arizona League.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s Gold 9
AZL Angels 6
WP: Rafuse 3-1 / 2.43
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Enrry Pantoja
(2 for 4 / Walk / 2 RBIs)
22-year-old Cuban left fielder Enrry Pantoja singled twice, drew a walk and drove in a pair of runs, including the tying run, on Wednesday. First baseman Christopher Quintin singled, walked, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and drove in 3 runs, while shortstop Elvis Peralta singled, drew a pair of walks and drove in a run. Center fielder Alonzo Jones singled, walked twice and scored a run, and right fielder Rafael Rincones drew 3 walks and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 6th inning. 21-year-old Dominican RHP Robin Vazquez made the start on Wednesday and was charged with 5 runs over 3 innings of work, while RHP Zach Rafuse allowed 1 run in 3 innings of relief to earn the win, and RHP Jack Weisenburger tossed a scoreless 9th to notch the save for the A’s.
In Other News…
The A’s promoted second baseman Corban Joseph from Las Vegas on Wednesday while sending outfielder Nick Martini back to the Aviators and designating catcher Beau Taylor for assignment. The team also signed RHP Matt Harvey to a minor league contract and assigned him to Las Vegas.
Thursday’s Games:
Albuquerque @ Las Vegas: 7:05pm PT
Midland @ Amarillo: 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Inland Empire @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Quad Cities: 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Brooklyn @ Vermont: 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Angels @ AZL A’s Green: 6:00pm PT
AZL A’s Gold @ AZL Cubs-2: 6:00pm PT
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