Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Nick Noonan reached base in all four plate appearances; (b) Eugenio Velez homered while reaching base three times; (c) Kyle NIcholson allowed 1 ER in 8.0 IP; and (d) Jorge Bucardo had 6.0 shutout IP.

AAA: Fresno lost to Sacramento 4-3

Fresno: CF Eugenio Velez: 3 for 5, HR, SB
Fresno: 1B Jesus Guzman: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Fresno: SS Jake Wald: 1 for 3, HR, BB, SO
Sacramento: 1B Daric Barton: 1 for 4, HR, SO

Fresno: RHP Ramon Ortiz: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
Sacramento: RHP Henry Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 3 BB, 4 K--1 IBB, 1 WP

Velez and Guzman each reached base three times.  Along with Wald, they each had one of the Grizzlies' three XBHs.  Wald had his 4th HR, three of which have come in his last seven games.  Velez had his 2nd HR.  The Athletics' Barton provided the game's big blow with a three-run, no-out HR in the 6th inning.

Ortiz had his longest start of the season with 6.0 IP.  He had five scoreless innings before allowing a three-run HR to the third batter in the 6th inning.  He retired the next three batters to complete the quality start.  He threw 55 of 82 pitches for strikes.  In a scoreless 8th inning, Hinshaw threw just half his pitches for strikes (11 for 22).  Rodriguez had nearly the same percentage with 20 of 39 pitches for strikes.  His fastball was consistently 96-99 mph on the scoreboard.

AA: Connecticut hosting Harrisburg postponed by rain
(A makeup doubleheader is scheduled for tomorrow.)

A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 3-2

San Jose: SS Brian Bocock: 2 for 4, BB, 2 SO
San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 0 for 4, 3 SO
San Jose: 2B Nick Noonan: 2 for 2, 2 BB

San Jose: LHP Craig Clark: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K--1 HR
San Jose: LHP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Stockton: RHP Craig Italiano: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

Noonan and Bocock combined for four of the Giants' five hits and three of their four walks.  After tonight's oh-fer with the hat trick, Kieschnick is 0 for 12 with 6 SO in his last three games, which has raised his SO/AB ratio above 25%.

Clark has allowed 3 ER or less in each of his last nine starts and 2 ER or less in seven of those starts.  This nice run has helped lower his season ERA below 3.00.  Over his last nine starts, his peripheral stats are 43 H, 10 BB, and 62 K in 50.2 IP.  Runzler pitched a perfect 8th inning.  The Athletics' Italiano had another nice start against San Jose.  Each of his last three starts have come against the Giants, and in those three starts he has 13 H, 4 BB, 1 ER, and 18 K in 16.2 IP.  Stoctkon's four errors led to all three of the Giants' runs being unearned.

A-: Augusta lost to Lexington 2-1

Augusta: CF Dom Duggan: 2 for 4, SB, PO
Augusta: C Johnny Monell: 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, PB
Lexington: CF Jay Austin: 3 for 5, HR, SB

Augusta: RHP Kyle Nicholson: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K--1 HR, 1 WP

Monell had the GreenJackets' only XBH, his 15th double, while reaching base three times.  He also committed his 11th passed ball.  Duggan had the GreenJackets' only multi-hit line.  He has had two hits in seven of his last ninue games, but his AVG remains below .250.  Austin, the Astros' second round pick a year ago, had his first pro HR.

Nicholson, who pitched a complete-game three-hitter against the Legends in his last start against them a month ago, had another fine start against them, once again allowing just a single earned run.  After an ERA close to 7.00 in his four April starts, Nicholson has an ERA of just 2.45 in his ten starts since then.  Tonight's performance included a season-high (career high too?) 9 K.  He has not been too much of a strikeout pitcher with a K/IP ratio of 0.67.  Rather, he is a ground ball pitcher, with a 12/4 GO/FO line tonight and a 2.04 GO/AO ratio for the season.

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Vancouver 7-0

Salem-Keizer: SS John Eshelman: 1 for 3, 2 BB
Salem-Keizer: 2B Juan Martinez: 2 for 3, 2B, BB

Salem-Keizer: RHP Jorge Bucardo: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K--1 PO
Salem-Keizer: RHP Andrew Romo: 1.0 IP

The Volcanoes' two middle infielders both reached base three times.  Martinez (46th rounder) had their only multi-hit line, as well as their only XBH.  Eshleman (11th rounder) raised his OBP above .500 through six games.

The 19-year-old Bucardo had his second consecutive very effective start.  Through three starts this year, his WHIP is below 1.00 and his K/IP just above 1.00.  After one appearance, a start, in the AZL, Sergio's younger brother made his NWL debut with a perfect 9th inning.

R: Giants lost to Padres 8-3

Scottsdale: 2B Nick Liles: 2 for 5
Scottsdale: LF Karl Benusa: 3 for 3, BB

Scottsdale: RHP Edward Concepcion: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 2 WP

Benusa (8th rounder) reached base in all four plate appearances in his fourth pro game.  Liles (7th rounder) had the rookie Giants' other multi-hit line in what was his third pro game.

The 19-year-old Concepcion has an ERA over 8.00 in his first three games (two starts) on U.S. soil.

DSL: Giants defeated Marlins 6-1

Dominican: RF Jose De La Cruz: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SO
Dominican: LHP Franklin Noel: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Playing in just his fifth game of the season, De La Cruz (18.2 y.o.) had the Gigantes only XBH as he reached base three times.  Noel (20.6 y.o.) once again provided effective long relief, as he still has yet to allow an earned run through 20.1 IP in six appearances this year.