Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) John Bowker had 2 HRs among his four hits; (b) Angel Villalona had three singles to snap out of his cold streak; and (c) Ari Ronick allowed 0 ER in 7.0 IP.

AAA: Fresno defeated Colorado Springs 8-7
(scoring the decisive run in the bottom of the 9th inning after allowing two runs in the top half)

Fresno: SS Kevin Frandsen: 2 for 5, HR, 2 E
Fresno: LF John Bowker: 4 for 5, 2 HR, SO
Fresno: RF Ben Copeland: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Colorado Springs: RF Matt Murton: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO

Fresno: RHP Ryan Sadowski: 6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER,2 KK-1 HR
Colorado Springs: RHP Jason Hirsh: 5.0+ IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--3 HR, 1 HB
Colorado Springs: RHP Scott Munter: 1.1 IP, 1 K
Colorado Springs: LHP Damian Moss: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Bowker hit his 12th and 13th HRs of the season, both solo shots in the 2nd and 5th innings.   Bowker's 5th inning HR immediately followed Frandsen's 8th HR as they went back to back.  Frandsen also committed his 11th and 12th errors with Fresno this year.  Copeland had the oh-fer with the bat trick before being removed for a pinch hitter in the 9th inning, who also struck out.  The Rockies' Murton continues to swing a very hot bat.  He had his third HR of the series as he reached base three times.

Making his thirteenth start, Sadowski allowed a season-high 4 ER and a season-high 10 H.  His string of starts with 3 ER or less was finally snapped.  On the positive side, he issued less than two walks for the first time in his last nine starts, although his K/BB ratio remains well below 2.00.  While throwing 24 of 39 pitches for strikes, Hinshaw allowed his first earned run in his last six appearances.  Hirsh continues to struggle in his attempt to get back to the majors.  His ERA is now over 6.50.  Two ex-Giants fared quited differently out of the Sky Sox' bullpen, with Munter retiring all four batters he faced but Moss retiring just two of his six batters.  Both have ERAs over 4.00.

AA: Connecticut lost to Altoona 4-0

Connecticut: LF Bobby Felmy: 2 for 4, SO
Altoona: 1B Jamie Romak: 2 for 4, 2 HR, 2 SO

Connecticut: LHP Jesse English: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 5 K--1 HR
Connecticut: LHP Joe Paterson: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR

The only Defender to reach base twice, Felmy had two of their four hits.  Hitting just .156 in June, his season has fallen to .235.  Romak, whom the Pirates acquired from the Braves during the 2007 season, is playing his first full season in the upper minors.  He had 2 HRs yesterday, but his OPS is below .575 through 199 AB this year.

English matched his season-high of 5 K but he more than double his previous season-high of 3 BB with 7 BB.  In fact, he had allowed more than one walk in just one of his last five appearances.  His K/BB ratio over his last ten games is now exactly 1.50.  His ERA as a starter is now over 4.50.  With 2 ER, Paterson's ERA nearly doubled to 1.14.

A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 6-5
(rallying for three runs in the 9th inning)

San Jose: CF Tyler Graham: 2 for 4, SO, SB
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 0 for 4, HBP, 3 SO
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 0 for 4, SO
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 3 for 4, SO, E

San Jose: RHP Oliver Odle: 5.0+ IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
San Jose: RHP Dan Turpen: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 E

Villalona's three singles were three of the Giants' eight hits and his first base hits in a full week.  His .220 AVG in June has lowered his season AVG to .287.  Graham had the Giants' other multi-hit line and his 14th SB.  Neal and Posey have been all-star performers all season, but last night they had a combined oh-fer while striking out in four of their nine plate appearances.  Neal's SO/AB ratio is now 21%.

Odle began the game with five shutout innings, but he and Turpen combined to allowed three runs in the 6th inning before Turpen allowed two more runs in the 7th inning.  Odle's ERA remains over 5.50.  Turpen had his 4th blown save as his ERA rose above 1.50 (13 R, 7 ER this year).

A-: Augusta defeated Rome 15-4

Augusta: DH Andy D'Alessio: 3 for 4, SO, SB
Augusta: LF Wendell Fairley: 2 for 5, 2 2B, 2 SO

Augusta: LHP Ari Ronick: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Augusta: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER

D'Alessio had three of the GreenJackets' fifteen hits, raising his AVG to just shy of .300.  Fairley had his 7th and 8th doubles.

Ronick did not allow an earned run in 7.0 IP, lowering his ERA below 3.00.  Over his last four starts, he has 21 H, 0 BB, 3 ER, and 17 K in 23.0 IP.  Quirarte allowed his first earned run since his demotion to Augusta.

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Eugene 5-4

Salem-Keizer: CF Caleb Curry: 3 for 4, BB, SB, CS
Salem-Keizer: 1B C.J. Ziegler: 2 for 4, HR, BB, IBB

Salem-Keizer: RHP Orlando Yntema: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Salem-Keizer: LHP David Quinowski: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

In their season opener, the Volcanoes were led offensively by a couple of 2008 draftees (14th and 16th rounders).  Curry made his season-debut by reaching base four times.  Ziegler, who began the season with Augusta but had a .575 OPS in 117 AB, had the Volcanoes' other multi-hit line, including his 1st HR of the year as he made his NWL debut.

Yntema, who made six starts for the Volcanoes a year ago, started their season opener this year.  Quinowski, who had looked like a good bullpen prospect previously, appeared in his first pro game in nearly two years.

R: The AZL Giants begins their season today

DSL: Giants defeated Angels 5-3

Dominican: 2B Carlos Willoughby: 2 for 3, 2 BB, SB, CS
Dominican: C Gabriel Cornier: 1 for 1, 3 BB, CS
Dominican: RHP Kendry Flores: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K--2 WP

Willoughby (20.8 y.o.) and Cornier (17.0 y.o.) both reached base four times.  Willoughby now has a 12/3 SB/CS line.  Cornier has a sub-.600 OPS through his first fourteen pro games.  Flores (17.7 y.o.) made his third pro start.  He has more walks than strikeouts in each of his last two starts, although he has also allowed just a couple hits each time.