minor lines, 5/31/08

AAA: Fresno lost to Tucson 6-5

Fresno: 2B Eugenio Velez: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Fresno: 1B Brett Harper: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, BB
Tucson: 2B Emilio Boifacio: 3 for 4, 2B, BB

Fresno: RHP Ryan Sadowski: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 WP
Fresno: RHP Jesse Foppert: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 WP

Velez and Harper each had two hits, reached based three times and connected for a HR.  It was Velez's first HR of the year, which matches his total from last year.  For Harper, it was his 3rd HR.  The D'backs' Bonifacio, who made his MLB debut last September despite no triple-A experience, reached base four times.  The 23-year-old speedster has a .289/.346/.347 line through 239 AB.  The game ended when Bocock, who had entered as a pinch runner as the potential tying run, was picked off first base.

Sadowski made his fourth PCL start.  His second straight started with 4 ER raised his ERA to an even 7.00.  Foppert appeared in long relief and allowed a couple more runs, raising his ERA to 5.14.

AA: Connecticut lost to Binghamton 3-0 (7 innings) in game 1
(allowing all three runs in top of 7th inning)

Connecticut: CF Antoan Richardson: 1 for 2, BB, SB, E
Connecticut: SS Jake Wald: 0 for 3, 3 SO

Connecticut: RHP Joe Martinez: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Binghamton: LHP Jon Niese: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Binghamton: RHP Eddie Kunz: 1.0 IP, 2 K

Richardson provided nearly all of the Defenders' offense, with one of their two hits and their only walk.  He also had his 17th SB.  Wald's hat trick gives him a SO/AB ratio above 33%.

Martinez did not allow an earned run, improving his ERA to 2.29.  He tied a season high with 6 K.  Niese, perhaps the Mets' top pitching prospect, made his third start of the month at Dodd Stadium opposing Martinez, and Niese did not allow more than 1 ER in any of them.  Kunz, another top five prospect for the Mets, earned his 12th save.

AA: Connecticut lost to Binghamton 7-4 (7 innings) in game 2

Connecticut: C Adam Witter: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SO

Connecticut: RHP Dave McKae: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Connecticut: RHP Kelvin Pichardo: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Connecticut: RHP Sergio Romo: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Witter was one of four Defenders with two hits, but he also had the team's only XBH.  He was also the only starter with a hit and a walk.  He hit .371 over his last ten games in May but still finished May with an uninspiring .208/.333/.347 line.

McKae had the abbreviated start, perhaps because of the two rain delays lasting nearly an hour and a half.  Pichardo pitched effectively in long relief with three scoreless innings that improved his ERA to 2.73.  Romo's ERA ballooned to 4.74 as he gave up several insurance runs.

A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 5-1
(rallying for four runs in bottom of 8th inning)

San Jose: 2B Matt Downs: 1 for 4, HR
San Jose: C Pablo Sandoval: 2 for 4, SO
San Jose: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 2 for 3, BB, GiDP, PO

San Jose: RHP Tim Alderson: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Modesto: RHP Esmil Rogers: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Downs connected for his team-leading 11th HR.  Sandoval and Rohlinger each had two of the Giants' eight hits, improving their respective AVGs to .379 and .303.

Making his eleventh start of the year, Alderson had perhaps his best start yet.  It set new career highs with 7.0 IP and 8 K.  The 3 H and 0 BB were the lowest number he has allowed in both those categories since his second start of the year.  It was his only his second start of the year without a walk.  His first start of the year was the only one in which he did allow an earned run.  The Rockies' 23-year-old Rogers was nearly as effective as Alderson, with both starters allowing just one run through seven innings; but then the game was decided by the bullpens.

A-: Augusta lost to Savannah 4-0

Augusta: LF Garrett Baker: 1 for 3, HBP, GiDP
Augusta: 1B Angel Villalona: 0 for 3, BB, 3 SO

Augusta: RHP T.J. Brewer: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR

Baker was the only GreenJacket to reach base twice.  With the walk and the hat trick, Villalona had 5 BB and 26 SO among 100 AB in May.

Brewer had a 14/2 GO/FO line, raising his GO/AO ratio to 2.71.  But he also allowed 3 ER for the third straight start, raising his ERA just above 4.00 as his W-L record dropped to 3-4.