Monday, August 1st: Mengden Leads Sounds to Shutout Victory while Iriart’s HR Helps Snappers Win in a Walk-Off

A’s Prospect Of The Day: Nashville Sounds Pitcher Daniel Mengden (5 IP / 5 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / Win)

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE  (Triple-A)

Nashville Sounds       7

New Orleans Zephyrs  0

WP – Mengden 4-1 / 1.25

HR – Eibner (12)

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Daniel Mengden

(5 IP / 5 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / Win)

RHP Daniel Mengden delivered a strong outing in his first start since returning to Nashville, throwing 5 shutout innings to earn his 4^th win for the Sounds on Monday. The effort also lowered the 23-year-old’s ERA at Triple-A this season to 1.25. RHP Aaron Kurcz threw 3 scoreless innings in relief, and LHP Patrick Schuster got the final three outs to complete the 7-hit shutout for the Sounds. Center fielder Brett Eibner, who was acquired from Kansas City in exchange for outfielder Billy Burns, homered and drew 4 walks in his debut for Nashville, while right fielder Jaycob Brugman singled, tripled, walked twice and drove in a run. Second baseman Joey Wendle doubled and tripled, and designated hitter Arismendy Alcantara singled, tripled, walked and stole a base for the Sounds. And with RHP Jharel Cotton added to the Nashville roster after being acquired in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick deal with the Dodgers, the Sounds now have the top two strikeout leaders in the Pacific Coast League. Cotton currently leads the league with 119, while RHP Chris Smith is second with 117.

Click here for more on Midland, Stockton, Beloit & Vermont…

TEXAS LEAGUE  (Double-A)

Midland RockHounds  3

Frisco RoughRiders       0

WP – Walter 3-2 / 2.17

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Ben Bracewell

(4 IP / 2 H / 0 ER / 1 BB / 2 K)

Converted reliever Ben Bracewell was solid once again for Midland for Monday, allowing just 2 hits over 4 shutout innings before leaving with the lead. RHP Corey Walter then followed with another 4 scoreless frames in relief to pick up the win, while RHP Jake Sanchez got the final three outs in the 9^th to complete the 9-hit shutout and notch his 6^th save for the Hounds. Shortstop Franklin Barreto singled, walked and tripled in a run, while third baseman Matt Chapman singled, doubled and drove in a run, and catcher Andy Paz contributed 3 hits, including a double, and scored a run for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, Barreto was named the Texas League Player of the Week after going 10 for 20 with 3 doubles and 2 home runs last week.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE  (High-A)

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes  2

Stockton Ports                       4

WP – Graves 6-8 / 5.00

HR – Pimentel (18)

Prospect Of The Game:

Pitcher Brett Graves

(6 IP / 7 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 6 K / Win)

RHP Brett Graves turned in his second straight strong start for Stockton on Monday, allowing 2 runs while striking out 6 over 6 innings of work earn to earn his 6^th win, while RHP Koby Gauna pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings in relief, and LHP Cody Stull got the final four outs to pick up his 1^st save for the Ports. Designated hitter Sander Pimentel hit his 18^th home run, while shortstop Richie Martin doubled in a pair of runs, and left fielder B.J. Boyd and second baseman Mikey White had 3 hits apiece for the Ports. Meanwhile, RHP Grant Holmes, the Dodgers’ former 1^st-round draft pick who was acquired in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick deal, is set to make his first start for Stockton on Friday.

MIDWEST LEAGUE  (Class-A)

Quad Cities River Bandits  4

Beloit Snappers                5

WP – Lyons 5-3 / 2.13

HR – Iriart (13), Gilbert (2)

Prospect Of The Game:

First Baseman Chris Iriart

(2 for 4 / Home Run / Double / GWRBI)

With the game tied 4-4, Chris Iriart stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the 10^th inning and slugged his 13^th home run to give Beloit the walk-off win as the Snappers snapped their five-game losing streak on Monday. Iriart also doubled in the game, while second baseman Trent Gilbert smacked his 2^nd home run, and shortstop Jesus Lopez and center fielder Skye Bolt both had a pair of hits and drove in runs for Beloit. Starter Zack Erwin allowed 4 runs in just 3 innings of work, but RHP Angel Duno was outstanding in relief, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings, and LHP Jared Lyons picked up the win after getting the final out in the top of the 10^th for the Snappers.

NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE  (Class-A Short-Season)

Connecticut Tigers           13

Vermont Lake Monsters  1

LP – Chalmers 4-2 / 5.03

Prospect Of The Game:

Shortstop Eric Marinez

(4 for 4)

RHP Dakota Chalmers endured his roughest start so far this season on Monday, surrendering 8 runs in just 4 innings of work to suffer his 2^nd loss for the Lake Monsters. Shortstop Eric Marinez, who had been 1 for his last 21, collected 4 hits, while designated hitter Eli White doubled in Vermont’s sole run in the loss. Meanwhile, his year’s 2^nd-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Logan Shore, was added to the Lake Monsters roster on Monday.

Tuesday’s Games:

Nashville @ New Orleans – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT

Midland @ Frisco – 5:05pm PT / 7:05pm CT

Rancho Cucamonga @ Stockton – 7:10pm PT

Quad Cities @ Beloit – 5:00pm PT / 7:00pm CT

Connecticut @ Vermont – 8:05am PT / 11:05am ET

AZL D-backs @ AZL A’s – 7:00pm PT

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