minor lines, 5/17/09

Today's definite highlight is (a) Madison Bumgarner with six scoreless innings.  Also notable, (b) T.J. Brewers throws five scoreless innings in his start, and (c) Jesus Guzman has three hits.

AAA: Fresno defeated Albuquerque 6-3
(rallying for four runs in the 9th inning)

Fresno: RF John Bowker: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB
Fresno: 1B Jesus Guzman: 3 for 5, 2B, SO
Fresno: 2B Matt Downs: 1 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Fresno: P Kevin Pucetas: 2 for 2, SH

Fresno: RHP Kevin Pucetas: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Fresno: RHP Osiris Matos: 1.1 IP, 1 H
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinsahw: 1.0 IP, 1 BB
Albuquerque: RHP Charlie Haeger: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K--1 WP

Guzman had three of the Grizzlies' ten hits.  He has hit .435 in May to raise his season AVG to .356.  Pucetas, the starting pitcher, had the Grizzlies' only other multi-hit line.  Downs' 6th HR was a three-run, two-out shot in the bottom of the 9th inning.  Bowker drew two mors walks, giving him eight walks in his last eight games.

Pucetas has four "quality starts" in eight starts, including his last two in which he has allowed a season-high 7 H in each.  His season ERA is now 4.44.  Matos allowed two hits to the six batters he faced, raising his BAA to .250 and his H/IP to exactly 1.00.  Hinshaw pitched a scoreless 9th inning.  The Dodgers' 25-year-old knuckleballer Haeger has allowed just 7 ER over his past four starts.

AA: Connecticut defeated New Hampshire 1-0
(completing yesterday's suspended game)

Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 3, BB, CS
Connecticut: DH Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
Connecticut: C Tyler LaTorre: 2 for 3, 2B, SO

Connecticut: RHP Tim Alderson: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Connecticut: LHP Madison Bumgarner: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K--1 PO
Connecticut: LHP Joe Paterson: 1.1 IP, 2 K
New Hampshire: RHP Casey Janssen: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Bond and LaTorre each had two hits, raising their respective AVGs to .319 and .407.  EME's double on Saturday drove in the game's only run in the 1st inning.  In the eight innings played on Sunday, no runs were scored.

After Alderson pitched an inning on Saturday, Bumgarner entered the game Sunday in relief, although it was effectively a start.  He pitched six dominant innings, facing just three batters over the minimum and getting half his outs via strikeout.  Paterson struck out two of four batters, his third straight appearance with 2 K and no baserunners allowed.  The Blue Jays' Janssen made his fifth start of the season (although this was technically a relief appearance).

AA: Connecticut lost to New Hampshire 8-2 (7 innings)

Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 4, SO
Connecticut: 1B Brett Pill: 1 for 2, 2B
Connecticut: RF Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 2 for 3, SO, E

Connecticut: RHP Dan Griffin: 0.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Connecticut: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 1.0 IP

Bond and EME each had two of the Defenders' six hits, improving their AVGs to .326 and .294.  Pill had his organization-leading 13th double.

Making his first start since at least the 2007 season, Griffin retired just one of the nine batters he faced in the 1st inning.  Joaquin pitched a perfect 6th inning.

A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 2-1
(allowing both runs in the bottom of the 9th inning)

San Jose: CF Andres Torres: 0 for 4, 2 SO
San Jose: RF Thomas Neal: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
San Jose: DH Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 4, 2B

San Jose: RHP T.J. Brewer: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
San Jose: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER

With two hits, including his 6th double, Kieschnick had the Giants' only multi-hit line.  His fourth straight mult-hit game raised his AVG to .345.  Neal, who had his 11th double, was the only other Giant to reach base twice.  Torres is now 1 for 10 in his three rehab games.

After beginning the season with eight relief appearances, Brewer made his second start.  With five scoreless innings, the role seems to suit him.  Quirarte allowed 2 ER after having allowed just 1 ER previously this year.

A-: Augusta at Asheville was postponed due to rain
(They were unable the resume Saturday's suspended game.  They will try again tomorrow before the series finale.)
(Today's regular scheduled game will be part of a doubleheader later this year.)