AAA: Fresno lost to Portland 8-4

Fresno: 3B Justin Leone: 1 for 4, HR
Portland: 2B Matt Antonelli: 2 for 4, 3B, HBP, SO, SB, E

Fresno: RHP Matt Palmer: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Geno Espineli: 2.0 IP, 1 K
Fresno: RHP Randy Messenger: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR

Leone apparently had a strong spring training (including a .422 OBP), except for the three Cactusl League games I saw. He connected for a solo HR in the season-opener. Antonelli, one of the top two prospects for the Padres, reached base three times, while no one reached base twice for the Grizzlies. Antonelli was also the only player in the game with multiple hits.

Palmer had a mediocre start in the season opener. He had a nice 6/1 GO/FO line, but need 82 pitches (47 strikes) in 4 IP. Espineli, who spent some of the 2006 season with Fresno, worked two perfect innings in relief. He induced more ground ball outs. Overall the four Grizzlies pitchers combined for a 15/2 GO/FO line. Messenger retired less than half the batters he faced, but three of the runs did score after he left the game.

AA: Connecticut defeated New Hampshire 3-2

Connecticut: CF Antoan Richardson: 0 for 2, BB, HBP, SB, CS, 2 PO
Connecticut: C Adam Witter: 1 for 3, HR

Connecticut: RHP Adam Cowart: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K--1 HB
Connecticut: RHP Sergio Romo: 1.0 IP, 3 K

In his upper minors debut, Richardson was the only Defender to reach base twice, including their only walk, but he was also picked off first base twice. Also in his upper minors debut, Witter provided the big part of the offense with a 2-run HR in the 4th inning. The Defender had 4 hits.

In his upper minors debut, Cowart faced 20 batters and had a 9/3 GO/FO line. Also in his upper minors debut, Romo struck out all three batters in the 9th inning for the save.

A+: San Jose defeated Bakersfield 12-2

San Jose: CF Mike McBryde: 1 for 3, 2 BB, IBB, SO
San Jose: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 3 for 4, 2B, BB
San Jose: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 5, 2 2B
San Jose: RF Michael Mooney: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO, SB

San Jose: LHP Clayton Tanner: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

McBryde, who has not been noted for his plate discipline or having much of an approach at the plate when he batted in the bottom half of the lineup, batted leadoff in the season-opener and drew a couple walks (one intentional). Rohlinger reached base four times, including three hits, to pace the attack. Pill, who led the organization with 47 doubles last year, started this season with two more. Repeating the Cal League, Mooney started of the year by hitting a HR on the first pitch he saw this year.

Tanner, the Giants third round pick out of high school in 2006, had a strong Cal League debut, facing just two batters over the minimum in six scoreless innings. He struck out just two but had a 11/4 GO/FO line.

A-: Augusta lost to Greensboro 3-1

Augusta: 2B Nick Noonan: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Augusta: 1B Thomas Neal: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Augusta: CF James Simmons: 2 for 3, SO, 2 SB

Augusta: LHP Steven Calicutt: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Augusta: RHP Daniel Turpen: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 K

Three GreenJackets hitters each had two of the team's eights hits. Noonan, selected 32nd overall in last year's draft, and Neal, a draft-and-follow signee who has spent most of his pro career sidelined with injuries and who has now moved to first base, each had a double at the top of the lineup in their Sally League debuts. At the bottom of the lineup, Simmons, the toolsy athlete who spent much of last spring with Augusta, also had a couple steals.

Calicutt, a late round draft choice in 2006 who is repeating the Sally League, had a fine start on opening day, including an 8/1 GO/FO line. Turpen, the 8th round pick last year, allowed a single to the first batter he faced, which allowed an inherited runner to score with two outs in the 6th inning, but he bounced back by striking out all three batters he faced in the 7th inning.