CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
High Desert Mavericks 2
Stockton Ports 5
WP – Finnegan 2-2 / 4.17
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Kyle Finnegan
(6 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 6 K / Win)
Starter Kyle Finnegan turned in an impressive start for Stockton on Thursday, allowing just 1 baserunner – on a bunt single in the 5th – while striking out 6 over a near-perfect 6 innings of work to earn his 2nd win for the Ports. LHP Sean Doolittle followed Finnegan in his first rehab appearance for Stockton. Doolittle struck out the first two batters he faced in the 7th before surrendering 2 straight home runs and then getting the final out on a popout. Doolittle threw a total of 12 pitches, 10 for strikes, and ended up allowing 2 runs in 1 inning of work for the Ports. RHP Trevor Bayless tossed a scoreless 8th, while RHP Ben Bracewell got the final three outs in the 9th for his 1st save. After hitting his first home run for Stockton on Wednesday, third baseman Matt Chapman singled, doubled and scored a run, while first baseman Michael Soto collected 3 hits, including a double, and drove in 2 runs, and outfielder B.J. Boyd also had 3 hits and drove in a pair for the Ports.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 4
Iowa Cubs 6
LP – Bassitt 1-2 / 4.74
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Sean Nolin
(3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K)
After making 2 scoreless relief appearances for the Sounds, rehabbing LHP Sean Nolin made his first start on Thursday, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 3 over 3 shutout innings for Nashville. Nolin threw a total of 31 pitches, 22 for strikes, and could soon factor into the A’s pitching plans. RHP Chris Bassitt followed Nolin on the mound and surrendered 4 runs over 3 innings of work to take the loss in his first appearance since being optioned back to the Sounds. Second baseman Joey Wendle singled and doubled, while catcher Luke Carlin walked and singled in a pair of runs in the 9th, and third baseman Ryan Roberts walked, doubled and drove in the Sounds’ first run of the game for the second straight night.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
San Antonio Missions 0
Midland RockHounds 2
WP – Atherton 1-1 / 2.25
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Tim Atherton
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 1 K / Win)
RHP Tim Atherton had his best start yet for Midland, allowing just 1 hit while walking none and striking out 1 over 5 innings of work to earn the win as the RockHounds ran their winning streak to six on Thursday. And since the game was called after 5 innings due to rain, it was officially a complete-game victory for Atherton. Center fielder Chad Oberacker had a pair of hits, stole a base and scored the RockHounds’ first run on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Matt Olson, while left fielder Jaycob Brugman walked and singled in the Hounds’ only other run of the night.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 3
Quad Cities River Bandits 6
LP – Johnson 1-3 / 5.16
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Joe Bennie
(Double / 2 Walks / RBI)
Filling in for the injured Heath Fillmyer in the Snappers’ rotation, RHP Kevin Johnson allowed 3 runs in 3 innings of work to take his 3rd loss, while LHP Jose Torres gave up 3 runs in 1 inning of relief on Thursday. Outfielder Joe Bennie drew a pair of walks and doubled in a run, while first baseman Max Kuhn had 3 hits and scored twice, and outfielder James Harris singled, doubled and scored for the Snappers. Meanwhile, with 2013’s 7th-round pick, RHP Dustin Driver, officially joining Beloit on Thursday, 2014’s 9th-round pick, LHP Mike Fagan, was sent back to extended spring training in Arizona. Fagan allowed 14 runs in 13 2/3 innings of relief in his time with the Snappers.
Friday’s Games:
Nashville @ Iowa – 5:08pm PT / 7:08pm CT
San Antonio @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Modesto @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT
Beloit @ Peoria – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
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