TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Frisco RoughRiders 1
Midland RockHounds 8
WP: Luzardo 4-3 / 3.40
HR: Murphy (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Jesus Luzardo
(5 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 2 BB / 1 K / Win)
LHP Jesus Luzardo turned in his third straight strong start to help the RockHounds snap their three-game losing streak on Sunday. The 20-year-old allowed just 3 hits while throwing 5 scoreless innings to earn his 4th win for Midland. And Luzardo has now allowed just 1 earned run over his last 15 frames for the RockHounds. RHP Nolan Blackwood tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to secure his team-leading 8th save. Catcher Sean Murphy singled, walked, stole a base and slugged his 7th home run in the 6th inning, while first baseman Mikey White singled, walked twice and drove in 2 runs. Left fielder Seth Brown singled, doubled, walked and stole a base, and designated hitter Brett Siddall drew a walk and doubled in a pair of runs for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, outfielder Brett Vertigan was reassigned from the RockHounds to the Sounds and outfielder Skye Bolt was promoted from the Ports to Midland on Sunday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Nashville Sounds 12
Albuquerque Isotopes 17
LP: Coulombe 0-1 / 2.45
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Nick Martini
(3 for 5 / Double / Walk / 2 RBIs)
The Sounds dropped their second straight to Albuquerque in a slugfest on Sunday. RHP Raul Alcantara made his first start of the season for the Sounds and surrendered 4 runs in 2 innings of work, while LHP Danny Coulombe was charged with 4 runs, just 1 earned, in 1 2/3 innings of relief to suffer the loss in his first appearance since his return to the Sounds. LHP Dean Kiekhefer allowed 3 runs over 2 1/3 innings, and Melvin Mercedes gave up 5 runs in 1 inning in a rare pitching appearance for the infielder. First baseman Nick Martini had 3 hits, including a double, drew a walk and drove in a pair and extended his on-base streak to 50 games. Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi singled twice, doubled and drove in 2 runs, while third baseman Sheldon Neuse singled, doubled and drove in a pair, and left fielder Brett Vertigan went 0 for 2 and drove in a run on a groundout in his Triple-A debut on Sunday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 7
Modesto Nuts 5
WP: Krall 1-0 / 4.91
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Luke Persico
(4 for 5 / 2 Doubles / 2 RBIs)
The Ports prevailed for the sixth time in their last eight games on Sunday to finish the first half with a league-best record of 44-26. Left fielder Luke Persico had a big day at the plate, collecting 4 hits, including a pair of doubles, and driving in 2 runs, and Persico is now batting an impressive .591 over his last 6 games for the Ports. Right fielder Dairon Blanco singled, doubled and drove in a pair, while shortstop Kevin Merrell had 2 hits, including a double, and drove in a run, and second baseman Nate Mondou drew a walk and doubled in a run. RHP Peter Bayer made the spot start for Stockton and allowed 4 runs before exiting with just one out in the 1st inning, while LHP Pat Krall tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win for the Ports, and RHP Angel Duno got the final four outs for Stockton to secure his 5th save. Meanwhile, Stockton outfielder Skye Bolt was reassigned to the RockHounds on Sunday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Clinton LumberKings 8
Beloit Snappers 5
LP: Martinez 1-1 / 3.00
HR: Lopez (8), Hargrove (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Mitchell Jordan
(6 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 0 BB / 8 K)
Beloit’s bullpen failed to hold on to a one-run lead in the 9th as the Snappers dropped their second straight to Clinton on Sunday. RHP Mitchell Jordan turned in a solid start, allowing just 1 run and striking out 8 over 6 innings of work, and he left the game with a three-run lead. RHP Nick Highberger allowed 1 run in 2/3 of an inning in relief, and RHP Seth Martinez surrendered a grand slam in the top of the 9th and was charged with 6 runs, just 2 earned, to suffer the loss for the Snappers. First baseman Hunter Hargrove singled, doubled, homered and drove in 3 runs, while designated hitter Jesus Lopez singled, hit his team-leading 8th home run and drove in a pair of runs in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 4
Tri-City ValleyCats 3
WP – Withers 1-0 / 0.00
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Anthony Churlin
(3 for 3 / Double / Walk)
The Lake Monsters mounted a late-game comeback to take their second straight from Tri-City on Sunday. Right fielder Anthony Churlin had his second straight big game at the plate, collecting 3 hits, including a double, drawing a walk and scoring Vermont’s first run in the 4th inning, and the 21-year-old is now 6 for 10 with 2 doubles and a home run over his first 3 games for the Lake Monsters. 19-year-old Venezuelan designated hitter Jose Rivas delivered the big blow, doubling in a pair of runs in the top of the 9th to provide the margin of victory for Vermont. 19-year-old Panamanian RHP Abdiel Mendoza made the start and allowed 3 runs over 6 innings of work, while last year’s 31st-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Brandon Withers, threw 3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. Meanwhile, first baseman Alfonso Rivas, outfielder Noah Vaughan and RHPs Brady Feigl and Charlie Cerny were all added to the Lake Monsters roster on Sunday. You can find Vermont’s complete, updated roster here.
Monday’s Games:
Nashville @ Albuquerque: 5:35pm PT / 7:35pm CT
Frisco @ Midland: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Connecticut @ Vermont: 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Angels @ AZL A’s: 7:00pm PT
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