TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 8
Corpus Christi Hooks 3
WP – Hall 3-0 / 2.97
HR – Kirkland (3)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Shortstop Wade Kirkland
(3 for 4 / Home Run / 4 RBIs)
Midland utility man Wade Kirkland, getting the start at shortstop, turned out to be the hero for the Hounds on Sunday. With the game tied in the top of the 8th, Kirkland singled in the go-ahead run for the RockHounds then followed that up by hitting a 3-run homer in the 9th. Kirkland also singled in the 3rd, while catcher Bruce Maxwell had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in a run, and outfielders Josh Whitaker and Jaycob Brugman had a pair of hits apiece. LHP Dillon Overton turned in a solid start, allowing just 1 run over 5 innings of work, but he left the game with his team down by a run, and RHP Kris Hall picked up the win despite giving up 1 run in 1 2/3 innings of relief for the RockHounds.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Memphis Redbirds 11
Nashville Sounds 2
LP – Mills 4-11 / 4.45
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Jake Smolinski
(2 for 4 / Double / Run)
Starter Brad Mills had a rough outing on Sunday and ended up being charged with 7 runs over just 4 innings of work to suffer his 11th loss for the Sounds. Outfielder Jake Smolinski singled, doubled and scored a run, and Smolinksi is now batting .429 in 4 games since his return to Nashville. Left fielder Ryan Roberts doubled and scored the Sounds’ only other run of the game, while first baseman Max Muncy knocked in both Nashville runs with a single in the bottom of the 6th. In other news, while RHP Taylor Thompson reached the end of his rehab assignment and was optioned to Nashville on Sunday, LHP Barry Zito was placed on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to August 7 with what was termed a “left shoulder injury.” But A’s Farm has learned that it’s nothing serious and that Zito should be returning to the Sounds’ rotation on August 15 against El Paso.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0
Stockton Ports 4
WP – Stalcup 2-3 / 3.32
Farmhand Of The Game:
Pitcher Matt Stalcup
(6 1/3 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 6 K / Win)
LHP Matt Stalcup was impressive as he led Stockton’s 1-hit shutout of Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday. The A’s 9th-round draft pick in 2013 allowed just 1 hit while striking out 6 over 6 1/3 innings of work to earn his 2nd win for the Ports. RHP Sam Roberts then tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, and RHP Joel Seddon got the final three outs in the 9th for Stockton. Outfielder Brett Vertigan had 3 hits, drove in a run, stole 2 bases and scored twice, while catcher Jacob Nottingham singled, doubled and drove in a pair for the Ports. Though it hasn’t been officially announced, A’s Farm has learned that third baseman Matt Chapman’s left wrist injury has landed him on the disabled list, and the hope is that he’ll be able to return to action before the minor league season ends in four weeks.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 9
Lansing Lugnuts 4
WP – Graves 11-5 / 4.89
HR – Pimentel (12), Bennie (10)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Catcher Iolana Akau
(3 for 5 / Double / 3 RBIs)
Starter Brett Graves allowed 3 runs over 5 innings of work to pick up his 11th win for the Snappers on Sunday. Catcher Iolana Akau had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in 3 runs, while first baseman Max Kuhn singled, doubled, tripled and scored twice. First baseman Sandber Pimentel slugged his 12th home run, a 2-run shot, and designated hitter Joe Bennie belted his 10th, his 7th in his last 8 games, for Beloit.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 11
Batavia Muckdogs 5
WP – Manarino 3-1 / 3.96
Farmhand Of The Game:
Designated Hitter Skye Bolt
(2 for 4 / Double / Walk / 2 RBIs)
Designated hitter Skye Bolt singled, doubled, walked and drove in 2 runs, including the go-ahead run in the 7th inning for the Lake Monsters. Second baseman Trace Loehr reached base 4 times, on a pair of singles and a pair of walks, and drove in a run, while outfielder Steven Pallares and third baseman Ryan Howell each singled, doubled, walked and drove in a run for Vermont. Starter Heath Bowers allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, over 3 innings of work, while RHP Darwin Frias tossed 1 scoreless inning in his first appearance since being acquired from the Mets organization, and LHP Evan Manarino picked up the win despite giving up 2 runs, 1 earned, in 2 innings of relief for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 2
AZL Angels 1
WP – Andueza 3-1 / 2.27
HR – Martinez (2), Mercedes (2)
Farmhand Of The Game:
Outfielder Robert Martinez
(2 for 4 / Home Run)
Outfielder Robert Martinez homered in the top of the 3rd to give the A’s an early lead they would never relinquish on Sunday. Martinez also singled but was left stranded in the 7th, while third baseman Miguel Mercedes hit his 2nd home run in the 4th, and outfielders Rodolfo Penalo and Jean Carlo Rodriguez both singled and walked for the A’s. Rehabbing RHP Tanner Peters started things off by tossing a scoreless frame in the 1st, while 20-year-old Venezuelan LHP Ivan Andueza allowed just 1 run over 5 innings of work to post his 3rd win, and RHP Branden Kelliher followed that up with 3 scoreless frames to earn his 1st save for the A’s.
Monday’s Games:
Vermont @ Batavia – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Angels @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
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