The top highlight on the Giants' farm yesterday was (a) Tim Alderson allowing just four baserunners in 7.0 shutout IP.  Other highlights include (b) Garrett Broshuis also facing just four batters over the minimum in his 7.0 shutout IP, (c,d) Kevin Frandsen and Tyler Graham both homering while reaching base three times, (e) Kyle Nicholson allowing just 1 ER in 7.0 IP, and (f) Vladimir Frias reaching base in all four plate appearances.

AAA: Fresno lost to Sacramento 8-7 (10 innings)
(with both teams scoring in the 8th and 9th innings)

Fresno: 2B Kevin Frandsen: 2 for 4, HR, BB
Fresno: LF John Bowker: 1 for 4, HR, BB
Fresno: DH Joe Borchard: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Sacramento: RF Travis Buck: 3 for 4, 2B, BB, SO

Fresno: RHP Ramon Ortiz: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 0.2 IP
Sacramento: RHP Henry Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Three different Grizzlies homered--Bowker for his 10th HR, Frandsen for his 6th HR, and Borchard for his 5th HR.  They also each drew a walk.  Frandsen and Borchard also had the Grizzlies' only two multi-hit lines, as they improved their AVGs to .333 and .263.  The A's' Buck, playing his sixth PCL game this year, had three hits and a walk.  He has a .478 OBP with Sacramento after just a .301 OBP in 85 in the majors previously this year.

In his third start, Ortiz allowed a season-high 8 H.  He also allowed 3 ER, but his ERA remains under 3.00.  Hinshaw retired both batters he faced in the 10th inning but did allow an inherited runner to score the decisive run when the first batter had a sac fly.  Rodriguez, whom BA ranked as the A's' #14 prospect to begin the year, made his tenth appearance of the season.  So far he has impressive peripheral stats, with the strikeout rate in particular, with 11 H, 8 BB, and 30 K in 16.2 IP.

AA: Connecticut defeated Trenton 4-0
(after adding three insurance runs in the 8th inning)

Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 4
Connecticut: 1B Brett Pill: 3 for 4
Connecticut: RF Mike Mooney: 2 for 4, 2 SO, SB

Connecticut: RHP Tim Alderson: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 2.0 IP, 2 BB
Trenton: RHP Zach McAllister: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

Pill continues to swing a hot bat, although this was his first multi-hit line in ten days.  He has an AVG above .320 since the start of May.  His OPS for the season remains just under .800.  Bond and Mooney also had multi-hit lines, improving their AVGs to .303 and .239.

Alderson had perhaps his best start since his upper minors debut when he did not allow a hit in 6.2 IP.  This was the second time in seven starts for the Defenders that he has pitched at least seven full innings.  The 2 BB did double his total as a Defender.  Since joining Connecticut, his stat line now reads 34 H, 4 BB, and 34 K in 39.2 IP with a 1.82 ERA.  In relief, Snyder finished the shutout facing just one batter over the minimum in two innings.  He allowed a couple walks but got his ERA back below 2.00.  McAllister, whom BA ranked as the Yankees' #6 prospect, had a fine start, allowing just one run through seven innings.  Even with three runs in the 8th inning, his ERA remains just 1.81.  The 21-year-old now has 63 H, 20 BB, and 57 K in 74.2 IP over his dozen starts.

A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 7-0

San Jose: DH Tyler Graham: 2 for 4, HR, BB, 2 SO, CS
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 3 for 5
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 2 for 4, BB, SB
San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 1 for 4, HR
San Jose: 1B David Maroul: 3 for 4, 2 2B

San Jose: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HB
San Jose: LHP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 1 K
San Jose: RHP Steven Edlefsen: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Graham led off the bottom of the 1st inning with his 5th HR.  In the 6th inning, Kieschnick added his 10th HR.  In the continuing "Neal and Posey show," they both reached base three times.  Neal and Maroul each had three hits, accounting for half of the Giants' dozen hits and raising their respective AVGs to .352 and .286.

Broshuis had his four straight start pitching at least six full innings but his first start without allowing an earned run.  In his six starts, he now 31 H, 8 BB and 21 K in 36.0 IP with a 3.00 ERA.  Runzler and Edlefsen completed the shutout striking out three of the eight batters they faced.

A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 3-2
(scoring a run in the bottom of the 9th inning)

Augusta: CF Dom Duggan: 3 for 5, 3B, SO
Augusta: 2B Vladimir Frias: 3 for 3, 3B, BB, E

Augusta: RHP Kyle Nicholson: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Augusta: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Charleston: BHP Pat Venditte: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K

Duggan and Frias each had three hits, including Duggan's 4th triple and Frias's 2nd triple.  They accounted for half of the GreenJackets' dozen hits, but both still have AVGs below .250.

Nicholson made another extended start.  He had pitched at least seven full innings in eight of his last nine starts.  With just 4 H in 7.0 IP in each of his two starts, his H/IP ratio is now below 1.00 (BAA of .261).  Quirarte pitched a scoreless 9th inning in his third SAL appearance.  Venditte has become somewhat infamous for his ability to pitch with either arm.  He's had such a good season that he was named to the SAL all-star game.  He suffered his second loss of the season last night, but his ERA remains below 1.00.

DSL: Giants defeated Royals 5-1

Dominican: LF Eduardo Lopez: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Dominican: RHP Miguel Ferrer: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Batting cleanup, Lopez (18.3 y.o.) had his first XBH in nearly two weeks.  In his first pro season, he is hitting .183/.300/.267 through his first 60 AB.  Making his third start of the season, Ferrer (18.10 y.o.) had an outstanding start.  He now has 13 H, 0 BB, 4 ER, and 16 K in 17.0 IP.