Bobby Boser kept rolling, Darell Hernaiz kept driving in runs, and the A’s farm system had a busy Wednesday across multiple levels.
In Midland, Boser powered the RockHounds to their second straight win over San Antonio, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-4 victory over the Missions. The A’s last year’s 11th-round draft pick is now 5 for 8 with five RBIs over his last two games for Midland.
Cameron Leary added a big night of his own, tripling, doubling and scoring twice, while Cole Conn singled, walked twice, scored twice and stole two bases. Leo De Vries also singled, walked, scored once and swiped two bags, pushing his season total to 30 stolen bases.
Corey Avant gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings, and Jake Garland earned the win after 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
At Triple-A Las Vegas, Hernaiz turned in the loudest line of the night. The second baseman went 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs as the Aviators topped their opponent 7-0.
Brayan Buelvas was just as productive at the top of the order, finishing 3 for 3 with a triple, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Brian Serven also chipped in with a 3-for-5 night that included a triple and a run.
On the mound, Braden Nett worked 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run with three walks and four strikeouts. Yunior Tur followed with two scoreless innings, and Wander Suero took the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning.
The High-A Lake County club handled Lansing 6-1 behind a steady pitching effort and a few timely swings. Daniel Bucciero tripled, Myles Naylor went 2 for 4, and Bryan Arendt drove in a run with a 1-for-3 night that also included a walk.
Zane Taylor took the loss after 5 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, one earned, with three walks and two strikeouts. Gerlin Rosario and Ryan Brown followed in relief.
In the California League, Stockton outlasted Fresno 9-8 in a game that featured power from both sides. Gavin Turley homered and drove in four runs, finishing 2 for 4 with two runs scored, while Edgar Montero added a home run, a walk and three RBIs.
Nate Nankil reached three times, going 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and three runs scored. Jackson Phipps allowed four earned runs in 5.1 innings for Fresno, Luis Burgos gave up three runs in one inning, and Kade Brown picked up the win after a scoreless frame.
In the Arizona Complex League, the ACL Reds beat the ACL A’s 10-4. Darling Fernandez went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored, Alejandro Pereira was 2 for 2 with a hit-by-pitch and a run, and Jeison Lopez doubled in two runs.
Diomer Gonzalez threw a scoreless inning in relief, while Brayan Restituyo took the loss after allowing two earned runs in four innings. Amilcar Medina also appeared out of the bullpen.
Thursday’s schedule has Tacoma at Las Vegas, San Antonio at Midland, Lansing at Lake County, Fresno at Stockton and the ACL A’s at the ACL Rangers.
In Other News...
As Fans Just Got Another Zack Gelof Injury Scare
Zack Gelof gave Athletics fans another anxious moment during the game against the Tigers, when the left fielder slid for a catch and slammed into the side wall, leaving him with a right knee injury. He stayed in the game at first, but the sight of him going back down later in the inning changed the tone quickly, especially for a club that has already spent too much of this season managing injuries.
Gelof eventually had to be helped off the field by Jeff Collins and Mark Kotsay, a scene that only deepened the concern around an Oakland roster that has been stretched thin. Brent Rookers season-ending left knee injury is already a major blow, and any extended absence for Gelof would add another difficult layer to a season that has not offered much relief on the health front. [Read more 🡒]
A's Fans Won't Love What's Already Happening In Las Vegas
Even before the Athletics have played a game in Las Vegas, the premium market is moving fast. The club has already sold most of its 294 Athletic Club seats behind home plate in the new domed stadium, a sign that demand is real for the teams future home on the Strip even as the franchises relationship with Oakland remains a sore point for many fans.
The pricing helps explain why the seats are going quickly. Those spots carry a $900-per-game tag and a one-time $100,000 personal seat license fee, putting them in the rarefied air of the new $2 billion ballpark. With the stadium set to feature 30,000 fixed seats, 3,000 standing tickets and other premium areas such as the Diamond Club and Dugout Club, the As are building a venue where the most expensive inventory is already drawing plenty of interest. [Read more 🡒]
As Rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer Is Already Doing Something Rare
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has given the Athletics a quick jolt since reaching the majors, carrying over the kind of contact-oriented approach that got him noticed in Triple-A. Through July 8, the rookie was hitting .500 with 15 hits in 30 at-bats, and he has paired that early production with a strikingly low strikeout total in his first eight games.
The opening in Oakland came after Jacob Wilson was hurt, and Kuroda-Grauer has done more than just hold the spot down. He was already batting .352 in Triple-A before the call-up, and the early returns suggest the As may have found a player who can make immediate use of every chance he gets, even as the bigger question is how long this kind of start can last. [Read more 🡒]