Single-A Beloit eliminated from playoffs, High-A Stockton evens series

The Oakland A’s saw two minor league affiliates reach the postseason this year, but one of them has already been eliminated. The Single-A Beloit Snappers lost their second straight game on Friday, meaning they were swept out of their best-of-3 quarterfinal series.

On the bright side, the High-A Stockton Ports won their game Thursday night, knotting up their own best-of-5 semifinal series 1-1. Here’s a closer look at each club.

Stockton Ports vs. Visalia Rawhide (D’Backs)

League: High-A California League

Best-of-5 Division Series

Series tied 1-1

Game 1: Rawhide 5, Ports 3 (recap)
Game 2: Ports 8. Rawhide 7 (box score)
Game 3: Fri. 9/7, 7:00 p.m., at Visalia
Game 4: Sat. 9/8, 7:00 p.m., at Visalia
Game 5: Sun. 9/9, 6:10 p.m., at Stockton

After dropping Game 1, the Ports bounced back on Thursday to even the series. They jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first three innings thanks to an all-around effort from the whole lineup, but by the 5th their advantage was cut down to 6-4. They picked up some insurance in the 8th and it ended up proving crucial, as Visalia nearly caught up in the 9th — at one point, Stockton outfielder Luke Persico had to throw out the tying run at the plate.

On the pitching side, starter Wyatt Marks navigated his way around some baserunners in the first three innings but then gave up a two-run homer in the 4th and another rally in the 5th. The bullpen stayed strong from there until the 9th but then nearly blew the save. Trey Cochran-Gill put the first two runners on base, Angel Duno retired just one of his four batters while letting three men cross the plate, and Sam Sheehan finally closed the door not a moment too soon. Even Sheehan allowed a hit that could have tied the game, but for the clutch throw of Persico.

Chase Calabuig, CF: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 3 runs
Viosergy Rosa, 1B: 2-for-3, 2 BB, RBI
Brett Siddall, RF: 2-for-4, BB, 2 RBI
Edwin Diaz, 3B: 1-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI

Wyatt Marks RHP: 4 ip, 4 ER, 3 Ks, 2 BB, 5 hits, 1 HR
Jake Bray, RHP: 1⅓ ip, 0 runs, 2 Ks, 2 BB, 0 hits
Will Gilbert, LHP: 1⅔ ip, 0 runs, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 3 hits

Stockton turns to Kyle Friedrichs for Game 3, on the road in Visalia, in progress now.

Beloit Snappers vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins)

League: Single-A Midwest League

Best-of-3 Division Quarterfinal

Kernels win series 2-0

Game 1: Kernels 10, Snappers 1 (box score)
Game 2: Kernels 4, Snappers 0 (box score)
Game 3: Nope

It was but a brief postseason ride for the Snappers. They got smoked in their first game on Thursday, and then shut out on Friday. Had they won Game 2 then they would have played the series finale that evening as part of a doubleheader, but that didn’t turn out to be necessary.

In Game 1, Cedar Rapids jumped out to an early lead against Beloit starter Jared Poche’. The bullpen held strong for a while, but the Kernels scored six times in the final two frames to turn it into a laugher. The Snappers lineup managed only four hits on the evening; only twice did they get a runner as far as third base, and their only run scored on a wild pitch.

In Game 2, which was abbreviated to seven innings because of the scheduled doubleheader, the lineup had even less luck. They scratched out six singles and again reached third only twice, but this time they couldn’t push anyone across. On the other side of the ball, neither starter Ivan Andueza nor the bullpen could keep Cedar Rapids in check.

Series stats:

Lazaro Armenteros, LF: 1-for-6, BB, 5 Ks
Austin Beck, CF: 1-for-7, BB, 4 Ks
Nick Allen, SS: 0-for-7, 5 Ks
Jack Meggs, RF: 2-for-6, 2B, BB, 2 Ks
Logan Farrar, DH: 2-for-7, K

Jared Poche, LHP: 2⅓ ip, 4 ER, 3 Ks, 2 BB, 2 HR, 6 hits
Ivan Andueza, LHP: 2⅓ ip, 1 ER, 4 Ks, 3 BB, 3 hits
Jesus Zambrano, RHP: 2⅔ ip, 0 runs, 2 Ks, 0 BB, 1 hit

Congrats to the Snappers on a successful season!

Link to Friday box scores