CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 4
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2
WP – Puk 3-4 / 3.43
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher A.J. Puk
(5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 4 BB / 8 K / Win)
LHP A.J. Puk turned in his second straight impressive start for Stockton on Saturday. Last year’s top draft pick for the A’s threw 5 shutout innings while allowing just 1 hit, walking 4 and striking out 8 with a fastball that was reaching into the upper-90s on the night. Puk earned his 3rd win for the Ports and has now allowed just 1 hit and 1 run while striking out 15 over his last 10 1/3 innings for Stockton. LHP Will Gilbert gave up 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief, but RHP Nolan Blackwood tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to post his 4th save for the Ports. Shortstop Eli White collected 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, while left fielder James Harris and third baseman Mikey White each singled in a run, and catcher Sean Murphy and center fielder Tyler Ramirez had a pair of hits apiece for the Ports.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox 0
Nashville Sounds 5
(SUSPENDED)
Saturday’s game at Nashville was suspended due to rain with two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning and the Sounds holding a 5-0 lead. The game is scheduled to be resumed on Tuesday. And with RHP Jharel Cotton joining Oakland on Saturday, RHP Chris Jensen returned to the Sounds from the RockHounds, while outfielder Kenny Wilson was reassigned to Vermont.
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 2
NW Arkansas Naturals 3
LP – Graves 1-1 / 3.18
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Brett Vertigan
(2 for 4 / Double / RBI)
Starter Brett Graves allowed 3 runs over 4 2/3 innings to suffer his 1st loss for Midland, while RHPs Kyle Finnegan and Lou Trivino combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the RockHounds. Center fielder Brett Vertigan had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in a run, while first baseman Viosergy Rosa singled and doubled, and third baseman Jordan Tarsovich singled and tripled as the RockHounds dropped their second straight one-run game on Saturday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 1
Quad Cities River Bandits 3
LP – Butler 1-3 / 2.42
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Xavier Altamirano
(4 IP / 0 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 3 K)
Beloit scored just 1 run on 4 hits on Saturday. Shortstop Eric Marinez had a pair of hits, including a double, and scored the Snappers’ only run, while center fielder Mike Martin and right fielder JaVon Shelby both singled in the loss. Starter Brendan Butler allowed 3 runs on 7 hits over 4 innings of work to suffer his 3rd loss, but RHP Xavier Altamirano was outstanding in relief, throwing 4 no-hit frames for the Snappers. After the first batter he faced reached base on a throwing error by third baseman Trace Loehr, Altamirano then proceeded to set down the next 12 batters in order on Saturday. In other news, LHP Zack Erwin was activated from the disabled list and is set to make his season debut for the Snappers on Sunday, while RHP Dakota Chalmers was reassigned to the Vermont roster.
Sunday’s Games:
Colorado Springs @ Nashville (Game #1) – 2:05pm PT / 4:05pm CT
Colorado Springs @ Nashville (Game #2)
Midland @ NW Arkansas – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
Stockton @ Rancho Cucamonga – 2:05pm PT
Beloit @ Quad Cities – 3:15 PT / 5:15pm CT
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