A’s Prospect Of The Day: Beloit Snappers Pitcher Matt Milburn (6 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 8 K / Win)
MIDWEST LEAGUE (Class-A)
Beloit Snappers 3
Peoria Chiefs 0
WP – Milburn 4-5 / 4.71
HR – Shelby 2 (7)
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Matt Milburn
(6 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 8 K / Win)
The Snappers shut out Peoria on 3 hits to win for the fifth time in their last six games on Wednesday. Starter Matt Milburn was impressive, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 8 over 6 shutout innings to earn his 4th win, and the 23-year-old has now given up just 1 run while striking out 20 in 13 innings over his last two starts for Beloit. RHP Heath Bowers threw 3 scoreless frames in relief to complete the 3-hit shutout and post his 2nd save for the Snappers. After going 11 for 68 with 38 strikeouts over his last 20 games, right fielder JaVon Shelby busted out of his recent slump in a big way on Wednesday by belting a pair of home runs for Beloit. First baseman Luke Persico singled twice and drove in a run, while center fielder Mike Martin had a pair of hits and scored a run in his return to the Snappers after spending five games with Vermont. Meanwhile, Beloit RHP Mitchell Jordan was placed on the disabled list and 23-year-old Cuban RHP Miguel Romero was added to the Snappers roster on Wednesday.
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PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
Round Rock Express 9
Nashville Sounds 11
WP – Jensen 4-0 / 3.62
HR – Nunez (21)
Prospect Of The Game:
Third Baseman Renato Nunez
(2 for 4 / Home Run / 3 RBIs)
Third baseman Renato Nunez led Nashville’s offensive outburst on Wednesday. The Pacific Coast League home run leader singled, walked and slugged his 21st home run of the season, a 3-run shot in the 6th inning. Joey Wendle, making his first start at shortstop for the Sounds, doubled, singled twice, walked and drove in a run, while Yairo Munoz making his second career start in center field, drew a pair of walks and doubled with the bases loaded to drive in 3 runs. Right fielder Mark Canha doubled twice and drove in a run, and catcher Beau Taylor had 3 hits and drove in a pair in his Triple-A debut. RHP Frankie Montas allowed 4 runs over 3 innings of work in his third start for the Sounds, while RHP Chris Jensen picked up the win despite surrendering 5 runs, 4 earned, in 3 1/3 innings of relief, and Tucker Healy tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to notch the save for Nashville. In other news, Nunez and RHPs Chris Smith and Paul Blackburn were all named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team on Wednesday.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (High-A)
Stockton Ports 6
San Jose Giants 3
WP – Sawyer 1-1 / 2.16
Prospect Of The Game:
Pitcher Dalton Sawyer
(6 IP / 5 H / 2 ER / 0 BB / 10 K / Win)
LHP Dalton Sawyer was outstanding for Stockton on Wednesday, allowing 2 runs while striking out 10 over 6 innings of work to earn the win for the Ports. Rehabbing RHP Chris Bassitt, pitching for the first time in almost six weeks, tossed a scoreless first frame, striking out a pair while throwing 17 pitches, 10 of them for strikes. RHP Nolan Blackwood got the final two outs to notch his 9th save for Stockton. Left fielder Tyler Ramirez doubled, drew a pair of walks and scored 3 runs, while shortstop Eli White had a pair of hits and also scored 3 times, and center fielder Skye Bolt singled and drove in 3 runs for the Ports. Meanwhile, catcher Sean Murphy and second baseman Branden Cogswell were reassigned to the RockHounds, while LHP Evan Manarino and RHP Kyle Friedrichs were sent back to Stockton on Wednesday.
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (Class-A Short-Season)
Staten Island Yankees 5
Vermont Lake Monsters 4
LP – Salow 0-1 / 0.00
HR – Meggs (1)
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Jack Meggs
(3 for 4 / Home Run / Double / 3 RBIs)
The Lake Monsters went down to defeat in 10 innings on Wednesday. This year’s 10th-round draft pick for the A’s, right fielder Jack Meggs, had a big game, collecting 3 hits, including a double and a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning to give the Lake Monsters an early lead. Second baseman Jesus Lage singled in another run in the 4th. Starter Argenis Blanco allowed 3 runs over 5 1/3 innings of work, and 20-year-old Colombian RHP Jean Ruiz gave up the tying run in the top of the 9th. But a fielding error by third baseman Will Toffey and 3 walks, including a bases-loaded walk, by LHP Logan Salow in the top of the 10th led to a loss for the Lake Monsters on Wednesday.
ARIZONA LEAGUE (Rookie Short-Season)
AZL A’s 3
AZL Reds 4
LP – Reuss 0-1 / 13.50
Prospect Of The Game:
Outfielder Logan Farrar
(4 for 4 / Home Run / Double)
This year’s 36th-round draft pick for the A’s, right fielder Logan Farrar, had a big night at the plate, collecting 4 hits, including a home run and a double. And after going 3 for 3 in his U.S. debut on Sunday, left fielder Lazaro Armenteros went 0 for 3 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts on Wednesday. Starter Wyatt Marks, this year’s 13th-round pick, tossed 2 scoreless innings, while 23rd-round RHP Malik Jones gave up 2 runs in 2 innings of relief. 32nd-round RHP Caleb Evans struck out 4 in 2 scoreless frames, but 29th-round RHP Adam Reuss surrendered 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings to suffer the loss for the A’s.
Thursday’s Games:
Round Rock @ Nashville – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT
Springfield @ Midland – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Stockton @ San Jose – 12:30pm PT
Beloit @ Peoria – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT
Staten Island @ Vermont – 4:05pm PT / 7:05pm ET
AZL Mariners @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT
Matt Milburn
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