minor lines, 7/16/08

AAA: Fresno had the second day of its three-day all-star break

The PCL defeated the International League 8-5 in the AAA all-star game
(after trailing 2-0 entering the 9th inning)

PCL: 3B Matt Brown: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
IL: 2B Joey Thurston: 3 for 4, BB, SO
IL: 3B Mike Hessman: 0 for 5, 4 SO
IL: DH Chris Cater: 1 for 5, HR, 2 SO

PCL: LHP Geno Espineli: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
IL: LHP David Purcey: 2.0 IP, 3 K

The Angels' Brown and the Red Sox' Thurston led each team in hitting.  The Tigers' Hessman suffered the sombrero, while the Red Sox' Carter (not to be confused with the A's prospect of the same name and who plays the same position, at least until recently, and who both are ex-D'backs) connected for the game's only homer.

Espineli, the only Grizzly to appear in the game, struck out three of the four batters he faced, throwing 12 of 19 pitches for strikes.  Purcey, the starter for the IL, who had two starts for the Blue Jays earlier this season, was the only pitcher to pitch more than an inning, and he retired all six batters he faced on 21 pitches (14 strikes).

AA: Connecticut had the second day of its two-day all-star break.

The North defeated the South 5-3 in the Eastern League all-star game

North: 2B Olmo Rosario: 2 for 2, 2B
North: SS Kyle Haines: 0 for 3, SO
South: CF Greg Golson: 2 for 5, HR, 2 SO, E
South: SS Jason Donald: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, HBP, SB

North: RHP Justin Hedrick 1.0 IP
North: RHP Joe Martinez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO

The Defenders' Rosario was the North's only hitter with a multiple-hit line.  Haines, the Defenders other position player to appear in the game, started at shortstop after playing second base most of this season.  The South was led offensively by two Phillies, Golson and Donald, the latter who has had a breakout year hitting .301/.381/.493 in his first year in the upper minors.

Hedrick was the first reliever to appear in the game, pitching a perfect top of the 2nd inning.  Martinez, the other Defenders' pitcher to appear in the game, was the only pitcher to pitch more than an inning.  He threw 18 of 27 pitches for strikes during a scoreless 5th and 6th innings.

A+: San Jose lost to Lancaster 6-2

San Jose: RF Mike Mooney: 1 for 4, HR
San Jose: C Jackson Williams: 0 for 1, 2 BB, SO, PB
Lancaster: SS Yamaico Navarro: 4 for 4, 2 2B, BB, CS

San Jose: LHP Clayton Tanner: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HB
San Jose: RHP Juan Trinidad: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 1 IBB, 1 WP

Mooney connected for his 11th HR this year.  Williams reached base in two of three trips to the plate, but he also allowed his 5th PB in sixteen Cal League games.  The Red Sox' 20-year-old Navarro had an impressive line reaching base five times in his Cal League debut.  He had hit .280/.341/.412 in 325 AB in the Sally League.

Tanner made his second start since coming off the DL.  In his last four starts, he has allowed 27 H and 12 ER in 13.1 IP.  Trinidad allowed an earned run for the first time in over a month.  His ERA remains below 2.00.

A-: Augusta defeated Hagerstown 2-0

Augusta: DH Thomas Neal: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Augusta: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 3, E

Augusta: LHP Madison Bumgarner: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K--2 PO
Augusta: LHP Andy De La Garza: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Neal connected for his third homer in his last two games, his 11th HR of the year.  Villalona was the only GreenJacket with multiple hits, raising his AVG to .248.  He committed his 10th error.

Making his seventeen start of the season, all of them on exactly five days' rest, Bumgarner had perhaps his best start of the season, including a new career high with 11 K.  He now has more K than IP this season, and a K/BB ratio of 7.75.  With two more pickoffs, he faced just two batters over the minimum, as he struck out nearly half (11 of 23) of the batters he faced.  De La Garza worked a perfect 9th inning for his 5th save.

ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Vancouver 4-1

Salem-Keizer: RF Francisco Peguero: 2 for 4, 2 SO
Salem-Keizer: 3B Josh Flores: 2 for 4, SO
Salem-Keizer: DH Damon Wright: 0 for 3, 3 SO

Salem-Keizer: RHP Mike Loree: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 IBB, 1 WP
Salem-Keizer: RHP Joe Edens: 3.0 IP, 3 K

Peguero and Flores each had two of the Volcanoes' six hits, all singles, raising their respective AVGs to .381 and .257.  Peguero had nine hits over his last four games.  Wright managed the hat trick in just three trips to the plate.  Edens pitched three perfect innings, in his longest outing of the year (at least in terms of IP).

After three incredible starts, Loree had his least effective start of the year.  The 3 ER matched his season total from his previous five starts.  His ERA remains an impressive 1.59.

R: Scottsdale had its regular off-day (every fifth day)

Giants on AZL leaderboards:
--Hitters:
SLG: Ziegler 8th
OPS: Ziegler 10th
HR: Ziegler 3rd
2B: Monell 3rd, Ziegler 5th, Mantle 5th
TB: Ziegler 5th
AB: Fairley 1st, Ziegler 5th
RBI: Ziegler 2nd
R: Mantle 9th
--Pitchers:
ERA: Casilla 1st
WHIP: Casilla 5th
IP: Bucardo 10th
ER: Hernandez 7th
HR: Bucardo 2nd
HB: Kerth 5th
W: Casilla 3rd

DSL: Giants lost to White Sox #2 10-5

Dominican: 2B Julio Izturis: 0 for 2, 3 BB, SB
Dominican: LHP Diego De La Cruz: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 WP

With three more walks, as well as his 12th SB, Izturis continues to get on base at a very high rate (.468 OBP).  After eight starts, De La Cruz (19.5 y.o.) has an ERA of nearly 7.00.