CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
High Desert Mavericks 6
Stockton Ports 5
LP – Walter 0-2 / 3.55
HR – Soto (3), Chapman (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Matt Chapman
(Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The A’s #1 pick in last year’s draft, Matt Chapman, came to the plate with a man on in the bottom of the 4th inning and Stockton down by a run and slugged his 1st home run of the season to give the Ports a 1-run lead on Wednesday. Before Wednesday, Chapman had gone 1 for 18 in his first 5 games since returning from a knee injury he suffered right before the start of spring training. Third baseman Michael Soto also hit a 2-run shot in the 3rd for Stockton. But unfortunately, the lead that Chapman provided the Ports with wouldn’t last for long. RHP Dylan Covey, who’d given up 4 runs in the 1st, also allowed the tying run in the top of the 5th. Covey ended up allowing 5 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings of work and left with the game a 5-5 tie. RHP Corey Walter tossed a scoreless 6th but loaded the bases in the 7th before giving way to RHP Sam Bragg, who walked in the winning run, giving Walter his 2nd loss for Stockton. In other news, LHP Sean Doolittle is set to join the Ports on Thursday to begin his rehab assignment in Stockton.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 2
Iowa Cubs 3
LP – Cook 2-1 / 2.89
Farmhand Of The Game:
Third Baseman Ryan Roberts
(2 for 4 / RBI)
Nashville managed just 5 hits on Wednesday, and third baseman Ryan Roberts had 2 of them. With two outs in the top of the 4th, Roberts singled in the Sounds’ first run and would later single in the 7th as well. The veteran infielder, who was signed as a minor league free agent early in the season, is now hitting .288 with 6 doubles in his first 15 games while playing third base and second base for the Sounds, and it’s quite possible that the right-handed hitter could end up seeing some time in Oakland at some point this season. First baseman Nate Freiman singled before leaving the game in the 3rd inning with an apparent injury. Spot starter Ryan Verdugo was solid, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk over 4 1/3 shutout innings, while switch-pitcher Pat Venditte struck out 5 in 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Nashville held a 2-run lead heading into the bottom of the 9th, when RHP Ryan Cook loaded the bases before walking in one run. He then surrendered the tying and winning runs on a 2-run single to allow Iowa to win in a walk-off. Before Wednesday’s meltdown, Cook hadn’t allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings of relief for the Sounds. In other news, rehabbing LHP Sean Nolin is set to make his first start for Nashville on Thursday. Catcher Blake Forsythe, who had just 15 at-bats for the Sounds this season, was traded to Philadelphia for cash in order to make room on the roster for RHP Chris Bassitt, while outfielder Alex Hassan, who’d been designated for assignment, was officially released on Tuesday, and Nashville LHP Barry Zito celebrated his 37th birthday on Wednesday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 8
Quad Cities River Bandits 15
LP – Grundy 0-1 / 6.52
HR – Harris (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder James Harris
(Home Run / Double)
RHP Jordan Schwartz had another rough start on Wednesday and last year’s 4th-round pick might not get too many more chances to straighten things out in the Snappers’ rotation. Schwartz gave up 6 runs, 5 earned, on 8 hits and a walk in just 3 innings of work to raise his ERA to 8.69 after 7 starts. But Beloit scored 8 runs over the first 4 innings to keep him off the hook. LHP Jerad Grundy relieved Schwartz and did even worse, allowing 7 runs, 5 earned, in just 1 2/3 innings of relief to take the loss. Center fielder James Harris hit his 1st home run and his 1st double for the Snappers, while second baseman Trent Gilbert collected 3 hits, including a double. Left fielder Joe Bennie drove in a pair of runs, and shortstop Yairo Munoz and third baseman Jose Brizuela both walked and doubled in a run in the loss. Meanwhile, 2013’s 7th-round pick, RHP Dustin Driver, is set to join the Snappers on Thursday from extended spring training in Arizona.
Thursday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 10:08am PT / 12:08pm CT
San Antonio @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
High Desert @ Stockton – 11:05am PT
Beloit @ Quad Cities – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
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