minor lines, 4/15/09

AAA: Fresno lost to Tacoma 5-4
(after trailing 5-0 after six innings)

Fresno: CF Mike McBryde: 2 for 4, BB, 2 SB, E
Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 0 for 4, 2 SO, PB
Tacoma: C Jeff Clement: 0 for 4, SO

Fresno: RHP Kevin Pucetas: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 WP, 1 BK
Fresno: RHP Keichii Yabu: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Tacoma: LHP Garrett Olson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Batting leadoff, McBryde reached base three times and had his 4th and 5th SBs of the young season.  His .320 AVG is second best in the Grizzlies' lineup.  By contrast, Whiteside was the only Grizzly starter without a hit tonight, and he has yet to collect his first hit this year.  The Mariners' Clement is off to a slow start, with tonight's oh-fer dropping his AVG to .053.

Pucetas's second PCL start was a bit better than his first start.  Yabu pitched a perfect 9th inning in his fourth appearance of the season.  Olson, who made 26 big league starts for the Orioles a year ago, had an effective start.

AA: Connecticut lost to New Hampshire 2-0
(allowing both runs in 8th inning)

Connecticut: 3B David Maroul: 1 for 2

Connecticut: RHP Brooks McNiven: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Connecticut: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Connecticut: RHP Steven Edlefsen: 0.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K--1 WP

No one reached base twice for the Defenders.  Maroul had one of their four hits, all singles, before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the 7th inning.

McNiven had another effective start, this time facing just three batters over the minimum in five innings.  In relief, Joaquin did not allow a hit, but he and Edlefsen combined to issue five straight walks with two outs in the 8th inning. 

A+: San Jose deeated Bakersfield 8-6
(after leading 7-0 after three innings)

San Jose: CF Darren Ford: 3 for 5, SO, 2 CS
San Jose: SS Brandon Crawford: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SO, 2 SB
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 3 for 3, HR, 2B, 2 BB, SB, PB, E
San Jose: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 1 for 3, 2 BB, 2 SO
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Bakersfield: CF Engel Beltre: 0 for 5, 3 SO
Bakersfield: LF Timothy Smith: 5 for 5, 2B, SB
Bakersfield: C Elio Sarmiento: 2 for 4, BB, 2 SO

San Jose: RHP Tim Alderson: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 HR
San Jose: RHP T.J. Brewer: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 K--1 HB
Bakersfield: RHP Michael Main: 3.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HR

With three hits each, Ford and Posey accounted for half of the Giants' dozen hits.  Posey had a huge night, reaching base in all five plate appearances and connecting for his 3rd HR and 2nd double.  Ford's three hits were somewhat negated by twice being caught stealing.  Villalona was the other Giant with a multi-hit line.  Crawford and Gillaspie both drew a couple walks to reach base three times.  Given how often Crawford has been on base to start the season, it seems a bit odd that his two steals tonight were his first of the year.  Beltre, who is a borderline top 100 prospect, had the oh--fer with a hat trick that dropped his AVG back below .100.  Smith, whom the Rangers' selected in the 7th round two years ago, had five hits.  Sarmiento, whom I think the Giants lost in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, had two against his former organization.

This game figured to be a good pitcher's matchup with two top 100 prospects starting on the mound, but both pitchers allowed ten hits, with the Giants' Alderson facing 23 batters and the Rangers' Main facing 20 batters.  Brewer struck out four of the dozen batters he faced in his second appearance of the season. 

A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 8-6
(after the game was tied 2-2 after six innings)

Augusta: RF James Simmons:3 for 3, BB, SB
Augusta: SS Ehire Adrianza: 2 for 3, HR, BB, SB

Augusta: LHP Aaron King: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 1 PO
Augusta: RHP Chance Corgan: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K--1 WP
Charleston: RHP Andrew Brackman: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HB

Simmons had three of the GreenJackets' ten hits, raising his AVG above .200.  Adrianza, who had 1 HR last year in 66 AB, had his 1st HR of the year.

King had a solid season debut, although he had just 2 K and 2 GO in 4.0 IP.  Corgan provided effective middle relief, allowing a run but striking out five of the eleven batters he faced.  Brackman, whom the Yankees selected 30th overall in the 2007 draft, made his second minor league start.  His performance included a 7/1 GO/FO line.