(4 for 4 / HR / 3 Doubles)
New Orleans Baby Cakes 11
Las Vegas Aviators 4
LP: Howard 0-1 / 18.00
HR: Payton (21), Neuse (20)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Mark Payton
(4 for 4 / Home Run / 3 Doubles)
Even though Las Vegas lost to New Orleans on Thursday, Aviators left fielder Mark Payton turned in the best performance of the day among A’s minor leaguers. Payton tagged his 21st home run and also drilled 3 doubles to lift his slugging percentage to a team-leading .667, which is also good for third best in the Pacific Coast League. Shortstop Sheldon Neuse singled and slugged his 20th home run, while catcher Cameron Rupp doubled in a pair of runs. Rehabbing right fielder Stephen Piscotty went 0 for 4 and, after tweaking his ankle a bit on Wednesday night, Jorge Mateo served as the designated hitter on Thursday and went 0 for 4 with a walk. After allowing 8 runs in his Triple-A debut last Friday, RHP Brian Howard had his second straight rough start for the Aviators, surrendering 7 runs, 6 earned, over 5 frames to suffer the loss for Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Ports infielder Trace Loehr was promoted to the Aviators, while RHP Andrew Triggs, who made just three appearances for Las Vegas before landing on the injured list in April, was released by the A’s on Thursday.
Click here for more on Midland, Stockton, Beloit, Vermont & AZL A’s…
A’s Highlights…
TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
Midland RockHounds 6
Corpus Christi Hooks 5
WP: S.Martinez 2-0 / 1.76
HR: E.Diaz (10), Calabuig (4)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Chase Calabuig
(4 for 6 / Home Run / 2 RBIs)
The RockHounds won in extra innings on Thursday. First baseman Chase Calabuig had 3 hits in the game before slugging a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to provide the margin of victory for Midland. Shortstop Edwin Diaz drew a walk and drilled a three-run homer for the Hounds. Starter James Naile allowed 4 runs over 6 frames, while RHP Seth Martinez was charged with 1 unearned run in 2 innings of relief to record the win for the RockHounds.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Modesto Nuts 8
Stockton Ports 3
LP: Bayer 1-1 / 3.55
HR: A.Rivas (6)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Hogan Harris
(5 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 4 K)
Stockton suffered its fourth straight loss on Thursday, but LHP Hogan Harris turned in his second straight strong start for Stockton, allowing just 1 run over 5 frames, and he left the game with a two-run lead. But RHP Peter Bayer gave up 3 runs in 1 inning of relief to take the loss. First baseman Alfonso Rivas singled, homered and drove in 3 runs, while second baseman Ryan Gridley singled, walked, stole a base and scored twice, and catcher Robert Mullen had a pair of hits, including a double, for the Ports. Meanwhile, Stockton infielder Trace Loehr was reassigned to Las Vegas, and RHP Rafael Kelly, first baseman/outfielder Payton Squier and outfielder Yhoelnys Gonzalez were all promoted to the Ports on Thursday.
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels 4
Beloit Snappers 2
LP: Cerny 2-3 / 3.89
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Aiden McIntyre
(6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 9 K)
After struggling through much of July, RHP Aiden McIntyre turned in a solid start for the Snappers, allowing 2 runs and striking out 9 over 6 innings of work, and he left with the game a 2-2 tie on Thursday. But RHP Charlie Cerny gave up 2 runs in the top of the 9th to take the loss. Right fielder Nick Osborne doubled in a run, while third baseman Max Schuemann doubled and scored a run for the Snappers. Meanwhile, RHP Rafael Kelly and first baseman/outfielder Payton Squier were both promoted to the Ports, and infielder Michael Woodworth was reassigned to the Snappers from the Lake Monsters on Thursday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Vermont Lake Monsters 0
State College Spikes 3
LP: Noa 0-4 / 4.31
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Jack Cushing
(5 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 2 K)
This year’s 22nd-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Jack Cushing, delivered an outstanding start for Vermont, allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk while throwing 5 scoreless frames, and he left with the game a scoreless tie on Thursday. But 23-year-old Cuban LHP Yorlenis Noa gave up 3 runs in 3 innings of relief to suffer the loss for the Lake Monsters. Catcher Jose Rivas tripled, and center fielder Marty Bechina singled to account for Vermont’s only two hits in the loss. Meanwhile, infielder Michael Woodworth was reassigned from the Lake Monsters to the Snappers on Thursday.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
GAME #1
AZL A’s Green 1
AZL Giants Orange 7
LP: Juan 1-4 / 6.38
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman T.J. Schofield-Sam
(2 for 3)
The AZL A’s Green squad went down to defeat in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader. 20-year-old Dominican RHP Jorge Juan made the start and gave up 4 runs over 4 frames to suffer the loss. This year’s 12th-round draft pick for the A’s, third baseman T.J. Schofield-Sam, collected a pair of hits, while this year’s 27th-round pick, first baseman Gavin Jones, singled in the A’s sole run in the loss.
GAME #2
AZL Giants Orange 2
AZL A’s Green 1
LP: Nambiar 1-2 / 5.59
HR: Harris (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
First Baseman Dustin Harris
(2 for 3 / Home Run)
The AZL A’s Green squad suffered a one-run loss in the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader as they were swept in the twinbill. This year’s 34th-round draft pick for the A’s, LHP Kumar Nambiar made the start and allowed just 1 run over 4 frames, but he still ended up being saddled with the loss on Thursday. This year’s 11th-round draft pick, first baseman Dustin Harris, singled and homered to provide the A’s sole run in the loss.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL Cubs-1 3
AZL A’s Gold 4
WP: Hall 3-1 / 4.91
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Joshwan Wright
(2 for 3 / Double)
The AZL A’s Gold squad notched a one-run win on Thursday. 18-year-old Panamanian third baseman Joshwan Wright singled, doubled and scored a run, while 17-year-old Dominican right fielder Ramon Martinez doubled in a pair of runs for the A’s. 17-year-old Nicaraguan LHP Gerald Garcia made the start and gave up 2 runs over 3 innings of work, while this year’s 33rd-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Charles Hall, allowed 1 run in 3 innings of relief to earn the win, and last year’s 31st-round pick, RHP Alex Pantuso, pitched a perfect 9th to pick up the save.
Friday’s Games:
Oklahoma City @ Las Vegas: 7:05pm PT
Midland @ Corpus Christi: 5:15pm PT / 7:15pm CT
Lake Elsinore @ Stockton: 7:10pm PT
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit: 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT
Vermont @ Aberdeen: 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL A’s Green @ AZL Mariners: 6:00pm PT
AZL White Sox @ AZL A’s Gold: 6:00pm PT
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