minor lines, 6/13/09

No obvious hightlights by the Giants' farmhands last night.  (a,b) Lefties Madison Bumgarner and Craig Clark both allowed just one run through five innings but then two runs in the 6th inning, which they both failed to complete.  Among hitters on the four full-season affiliates, (c,d,e) there were just three who reached base three times each: Antoan Richardson, Thomas Neal, and Buster Posey; and there were just two home runs, as (f) Angel Villalona had two hits, including his 9th HR and as (g) Brian Bocock had a grand slam.

AAA: Fresno lost to Portland 3-1

Fresno: 2B Kevin Frandsen: 1 for 4, 2B

Fresno: RHP Matt Kinney: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Portland: RHP Josh Banks: 7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HB

Frandsen's 9th double was one of three hits for the Grizzlies, who had no one reach base twice.

Kinney had his second straight with just 2 ER, but he took the loss to drop his W-L record to 4-6 after thirteen starts.  The 5 K was the most he has had in any of his past seven starts, but the 4 BB also matched a season-high.  Banks, who made fourteen starts in the majors a year ago, has pitched quite effectively for the Padres' PCL affiliate this year as the 26-year-old has 2.47 ERA in 62.0 IP.

AA: Connecticut lost to Altoona 4-3

Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4, SO, 2 SB
Connecticut: LF Antoan Richardson: 3 for 4, 3B, SO

Connecticut: LHP Madison Bumgarner: 5.0+ IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Connecticut: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB--1 IBB, 1 WP

Crawford and Richardson combined for five of the Defenders' seven hits, raising their respective AVGs to .282 and .229.  For the season, Crawford now has a 6/7 SB/CS line.

Pitching on eight days rest, Bumgarner suffered his second loss in eleven starts this year, as his ERA for the season rose just above 2.00.  He allowed just 1 R through 5.0 IP, but then allowed a bunt single and a walk to the two batters he faced in the 6th inning, both of whom scored after he left the game.  A scoreless 7th and 8th inning lowered Joaquin's ERA to 3.77.  Snyder loaded the bases in the 9th inning but did not allow a run.

A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 7-3
(after scoring four runs in the 2nd inning)

San Jose: SS Brian Bocock: 1 for 4, HR, SO
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 2 for 3, BB, SO
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 1 for 2, 2 BB
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, HR, SO, E

San Jose: LHP Craig Clark: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 HR
San Jose: LHP Wilmin Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 2 K
San Jose: LHP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 2 K

Bocock delivered the big early blow for the Giants offense with his grand slam HR with two outs in the 2nd inning.  It was his 2nd HR of the year.  The Giants' two all-star starters, Neal and Posey, both reached base three times.  Neal, who is hitting .441/.487/.853 in nine games so far in June, and Villalona were the two Giants' with multi-hit lines.  In the 8th inning, Villalona connected for his 9th HR.  He also committed his 8th error, a fairly high total for a first baseman.

Clark fell short of a quality start but still improved his ERA to 3.06 after eleven starts.  The two unearned runs scored immediately after he left the game on Villalona's missed catch error.  He continues to have very impressive peripheral stats with 51 H, 10 BB and 72 K in 61.2 IP.  On the other hand, he has been rather susceptible to the long ball, having surrendered 10 HRs; and given that he has made seven of eleven starts at home, his home run rate has not been unduly inflated by some of the more hitter-friendly parks elsewhere in the league.  Rodriguez and Runzler combined to strike out four of the eight batters they faced.

A-: Augusta defeated Savannah 6-2

Augusta: RF Ben Woodbury: 2 for 5, 2B
Augusta: 2B Vladimir Frias: 2 for 4, 2B, SB, CS

Augusta: LHP Aaron King: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 1 WP

Woodbury and Frias each had two of the GreenJackets' nine hits, including Woodbury's 9th double and Frias's 3rd double.  Woodbury kept his AVG above .330, while Frias got his AVG above the Mendoza line.

King pitched five full innings for just the second consecutive start and just the third time in ten starts overall this year.  The 6 H matched a season high, but he lowered his ERA to 4.71.

DSL: Giants defeated Rangers1 7-2

Dominican: 1B Rey Duran: 2 for 3, HR, BB
Dominican: LHP Keurin Feliz: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HB, 1 WP

Duran (19.10 y.o.) homered for the second straight day, giving him 4 HRs in just 21 AB this year.  He had 2 HRs in 67 AB a year ago.  Making just the third start of his young pro career, Feliz (18.9 y.o.) had perhaps hist best start so far.  At least it was his longest start and lowered his ERA to 4.80 after he had given up 6 ER in his first pro start.