(1 for 3 / HR / Walk / 2 RBI)
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Las Vegas Aviators 5
Tacoma Rainiers 4
WP: Finnegan 2-0 / 1.98
HR: Fowler (17), Payton (16)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Mark Payton
(1 for 3 / Home Run / Walk / 2 RBIs)
After clubbing a combined 5 home runs on Saturday and Sunday to earn Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors, left fielder Mark Payton came back to belt another home run in the 3rd inning on Monday to give Las Vegas an early edge. And after the Aviators surrendered the lead, the 27-year-old then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the tying run in the top of the 8th. Over his last three games, Payton has gone 6 for 10 with 6 home runs and 11 RBIs for Las Vegas. Center fielder Skye Bolt singled in a run and drew a pair of walks, including a bases-loaded walk in the 8th to bring home the winning run, while right fielder Dustin Fowler homered for the second straight night for the Aviators. Starter Parker Dunshee allowed 3 runs over 4 frames, while RHP Kyle Finnegan tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, and RHP Trey McNutt got the final three outs in the 9th to notch the save for Las Vegas. And with RHP Homer Bailey being added to the A’s active roster, RHP J.B. Wendelken was returned to the Aviators on Monday.
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A’s Highlights…
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 6
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4
WP: Altamirano 5-5 / 4.59
HR: Eierman (11)
Prospect Of The Game:
Shortstop Jeremy Eierman
(1 for 5 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Stockton took its second straight from the Quakes on Monday. Shortstop Jeremy Eierman slugged a three-run homer in the 3rd inning to give Stockton a lead it would never surrender. Second baseman Trace Loehr drew a walk and tripled in a run, while third baseman Jonah Bride singled, walked, stole a base and scored a run, and right fielder Jameson Hannah had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Ports. Starter Xavier Altamirano allowed 3 runs over 5 frames and earned his 5th win, while RHP Nick Highberger pitched a perfect 9th to pick up his 4th save for the Ports.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 1
Dayton Dragons 9
LP: McIntyre 2-7 / 5.27
HR: Osborne (3)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Nick Osborne
(1 for 3 / Home Run / Walk)
The Snappers dropped their third straight to Dayton on Monday. Starter Aiden McIntyre was charged with 5 runs over 3 innings of work to suffer his 7th loss for the Snappers. Right fielder Nick Osborne homered for the Snappers’ sole run in the loss.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Batavia Muckdogs 1
Vermont Lake Monsters 3
WP: Hurtado 3-0 / 0.89
HR: J.Diaz (5)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Jhenderson Hurtado
(5.1 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 10 K / Win)
RHP Michael Murray made the start on Monday and allowed 1 run in 2 2/3 innings of work, while 23-year-old Venezuelan LHP Jhenderson Hurtado was outstanding in relief, striking out 10 while throwing 5 1/3 scoreless frames to earn his 3rd victory for Vermont. 24-year-old Dominican RHP Jeferson Mejia struck out the side in order in the 9th to notch his 3rd save for the Lake Monsters. 18-year-old Colombian designated hitter Jordan Diaz drew a walk and hit his team-leading 5th home run to tie the game in the 2nd inning, while this year’s 4th-round draft pick for the A’s, first baseman Kyle McCann, drew a walk and singled in the winning run for the Lake Monsters.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s Green 5
AZL D-backs 3
WP: Yearego 1-0 / 0.82
Prospect Of The Game:
Second Baseman Wilson Alvarez
(4 for 4)
21-year-old Venezuelan second baseman Wilson Alvarez collected 4 hits on Monday, while 18-year-old Dominican right fielder Jose Bonilla singled, doubled and scored a run, and this year’s 18th-round draft pick for the A’s, designated hitter Jorge Romero, singled in a run, walked and stole a base. 20-year-old Venezuelan LHP Dennis Herrera made the start and allowed just 1 run over 4 frames, while RHP Dominic Yearego tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win for the A’s.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Rangers 8
AZL A’s Gold 9
WP: Wahl 1-0 / 14.14
HR: Y.Gonzalez (1), Rincones (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Rafael Rincones
(2 for 4 / Home Run / Walk / 5 RBIs / Stolen Base)
The AZL A’s Gold squad won in 11 innings on Monday. 20-year-old Venezuelan left fielder Rafael Rincones singled, walked, homered, stole a base and drove in 5 runs, including the tying run in the bottom of the 10th, while 22-year-old Venezuelan right fielder Yhoelnys Gonzalez singled, walked and homered. This year’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s, center fielder Marcus Smith, singled twice, walked and scored a run, and catcher Sean Murphy went 0 for 1 with a walk and scored a run in his second rehab game for the A’s. 21-year-old Dominican RHP Robin Vazquez made the start and allowed 3 runs over 4 frames, while this year’s 23rd-round draft pick, RHP Austin Wahl, tossed a scoreless frame in the top of the 11th to pick up the win for the A’s.
Tuesday’s Games:
Las Vegas @ Tacoma: 11:35am PT
Midland @ Arkansas: 5:10pm PT / 7:10pm CT
AZL D-backs @ AZL A’s Green: 6:00pm PT
AZL A’s Gold @ AZL Royals: 6:00pm PT
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Call me crazy. but Vegas has a lot of really good players but they all seem to be AAAA types. Am I wrong? Do you see anyone on that roster sticking with a big league team?