minor lines, 6/18/09

Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Kevin Frandsen had two XBH; (b) Charlie Culberson reached base four times; (c) Andy D'Alessio had two XBH among his four hits; and (d) Brooks McNiven had five scoreless innings in his start.

AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 3-2

Fresno: SS Kevin Frandsen: 2 for 4, HR, 3B
Fresno: 1B Jesus Guzman: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Colorado Springs: Dan Ortmeier: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB, SO

Fresno: RHP Matt Kinney: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HB
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Colorado Springs; RHP Adam Eaton: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR

Frandsen's 7th HR and 2nd triple were two of the Grizzlies' three hits and accounted for half their baserunners.  Guzman had the oh-fer with the hat trick, raising his SO/AB ratio to 18.7%.  Ortmeier, the ex-Giant now in the Rockies organization, had two doubles, which accounted for half of the Sky Sox' four hits.

Kinney had a quality start but took the look.  His ERA remains just above 6.00, and he might seem in danger of losing his job if the Giants had any starting pitching prospects in double-A who looked ready for a promotion.  Hinshaw threw 19 of 28 pitches for strikes.  He now has 15 H, 23 BB, and 28 K in 22.0 IP with Fresno.  Adam Eaton, who signed a minor league deal with the Rockies after the Phillies released him, now has a 1.50 ERA in two starts with his new organization.

AA: Connecticut lost to Trenton 2-0

Connecticut: 3B Brad Boyer: 1 for 4, 2B, SO

Connecticut: RHP Brooks McNiven: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Connecticut: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 1.0 IP, 1 H
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER--1 HB

No one reached base twice for the Defenders.  Boyer's 9th double was their only XBH.

Pitching on six days rest, McNiven made his ninth start of the year.  As a starter, he has a 3.79 ERA.  After a 10/2 GO/FO line, his GO/AO ratio for the season is 2.65.  Joaquin pitched a scoreless 6th inning.  He has allowed five hits in his last four appearances, but his BAA remains below .200.  Snyder retired just one of the four batters he faced to begin the 7th inning and take the loss.

A+: San Jose lost to Stockton 4-1

San Jose: CF Tyler Graham: 1 for 3, BB, SB
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 3, 2B, HBP, SO
San Jose: DH Buster Posey: 0 for 3, BB, SO
San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 1 for 4, HR
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 0 for 4, 2 SO
San Jose: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, E

San Jose: LHP Clayton Tanner: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Stockton: RHP Craig Italiano: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 HB

Gillsapie was the lone Giants with a multi-hit line, improving his AVG to .278.  Also reaching base twice were Graham and Neal.  Neal smashed a line drive off the left field fence hard enough that it probably should have been just a single given how quickly the ball bounced back to the left fielder, but Neal made into second base for the double when the throw to second base was off target.  After striking out in his final plate appearance, he shared his displeasure about the umpire's call all the way back to the dugout.  Graham had his 13th SB, and perhaps he should have been credited with another steal for being able to go from first to third on a groundout in the 1st inning.  Kieschnick hit the ball better than his line might indicate.  His HR was to the right side of center field.  He also had two line drives to right field that were caught.  Posey had his hit streak snapped.  Villalona broke at least three bats during his oh-fer.

Tanner was not as masterful as his previous start when he had a career-high 13 K.  His string of four straight quality starts, all with 2 ER or less, was snapped.  The A's' Italiano has struggled this year, but tonight he had his best start in nearly a month and a half.  Over his previous seven starts, he had allowed 4+ ER in each start.  His season ERA remains above 6.50.

A-: Augusta defeated Rome 5-4
(scoring a run in the bottom of the 9th inning)

Augusta: 3B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4, 2B, HBP, SB, E
Augusta: DH Andy D'Alessio: 4 for 5, HR, 2B, SO

Augusta: RHP Eric Stolp: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K--1 HB
Augusta: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 2 H

Batting leadoff the past two games seems to have awakened Culberson's bat.  He had another multi-hit line that included an XBH.  He also committed his 23rd error.  D'Alessio had his best game of the season, including his 2nd HR and 7th double since being demoted to the Sally League.

Stolp's second start was not as effective overall as his first start.  He did have 4 K this time, but he also had just six ground ball outs after getting fifteen ground ball outs in his previous start.  Quirarte pitched a scoreless 9th inning in his second Sally League appearance.

DSL: Giants lost to Marlins 7-3

Dominican: 2B Cesar Osuna: 2 for 5, SO
Dominican: LHP Ebert Fernandez: 5.0+ IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Osuna (19,4 y.o.) had two of the Gigantes' three hits, raising his own AVG to .305 through 59 AB.  He hit .244 in 213 AB a year ago.  Fernandez (18.8 y.o.) allowed a season-high 9 H and a season-high 5 ER in his fourth start of the year, raising his ERA close to 6.00.