AAA: Fresno lost to Portland 11-0 (7 innings) in game 1

Fresno: 2B Travis Denker: 1 for 1, 2 BB
Portland: LF Paul McAnulty: 2 for 2, HR, 2 BB
Portland: RF Vince Sinisi: 3 for 4, HR

Fresno: RHP Victor Santos: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K--2 HR
Fresno: RHP Roberto Novoa: 0.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 1 BB--1 HR, 1 HB
Fresno: "RHP" Justin Leone: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K

The lone Grizzly to reach base more than once, Denker had one of the Grizzlies' two hits and two of their four walks.  The Padres' McAnulty and Sinisi led the Beavers' offense for the second straight game, with McAnulty once again reaching base four times and Sinisi once again having three hits.

Santos continues to scuffle, although this start actually improved his ERA to just 13.50 since the all-star break.  He threw 105 pitches (60 strikes) in just four innings.  Novoa retired just two of eleven batters he faced in the 5th inning, and one of those two was the opposing pitcher.  Leone got the opportunity to pitch the 6th inning.  After allowing a leadoff double and hitting the second batter, he then struck out the pitcher and induced an inning-ending GiDP from the leadoff hitter.

AAA: Fresno defeated Portland 2-0 (7 innings) in game 2

Fresno: RF Dan Ortmeier: 2 for 2, 2B, BB
Fresno: SS Jake Wald: 2 for 3, HR
Portland: RF Vince Sinisi: 1 for 2, 2B, HBP

Fresno: LHP Erick Threets: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HB
Fresno: RHP Osiris Matos: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 5 K

Ortmeier and Wald had all the hits from the Grizzlies' starting lineup.  Ortmeier, who has reportedly returned to switch hitting, raised his AVG to .178.  Wald, who had 7 HRs a year ago in the Eastern League, had his 4th HR of this season.  Remaining hot, the Padres' Sinisi was the only Beaver to reach base twice.

Threets received his first start since last April.  He was not exactly efficient with his pitch count in that role, throwing 33 of 56 pitches for strikes.  In long relief, Matos also threw a fair number of pitches, but over three quarters of them (37 of 48) for strikes.

AA: Connecticut defeated Akron 3-2

Connecticut: C Adam Witter: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Connecticut: 1B Simon Klink: 2 for 3, BB
Connecticut: 3B David Maroul: 1 for 3, HR

Connecticut: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Connecticut: RHP Ronnie Ray: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 K

Witter and Maroul connected for their 17th and 10th HRs, respectively.  With two singles, as well as a walk, Klink was the only Defender to reach base multiple times, raising his OBP above .300.

Broshuis bounced back from his previous start (6 ER, 11 H) with this quality start.  Ray continues his very strong pitching over the last couple months.

A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 3-1

San Jose: CF Darren Ford: 0 for 4, 4 SO
San Jose: 3B Matt Downs: 2 for 4, SO

San Jose: RHP Tim Alderson: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
San Jose: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Downs was the lone Giant with mutliple hits, raising his AVG to .310 in the Cal League, although he hit just .244 in 86 AB in the PCL.  In his 20th game with the Giants, Ford suffered the sombrero.  He already more strikeouts than hits, and his SO/AB ratio is now 30% since joining the Giants (cf. 26% this year before joining the Giants).

Alderson had a quality start but suffered his first loss since before the Cal League's all-star break in mid-June.  Alderson has dramatically improved his K/BB ratio during that span, with a 65/25 K/BB line before the break and a 47/9 K/BB line since.  After a spot start four days earlier, Joaquin returned to the bullpen for his fifth relief appearance in the Cal League, where his BB/IP ratio remains above 0.50.

A-: Augusta defeated West Virginia 4-2

Augusta: SS Juan Ciriaco: 3 for 4, SB, CS
Augusta: 3B Andrew Davis: 1 for 3, 3B, BB

Augusta: RHP T.J. Brewer: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

The GreenJackets got most of their offense from the left side of the infield, with Ciriaco being their only hitter with multiple hits and Davis providing their only XBH.

Brewer continues to be on a roll, with no more than 1 ER allowed over his last nine appearances, including seven starts.  Since SAL all-star break, he has 26 H, 11 BB and 33 K in 40.0 IP with a 1.35 ERA.

ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Vancouver 6-5

Salem-Keizer: 3B Jose Flores: 2 for 5, 2 2B, SO
Salem-Keizer: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, 2B, GiDP

Salem-Keizer: RHP Mike Loree: 4.0+ IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 HB, 1 WP, 1 PO

With two hits each, including three of the team's four XBHs, Flores and Monell led the Volcanoes' offense, raising their AVGs to .280 and .169.

Loree had one of his less effective starts, raising his ERA to 2.91.  After not recording a groundball out last night (0/5 GO/FO line), his GO/AO ratio is 0.83.

R: Giants defeated Brewers 5-2

Scottsdale: CF Wendell Fairley: 1 for 2, BB, HBP
Scottsdale: DH Conor Gillaspie: 0 for 2, 2 BB, SO, CS
Scottsdale: 1B Ryan Flanigan: 3 for 4, HR, 2B

Scottsdale: RHP Jorge Bucardo: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Scottsdale: RHP Chris Wilson: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Maryvale: RHP Jake Odorizzi: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Flanigan, the lone rookie Giant with a multiple hit line, connected for his first pro HR.  Fairley was the other rookie Giant to reach base three times.  Gillaspie had his short hitting streak snapped.

Bucardo had the best start of his career, including his second straight start with a season high (if not career high) in strikeouts.  He allowed only a leadoff double in the 2nd inning.  Wilson struck out two of the four batters he faced for his 4th save.  Odorizzi, the 32nd overall pick by the Brewers this year, has made four of eight appearances against the Giants.

DSL: Giants lost to Mets 7-4

Dominican: C Hector Sanchez: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB
Dominican: RHP Edward Concepcion: 6.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 WP

Sanchez (18.8 y.o.) homered for the second time in three days.  Concepcion (19.10 y.o.) had one of his less effective starts.  He still has a very nice 7-2 W-L record despite a 4.30 ERA and .290 BAA.

And it's probably past time for the early Augusta edition to update my so-called "Future Forty":
1. LHP Madison Bumgarner
2. RHP Tim Alderson
3. 1B Angel Villalona
4. 3B Conor Gillaspie
5. C Pablo Sandoval
6. RHP Henry Sosa
7. OF Rafael Rodriguez
8. RF Nate Schierholtz
9. 2B Nick Noonan
10. CF Wendell Fairley
11. 1B Travis Ishikawa
12. LHP Alex Hinshaw
13. 2B Travis Denker
14. RHP Merkin Valdez
15. RHP Osiris Matos
16. LHP Clayton Tanner
17. OF Roger Kieschnick
18. RHP Billy Sadler
19. RHP Sergio Romo
20. LHP Ben Snyder
21. RHP Kelvin Pichardo
22. 3B Ryan Rohlinger
23. RHP Joe Martinez
24. LHP Geno Espineli
25. RHP Justin Hedrick
26. SS Brian Bocock
27. LHP Jesse English
28. SS Charlie Culberson
29. 2B Matt Downs
30. CF Michael McBryde
31. RHP Edwin Quirarte
32. LHP Erick Threets
33. RHP Waldis Joaquin
34. RHP Kevin Pucetas
35. LF Brian Horwitz
36. RHP Brian Anderson
37. LF Eddy Martinez-Esteve
38. LHP Paul Oseguera
39. C Jackson Williams
40. RHP Daryl Maday

P.S. Maybe I am getting old and cynical, but I did find myself wondering about the quality and purpose of this list as I am not sure how much difference there is between #15 and #40.