Fresno Grizzlies (AAA): Fresno 4, Sacramento 1

 

Top Lines:

 

LF Eugenio Velez - 1-4, 1 R, 1 PO, .305

3B Scott McClain - 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR (15), 2 RBI, 2 SO, .296

SS/2B Matt Downs - 0-3, .174

C Steve Holm - 1-3, 1 R, 1 SO, .333

1B Travis Ishikawa - 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR (3), 2 RBI, .289

SP Matt Palmer - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR, 4.18 ERA, W (3-8)

RP Julio Mateo - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 6.04 ERA, Hold (1)

RP Geno Espineli - 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1.86, 1 WP, Hold (7)

RP Vinnie Chulk - 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 1 WP, 0.00 ERA, SV (1)

 

Game Notes: Dallas Braden went the distance in his start and lost to the Grizzlies. The difference for Fresno was the home runs, from the corner infielders. Scott McClain and Travis Ishikawa hit two run homers in the game. McClain's shot came in the first inning and Ishikawa gave the Grizzlies some breathing room in the fifth with his home run. The home run affected the Grizzlies on the other side of the score. Matt Palmer is solid over six innings but he allowed a home run to Cliff Pennington, good for the only run the Rivercats would score.

 

Geno Espineli struggled in June, allowing ten runs in eleven appearances in the month. Espineli allowed four runs in all his appearances in April and May combined. In his last four appearances the lefty reliever is back on track. Espineli has eight strikeouts and no runs allowed since June 27.

 

Connecticut Defenders (AA): Connecticut 5, New Britain 0

 

Top Lines:

 

RF Ben Copeland - 1-5, 1 RBI, 1 SO, .238

CF Antoan Richardson - 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR (2), 1 RBI, .225

C Pablo Sandoval - 0-4, 1 BB, .225

DH Adam Witter - 2-3, 2 R, 2 HR (12), 2 RBI, 1 BB, .223

SS Kyle Haines - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B (9), 1 RBI, 1 SO, .305

SP Nate Bump - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 1 HB, 3.06, W (4-3)

RP Justin Hedrick - 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1.62, SV (2)

 

Game Notes: Connecticut pitchers held New Britain to three hits in a win Saturday. The longest winning streak for Connecticut all season stood at five before they lost to the Rock Cats Friday but Connecticut bounced back to win in game two of the series. Nate Bump allowed two hits over six innings to earn his fourth win of the year. In his last four starts Bump has allowed one earned run. The Defenders bullpen was equally brilliant. The Rock Cats didn't get another hit until the ninth inning when Daniel Valencia led off the inning against Justin Hedrick. The relief pitcher allowed a double but retired the side on strikeouts, all swinging.

 

The power hitting was on display again for the Defenders. A day after two important hitters in the heart of the lineup went yard, Adam Witter left earth twice and Antoan Richardson made his way around the bases with his speed, good for an inside-the-park home run. Kyle Haines doubled home a run in the sixth inning.

 

San Jose Giants (Advanced A): San Jose 3, Rancho Cucamonga 2

 

Top Lines:

 

2B Brock Bond - 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 SO, .405

LF Bobby Felmy - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B (17), 1 BB, 1 SO, .303

1B Brett Pill - 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR (7), 2 RBI, 1 BB, .238

DH Andy D'Alessio - 1-4, 2 SO, .291

C Jackson Williams - 1-4, .280

SP Chris Begg - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1.50 ERA

RP Joe Paterson - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2.20 ERA, W (3-0)

 

Game notes: Brock Bond earned a promotion after hitting very well in a limited role with the Augusta Greenjackets this season. Bond kept up the good hitting with the Giants, hitting .405 in eight games. Bond won the game with a bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was a tight game the whole way. Rancho Cucamonga scored quickly against San Jose starting pitcher Chris Begg. Mike McBryde made a perfect throw to home plate to gun down Quakes shortstop PJ Phillips, limiting the damage to only one run.

 

Begg is back with the Giants after missing the first half of the year with an injury. The right-hander made his second start of the season, the second very similar to the first except for the no-decision Saturday night. Joe Paterson got the win in relief. Paterson pitched one scoreless inning where he struck out one batter and walked one.

 

Augusta Greenjackets (A): Charleston 6, Augusta 3

 

Top Lines:

 

CF Shane Jordan - 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO, .268

2B Nick Noonan - 0-5, 2 SO

1B Angel Villalona - 1-3, 1 BB, .237

3B Andrew Davis - 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, .275

SS Charlie Culberson - 2-4, 1 SO, .242

RF James Simmons - 1-4, 1 R, 1 3B (2), .242

SP Craig Clark - 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 4.30 ERA, L (6-2)

RP Paul Lussier - 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1 HB, 2.61 ERA

RP Daniel Turpen - 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 WP, 4.13 ERA

 

Game Notes: It was a rough day in Augusta for the Greenjackets. Starting pitcher Craig Clark melted down in the fourth inning and was charged with five runs when it was all over. Clark allowed a base hit after he gave up a three run homer and something about the hit touched a nerve. Andy Skeels and Clark were both ejected by home plate umpire Ben Robinson following the hit.

 

The damage was done, and Augusta had to play catch up for the rest of the game. Charlie Culberson had a base hit RBI in the fifth inning to score Andrew Davis. Davis scored twice in the game. Culberson had no hits in his last three games before Sunday and has been struggling all year. The two hit night helped the young shortstop. Culberson's batting average has actually improved month to month, up from a dismal .104 in April to .286 in May, and .293 in June. AUgusta scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs but couldn't overtake the lead from Charleston.

 

Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Short-A): Tri-City 4, Salem-Keizer 1

 

Top Lines:

 

DH Michael Ambort - 0-3, 1 BB, 1 SO, .219

1B Ryan Loberg - 1-4, 1 3B (3), 1 SO, .316

SS Vladimir Frias - 2-2, 1 R, 1 HBP, .250

RF Francisco Peguero - 0-3, .182

SP Mike Loree - 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR, 1.23 ERA, L (1-1)

RP Brian Irving - 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 4.26 ERA

 

Game Notes: Mike Loree lost the perfect game bid he had going when he allowed a solo home run to Tri City's Leonardo Reyes. It was the only hit and run Loree allowed on the night. Loree was outstanding with seven strikeouts--not bad for a 50th round pick in last year's draft. Loree had no-hit stuff in the Arizona rookie league in 2007, striking out 20 batters in 16 innings and allowing only one walk. Loree made one start in nine appearances with the rookie team last year and in Salem-Keizer. This was Loree's second outstanding outing in a row. June 30 against Eugene the right-hander went six innings without allowing a hit. He had seven strikeouts in the win. Loree has yet to allow a walk this year.

 

The game fell apart when Brian Irving entered the game in relief and allowed three runs, none earned due to the error Irving committed throwing to first base. Vladimir Frias scored in the eighth inning on a groundout. Frias advanced on an error and another groundout before he came home. Both teams combined for seven hits and Frias had two of the three hits for Salem-Keizer.

 

Arizona Giants (Rookie): Giants 6, Angels 2

 

Top Lines:

 

CF Wendell Fairley - 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, .214

1B CJ Ziegler - 0-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 E (2), 1 HBP, .366

C Johnny Monell - 3-5, 1 R, 1 2B (4), 1 RBI, 1 SO, 1 PB (2), .409

RF Ryan Mantle - 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, .257

LF Ryne Price - 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B (3), .353

SS Ehire Adrianza - 1-4, 1 CS (1), .250

SP Javier Hernandez - 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 6.30 ERA, W (1-1)

RP Aaron King - 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 PO, 9.00 ERA, Hold (1)

RP Eric Surkamp - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA

RP Justin Fitzgerald - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA

 

Game notes: The rookie Giants had a trio of pitchers drafted last month make their debuts in a win over the Angels. Aaron King, Eric Surkamp, and Justin Fitzgerald pitched three innings in relief of starter Javier Hernandez. Aaron King, the seventh round pick allowed a run on a weird play in the sixth inning. Angels shortstop Kevin Ramos walked to lead off the inning and he stole second base with Alexia Amarista batting. Amarista reached on a fielder's choice that did not record an out and Ramos advanced to third. King picked Amarista off first base and while that was going on, Ramos scored. Eric Surkamp and Scott Barnes were drafted around King, Surkamp in the sixth round and Barnes in the eighth. Both pitchers were perfect in their first professional apperances. All three pitchers are left-handers, part of the college lefty bonzanza the Giants had on day two of the draft.

 

Wendell Fairley busted out of his slump with a two hit game and he collected an RBI on a base hit in the fifth inning. It was part of a three run rally for the Giants. CJ Ziegler went hitless on the day but had an RBI and scored a run. Ryne Price, the San Mateo product, had two hits and scored too.

 

DSL Giants (rookie): Mets 6, Giants 4

 

Top Lines:

 

C Hector Sanchez - 0-2, 2 BB, 1 HBP, .284

1B Victor Santana - 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 E (5), .232

CF Robedluis Fuentes - 1-4, 1 RBI, .282

LF Sundrendy Windster - 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, .209

SP Marcos Prada - 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO, 2.77 ERA

RP Raymundo Montero - 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2.45 ERA, BS (2), L (1-1)

 

The Giants had to fight back against the Mets but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead and they ended up losing the game in the seventh inning. The Mets committed four errors but the errors that counted for the Giants were the misplays that lead to the three runs the Mets scored against relief pitcher Raymundo Montero. Montero turns 19 in September. None of the runs were earned as the errors allowed two runners to get on base. Sundrendy Windster, 19 years old, doubled in the third inning and would score a run on Victor Santana's base hit. Santana will be 20 in November. Windster started the two run rally in the fifth inning with a base hit. The scoring put the Giants ahead briefly. Robedluis Fuentes, turning 20 in September, brought home two runners with a base hit in the inning, assisted by a Mets error. The Giants lost their lead over the Mets in the division with the loss. Now the Mets stand at a half game ahead of the Giants.