PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 7
Round Rock Express 4
WP – Cook 4-1 / 3.96
HR – Pridie (9), Smolinski (6), Muncy (2), Viciedo (1)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jake Smolinski
(Home Run / 2 Doubles / 2 RBIs)
26-year-old outfielder Jake Smolinski has been quite an offensive force for Nashville since being claimed off waivers by the A’s from Texas almost two weeks ago. And he wielded the big bat once again on Saturday. The former 2nd-round draft pick homered in the 2nd inning to give the Sounds an early lead. He doubled but was left stranded in the 8th and then, with the game tied in the top of the 10th, Smolinski doubled in the winning run as Nashville notched its third win in its last four games on Saturday. Third baseman Max Muncy doubled and scored the winning run in the 10th, while outfielder Jason Pridie, first baseman Dayan Viciedo and Muncy hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the Sounds in the 6th. Second baseman Joey Wendle collected 3 hits in the game, including 2 doubles, and drove in a run, while catcher Carson Blair had a pair of hits and drove in a run in the win. Starter Zach Neal was impressive on Saturday, allowing 1 run on just 3 hits over 7 innings of work, and he left the game with a 3-run lead. RHP Arnold Leon gave up 1 run in the 8th, and RHP Ryan Cook surrendered a pair of runs to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th but ended up picking up the win after the Sounds came back in the top of the 10th. LHP Jim Fuller got the final three outs in the bottom of the 10th to earn his 1st save for the Sounds. RHP Cody Martin, acquired from Atlanta earlier in the week, is scheduled to make his first start for Nashville on Sunday.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Arkansas Travelers 5
Midland RockHounds 3
LP – Jensen 5-8 / 5.64
HR – Brugman (4)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jaycob Brugman
(Home Run / Double / 2 Walks / RBI)
RHP Chris Jensen had his third straight shaky start on Saturday, allowing 5 runs in 5 innings of work to take his 8th loss, while LHP Chris Lamb and RHPs Tucker Healy and Ryan Dull combined to throw 4 scoreless innings of relief for the RockHounds. Outfielder Jaycob Brugman homered, doubled and walked twice, while catcher Bruce Maxwell had 2 hits and drove in a pair, and third baseman Ryon Healy singled and doubled but left the game after being hit in the face by a bad-hop grounder in the 5th inning. Meanwhile, Midland catcher Philip Pohl was dealt to Colorado organization.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 2
Bakersfield Blaze 1
WP – Seddon 6-4 / 3.33
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Joel Seddon
(7 IP / 9 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 8 K / Win)
RHP Joel Seddon turned in his fifth straight quality start for Stockton, allowing just 1 run while striking out 8 over 7 innings of work to earn his 6th win on Saturday. RHP Sam Bragg pitched a perfect 8th, and RHP Brendan McCurry got the final three outs in the 9th to notch his 17th save. Catcher Jose Chavez singled in a run in his first game for Stockton, while third baseman Matt Chapman doubled and scored, and outfielder B.J. Boyd had a pair of hits for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 5
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8
LP – Stull 2-3 / 5.40
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Joe Bennie
(3 for 4 / Double / Run / Stolen Base)
RHP Heath Fillmyer had another rough start for the Snappers, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits and 3 walks while throwing 59 pitches in just 2 1/3 innings on Saturday. RHP Kevin Johnson gave up 1 run in 2 1/3 innings of relief, while LHP Cody Stull was charged with 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss, and RHP Dominique Vattuone gave up another 2 runs over 1 2/3 innings for the Snappers. Designated hitter Joe Bennie collected 3 hits in the game, including a double, scored the Snappers’ first run in the 6th and stole his 12th base, while outfielder Justin Higley and shortstop Tim Proudfoot drove in a pair of runs apiece in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 6
Connecticut Tigers 7
LP – Kurz 0-3 / 15.43
HR – Howell (2)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Ryan Howell
(3 for 4 / Home Run / Double / 3 RBIs)
This year’s 6th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Bowdien Derby, made his first appearance for Vermont on Saturday and struck out 5 while throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the Lake Monsters. RHP Cody Kurz gave up 3 runs in 1 1/3 innings to take his 3rd loss, while LHP Chris Kohler surrendered another 4 runs over 3 innings of relief on Saturday. The A’s top pick, shortstop Richie Martin, singled twice and doubled in a pair of runs to put Vermont on the board in the 5th, while 8th-round catcher Nick Collins collected 3 hits and scored 3 times, and 15th-round left fielder Ryan Howell singled, doubled and hit a 3-run homer in the 7th for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 4
AZL Angels 11
LP – Zambrano 0-2 / 9.53
Farmhand Of The Game:
Catcher Miguel Guzman
(Double / 2 RBIs)
18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Jesus Zambrano had a rocky start on Saturday, allowing 5 runs over 4 innings of work to take his 2nd loss for the A’s. Catcher Miguel Guzman doubled in 2 runs to tie the game in the top of the 2nd, while shortstop Eric Marinez singled, doubled, stole a base and scored the A’s first run, and first baseman Shane Conlon had a pair of hits in the loss.
Sunday’s Games:
Nashville @ Round Rock – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
NW Arkansas @ Midland – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT
Stockton @ Bakersfield – 7:45pm PT
Beloit @ Wisconsin – 11:05am PT / 1:05pm CT
Vermont @ Connecticut – 1:05pm PT / 4:05pm ET
AZL Angels @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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