Tuesday, April 18th: Neal’s Solid Start Helps Sounds Snap Skid while Ports Come up Short in Extras

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Nashville Sounds Pitcher Zach Neal (5 2/3 IP / 6 H / 2 ER / 0 BB / 5 K / Win)

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Nashville Sounds          5

Oklahoma City Dodgers  3

WP – Neal 1-1 / 3.77

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Zach Neal

(5 2/3 IP / 6 H / 2 ER / 0 BB / 5 K / Win)

RHP Zach Neal turned in a strong start for Nashville on Tuesday, allowing 2 runs while walking none and striking out 5 over 5 2/3 frames to earn his 1^st win and help the Sounds snap their five-game skid. Despite surrendering a home run in the 9^th, RHP Bobby Wahl got the final three outs to pick up his 2^nd save. After scoring a total of just five runs over the last five games, Nashville managed to push five runs across the plate in Tuesday’s win. And it was the first time that Sounds’ batters had put more than four runs on the board since the third game of the season back on April 8. Right fielder Mark Canha had 2 hits and drove in 2 runs, while third baseman Renato Nunez notched a pair of singles for Nashville. First baseman Matt Olson walked and singled in his team’s first run in the 2^nd inning, and shortstop Franklin Barreto drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and also stole a base for the Sounds. Meanwhile, with A’s starter Kendall Graveman on the disabled list, Nashville RHP Cesar Valdez is scheduled to join Oakland and make the start for the A’s on Thursday. RockHounds RHP Corey Walter is expected to be added to the Sounds roster to replace Valdez, and second baseman Joey Wendle is set to begin a rehab assignment with the Sounds on Wednesday as he returns from a right shoulder injury.

Click here for more on Midland, Stockton & Beloit…

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  3

Springfield Cardinals      5

LP – Bracewell 0-1 / 4.50

HR – Schrock (1)

Prospect Of The Game:

Second Baseman Max Schrock

(Home Run / 2 RBIs)

Starter Ben Bracewell had a rare rough outing for the RockHounds, surrendering 4 runs in the 1^st inning on Tuesday. Bracewell ended up being charged with 4 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings of work to suffer his 1^st loss, while his tandem-starting mate, RHP Kyle Friedrichs, allowed 1 run and struck out 4 over 2 2/3 innings of relief. Second baseman Max Schrock slugged a 2-run homer in the top of the 4^th inning, while center fielder B.J. Boyd drew a pair of walks and singled in the RockHounds’ only other run, and catcher Argenis Raga and designated hitter Joe Bennie had a pair of hits apiece in the loss.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Stockton Ports  7

Modesto Nuts     8

LP – Wagman 1-1 / 1.69

Prospect Of The Game:

Shortstop Eli White

(3 for 6 / 2 Doubles / 2 Runs)

After losing the lead in the bottom of the 9^th, the Ports came up short in extra innings on Tuesday. Starter Evan Manarino allowed 3 runs, just 1 earned, over 4 innings of work, while his tandem-pitching partner, RHP Dustin Hurlbutt, gave up 2 earned runs in 3 innings of relief. With the Ports up by 2 runs in the bottom of the 9^th, RHP Nolan Blackwood surrendered 2 unearned runs, with the help of a passed ball and a fielding error by third baseman Mikey White, to tie the game and send it to extra innings. RHP Joey Wagman then gave up a pair of walks followed by a run-scoring single in the 11^th to take the loss as Modesto won in a walk-off on Tuesday. Shortstop Eli White had 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, to raise his team-best batting average to .372, while third baseman Mikey White tripled in the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the 4^th, and first baseman Chris Iriart, second baseman Johnny Vidales and designated hitter Trent Gilbert each had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Ports. In other news, A’s starter Sonny Gray, who’s returning from a lat strain, is set to make a rehab start for Stockton on Saturday. You can read about his recent outing in Arizona here.

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Beloit Snappers          6

Kane County Cougars  5

WP – Milburn 1-1 / 10.61

HR – Shelby (2)

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Brandon Bailey

(4 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 4 K)

RHP Brandon Bailey had a solid start for the Snappers on Tuesday, allowing just 1 run while striking out 4 over 4 innings of work, and he left the game with a 4-run lead. His tandem-starting mate, RHP Matt Milburn, picked up the win despite giving up 4 runs in 3 innings of relief, and RHP Nick Highberger pitched a perfect 9^th to post his 1^st save for the Snappers. Third baseman Edwin Diaz singled in a pair of runs in the 3^rd to give Beloit the lead and walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run in the 6^th, while center fielder JaVon Shelby slugged a 2-run homer in the 4^th, and catcher Collin Theroux and first baseman Miguel Mercedes each had a pair of doubles for the Snappers.

Wednesday’s Games:

Nashville @ Oklahoma City – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Stockton @ Modesto – 7:05pm PT

Beloit @ Kane County – 9:00am PT / 11:00am CT

Zach Neal

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