minor lines, 8/2/08

AAA: Fresno defeated Memphis 10-9

Fresno: CF Clay Timpner: 3 for 5,  2 SB
Fresno: 1B Travis Ishikawa: 2 for 5, HR
Fresno: 2B-LF Justin Leone: 1 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Fresno: C Guillermo Rodriguez: 3 for 3, 2B, BB, PB, E
Memphis: PH Brian Barton: 1 for 1, HR

Fresno: RHP Matt Palmer: 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Fresno: RHP Vinnie Chulk: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HR
Frenso: RHP Billy Sadler: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Ishikawa's HR washis 5th HR in his last seven games, his 11th PCL HR and 19th HR this season.  Leone had his 15th HR this year.  Timpner and G-Rod each had three hits, raising their respective AVGs to .243 and .286.  The Cardinals' Barton had just one plate appearance but still managed to homer for the third consecutive game.

Palmer had three scoreless innings to begin the game but then allowed 6 ER in the 4th inning, raising his ERA to 4.26.  He threw 90 pitches (51 strikes) in less than four innings.  Chulk has allowed an earned run in three of his last four appearances.  Sadler earned his first save of the year with a perfect 9th inning.

AA: Connecticut lost to New Hampshire 2-1

Connecticut: DH Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 1 for 3, BB, SO
Connecticut: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 1 for 3, HR, GiDP

Connecticut: RHP Joe Martinez: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 WP

Rohlinger connected for his 5th HR since his promotion.  Despite the league reputations, he has shown more power in the Eastern League than in the Cal League, with a .484 SLG in 126 AB for Connecticut after just a .419 SLG in 277 AB for San Jose.  EME was the only Defender to reach base twice.

Martinez, who had his worst month of the season in July, has not put together two strong starts in a row.

A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 9-3

San Jose: 1B Brett Pill: 4 for 4, SB
San Jose: DH Andy D'Alessio: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO

San Jose: RHP Nick Pereira: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 WP, 1 E
San Jose: RHP Taylor Wilding: 1.2 IP, 1 K
San Jose: RHP Steven Edlefsen: 1.0 IP, 2 K

With four singles, Pill had a third of the Giants' dozen hits and raised his AVG above .250.  D'Alessio had his streak of multi-hit games snapped, but he did connect for his 2nd HR since the Cal League all-star break in mid-June.

Pereira, who went on the minor league DL after nineteen starts with Fresno, made a second rehab start with San Jose.  Wilding and Edlefsen combined for 2.2 perfect IP in relief.

A-: Augusta defeated Savannah 8-6

Augusta: CF Shane Jordan: 3 for 4, HBP, 3 SB
Augusta: RF James Simmons: 2 for 3, HR, BB, SB

Augusta: RHP Oliver Ordle: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Augusta: LHP Ryan Paul: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K

Jordan had three singles, raising his AVG to .260, and had three steals, raising his team-leading total to 31 SB.  Simmons connected for his 3rd HR.

Odle, who allowed just 8 ER in five July starts, had his least effective start with 5 ER allowed since the end of June.  Paul struck out five of the ten batters he faced.  The nearly 24-year-old reliever now has 41 K in 31.2 IP since his demotion, but his BB/IP ratio remains above 0.50.

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Vancouver 3-1 (7 innings) in game 1

Salem-Keizer: 3B Skyler Stromsmoe: 3 for 3, BB, SB

Salem-Keizer: RHP Mike Loree: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 WP
Salem-Keizer: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K

Stromsmoe, an undrafted free agent signed a year ago, reached base in all four trips to the plate, with the three singles raising his AVG to .250.

Loree had another effective start, bringing his ERA back below 2.00.  He matched his career high with 7 K, a mark he set and matched in each of his three incredible starts in which he allowed just one baserunner combined.  Quirarte earned his 7th save, stranding two inherited runners in the 6th inning and then working a scoreless 7th inning.

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Vancouver 6-5 (7 innings) in game 2

Salem-Keizer: RF Francisco Peguero: 2 for 4, CS
Salem-Keizer: DH Michael Ambort: 1 for 2, 2B, BB

Salem-Keizer: LHP Eric Surkamp: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Peguero, the only Volcano with multiple hits, raised his AVG back to .333.  Ambort, the Giants' sixth round pick a year ago, had the Volcanoes' only XBH, raising his XBH/H ratio above 50% and raising his SLG to .543 in 70 AB.

Surkamp has strugged a bit in his young pro career as a starter, with 8 ER in three short starts; but he has allowed just 1 ER in three relief appearances.

R: Giants lost to Rangers 8-7

Scottsdale: CF Wendell Fairley: 1 for 2, HR, HBP, SO

Scottsdale: LHP Aaron King: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Fairley led off the game with his 2nd pro HR.

King, who got his second start among seven pro appearances, saw his ERA nearly double to 3.63.  But he did set a new career high with 7 K.  Unfortunately, the 5 H and 4 ER were also career highs.

DSL: Giants defeated Blue Jays #1 7-2

Dominican: CF Carlos Willoughby: 3 for 4, 2B, 3 SB, CS
Dominican: RHP Armando Paniagua: 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 1 K

Willoughby (19.9 y.o.), who hit .291 in 86 AB with a 12/3 SB/CS line last year, now has a .305 AVG in 154 AB this year with a 27/3 SB/CS line.  Paniagua (18.7 y.o.) pitched four shutout innings to pick up a save in his second pro appearance.