minor lines, 5/9/09

Not a lot of candidates for highlights from yesterday, but I'll note these two: (a) three Grizzlies--Frandsen, Bowker, and Rohlinger--each homer; (b) Garrett Broshuis faces just one batter over the minimum in 4.1 scoreless innings in relief.

AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 8-5

Fresno: SS Kevin Frandsen: 1 for 3, HR, HBP, SF, GiDP
Fresno: RF John Bowker: 2 for 4, HR, SB, E
Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 1 for 4, HR

Fresno: RHP Ryan Sadowski: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Pat Misch: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K
Reno: LHP Doug Slaten: 1.0 IP, 1 H

The Grizzlies homered three times.  Frandsen and Rohlinger each had their 3rd HR, while Bowker had his 2nd HR.

Sadowski had a quality start, despite allowing a season-high 8 H, with just under 15 pitches per inning.  While throwing 55 of 87 pitches for strikes, he had a 12/3 GO/FO line, increasing his GO/AO ratio to 2.57 this year.  A year ago his GO/AO ratio was below 1.50.  After allowing an earned run in just one of his first eight appearances, Misch has now allowed an earned run in each of his last three appearances, although his last two appearances have also been his longest two appearances (in terms of IP) this season.  Slaten, whom the D'backs optioned to the minors in late April, faced the minimum three batters in the 9th inning to maintain his 0.00 ERA through five appearances.

AA: Connecticut defeated New Hampshire 4-2

Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 0 for 5, 2 SO
Connecticut: RF Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 2 for 4, SO
New Hampshire: 2B Brad Emaus: 3 for 4, HR, 2B

Connecticut: RHP Henry Sosa: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HR
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Connecticut: RHP Danny Otero: 1.1. IP, 1 BB, 1 K

With two more hits, EME extended his hitting streak to five gaves and raised his AVG to .289.  Crawford suffered the oh-fer with a couple strikeouts in his upper minors debut.  Emaus, the Blue Jays' #10 prospect, continues to punish Defenders pitching this season.  For the second straight day, he had a homer, a double, and a single.

Sosa allowed a season-high 7 H and a season-high 3 BB, but he stranded most of those baserunners and improved his W-L record to 2-0 through six starts.  He has yet to allow more than 2 ER in a start this year, keeping his ERA a low 2.57.  Snyder and Otero combined for four scoreless innings in relief, with Otero picking up his 7th save.

A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 2-1

San Jose: 2B Wladimir Frias: 2 for 5, SO
San Jose: DH Angel Villalona: 1 for 3, BB
San Jose: CF Darren Ford: 0 for 2, 2 BB

San Jose: RHP T.J. Brewer: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
San Jose: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 4 K
San Jose: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K

With the Giants managing just six hit, all of them singles, Frias had the Giants' only multi-hit line.  He got his AVG back above the Mendoza line.  Villalona and Ford also reached base twice.  Villalona, who had not drawn a walk in his previous nine games, now has 5 BB and 22 SO among 110 AB.  Ford now has 5 SBs.

After eight relief appearances, Brewer got his first start of the season.  He didn't make it through four innings, though.  Broshuis was dominant in relief, facing just one batter over the minimum and lowering his own ERA to 1.23.  Quirarte picked up his 4th save while maintaining his 0.00 ERA with a scoreless 9th inning.

A-: Augusta lost to Bowling Green 6-2

Augusta: C Matt Klimas: 2 for 4, E
Bowling Green: SS Tim Beckham: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, CS

Augusta: LHP Aaron King: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K--2 HB

Playing close to every other day, the 21-year-old Klimas has been an on-base machine for the GreenJackets.  With multiple hits in four of his last eight starts, he has raised his AVG to .340 and his OBP to .385.  A year ago, he hit just .237/.302/.289 in 97 AB for the GreenJackets.  Beckham, whom the Rays selected first overall last summer, reached base three times and had his 8th XBH.  His season line is now .307/.330/.446 through 101 AB with a 0/3 SB/CS line.

The 20-year-old King, who has pitched into the 5th inning just once this year in his five starts, yesterday issued six free passes, including 2 HB in addition to a season-high 4 BB.  His WHIP remains high at 1.75 and his ERA is now close to 6.00.