TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 9
Frisco RoughRiders 3
WP – Fillmyer 11-5 / 3.49
HR – Mateo 2 (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Jorge Mateo
(3 for 5 / 2 Home Runs / 4 RBIs)
The RockHounds clinched their fourth straight playoff appearance on Monday. Shortstop Jorge Mateo had another big day at the plate, collecting 3 hits, including a pair of home runs. The 22-year-old slugged a solo shot in the 3rd inning and added a 2-run blast in the 8th. Mateo drove in 4 runs on the day and ended up going 9 for 20 over his last 4 regular season games for the RockHounds. Second baseman Max Schrock had 3 hits and stole base, while third baseman Sheldon Neuse singled twice, doubled and drove in 3 runs, and center fielder B.J. Boyd went 0 for 5 to finish the season in third place in the Texas League batting race with a .323 batting average. RHP Heath Fillmyer turned in another strong start for the RockHounds, allowing 3 runs over 7 1/3 innings of work to earn his 11th win for Midland. The best-of-five Texas League South Division Series begins on Wednesday in San Antonio, with Game #3 and Game #4 (if necessary) taking place in Midland. LHP A.J. Puk is set to make the Game #1 start for Midland on Wednesday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 3
New Orleans Baby Cakes 0
WP – Neal 4-8 / 4.82
HR – Taylor (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Zach Neal
(7 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 1 K / Win)
The Sounds wrapped up their season by shutting out New Orleans to win their fourth straight and finish the season with a 68-71 record on Monday. RHP Zach Neal turned in an impressive start, allowing just 3 hits over 7 shutout innings to earn the win, while RHP Corey Walter tossed 1 scoreless inning in relief, and LHP Felix Doubront got the final three outs in the 9th to complete the 5-hit shutout and notch his 1st save for Nashville. Catcher Beau Taylor belted a 2-run homer, while shortstop Yairo Munoz singled and drew a pair of walks, and second baseman Joey Wendle singled and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for the Sounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
San Jose Giants 3
Stockton Ports 7
WP – Wagman 4-2 / 4.86
HR – Siddall (21), Pimentel (14), Iriart (10)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Sandber Pimentel
(2 for 5 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
After clinching a playoff spot on Sunday, three home runs and solid pitching helped the Ports prevail once again to finish the season with a 71-69 record on Monday. First baseman Sandber Pimentel singled and hit a 3-run homer, while left fielder Brett Siddall singled and belted a 2-run blast. Designated hitter Chris Iriart slugged a 2-run shot, and third baseman Branden Cogswell had 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, for the Ports. Starter Boomer Biegalski struck over 5 over 3 perfect innings, while RHP Joey Wagman threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn his 4th win for Stockton. Meanwhile, Seth Brown was named the Ports’ Player of the Year and RHP Nolan Blackwood was named the Ports ‘ Pitcher of the Year on Monday. The best-of-five North Division Finals begin on Wednesday in Modesto, with Game #3 and Game #4 (if necessary) taking place in Stockton. RHP Logan Shore is set to make the Game #1 start for Stockton on Wednesday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels 0
Beloit Snappers 3
WP – Martinez 5-10 / 3.49
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Seth Martinez
(7 IP / 6 H / 0 ER / 0 BB / 6 K)
The Snappers shut out Cedar Rapids to finish the season with a 65-73 record on Monday. RHP Seth Martinez turned in an outstanding start, striking out 6 over 7 shutout innings to earn the win, while RHP Jesus Zambrano pitched 2 perfect innings in relief to complete the 6-hit shutout and secure his 4th save for the Snappers. Designated hitter Miguel Mercedes doubled, while center fielder JaVon Shelby walked and singled in a run, and right fielder Mike Martin had a pair of hits to finish the season with a .300 batting average for Beloit.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
GAME #1
Tri-City ValleyCats 6
Vermont Lake Monsters 5
LP – Blanco 5-7 / 5.30
HR – Deichmann (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Greg Deichmann
(1 for 4 / Home Run)
The Lake Monsters came up short in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader. Second baseman Ryan Gridley singled, doubled and drove in a run, while left fielder James Terrell had 2 hits and drove in pair, and right fielder Greg Deichmann homered in the bottom of the 3rd inning to briefly give his team the lead. Starter Argenis Blanco surrendered 6 runs over 3 1/3 frames to suffer his 7th loss for the Lake Monsters.
GAME #2
Tri-City ValleyCats 4
Vermont Lake Monsters 7
WP – Salow 2-3 / 1.61
HR – Deichmann (8), Costa (2)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Greg Deichmann
(1 for 3 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Vermont was victorious in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader to clinch their first division title since 2011. Right fielder Greg Deichmann hit his second home run of the day, slugging a 3-run shot in the 1st inning to give the Lake Monsters an early lead, while catcher Jarrett Costa clubbed solo shot in Vermont’s 3-run 5th. Starter Wyatt Marks allowed 4 runs, just 1 earned, over 4 2/3 frames, while LHP Logan Salow pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings in relief to pick up his 2nd victory for Vermont. The Lake Monsters still have three regular season games left before beginning playoff play on Saturday.
Tuesday’s Game:
Tri-City @ Vermont – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
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This is fantastic too see Midland fight back in second half for fourth St. Playoff, and with Vermont winning it’s division it looks like the A’s had an exceptional overall draft with guys like Marzonek (UDFA already in Stockton) Logan Farrar (rd 36 leads Penn league in BA .323) Parker Dunshee (0.00 ERA 38.1 INN .60 WHIP RD8) Brian Howard (1.27 ERA 1bb 29inn Rd 9) completely outplaying draft position. OF Greg Diechman looks like a 2nd Rd steal as well as Kevin Merrell. #1 pick Austin Beck started slow for AZL Athletics (4-40) but then picked up his play after displaying his +5tool potential as well as his insane bat speed. Throw in Nick Allen and promise he has displayed and arguably you could say Oakland had best draft. Throw in the trades we made last couple years for guys like Schrock, Mateo and Neuse too throw in what we already have in Olson, Chapman, Semien, Barretto, Pinder, healyr the cupboard is full and that’s without trying to find room for OF’s BJ Boyd and Tyler Ramirez who have shown they can make contact and get on base. The days if Oakland failing to have multiple .300 hitters let alone one are nearing an end, as well as, the days of Oakland failing to have a starter consistently pitch into 7th or best get QS.