Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Darren Ford had 2 HRs; (b) Brett Pill had his 15th HR while reaching base three times; (c) Roger Kieschnick had his organizaton leading 23rd HR among two hits; and (d) Ben Copeland had three hits.

AAA: Fresno lost to Oklahoma City 4-3
(after being shut out through eight innings)

Fresno: DH Joe Borchard: 2 for 4, 3B, 2 SO
Fresno: RF Ben Copeland: 3 for 4, SB, CS
Oklahoma City: DH Chris Davis: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB, SO

Fresno: LHP Steve Hammond: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Fresno: RHP Osiris Matos: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Oklahoma City: RHP Brandon McCarthy: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Copeland's three singles raised his AVG to .259.  He now has an 8/5 SB/CS line.  Borchard was the other Grizzly with a multi-hit line, and his 3rd triple was the Grizzlies' only XBH.  The Rangers' Davis homered for the second time in the series.

Hammond had less than a quality start as his ERA remains above 5.50.  Matos got his ERA back below 3.00.  Hinshaw seems to be throwing more strikes recently, including a performance tonight with 12 of 15 pitches for strikes.  McCarthy made his second rehab start, throwing 48 pitches (33 strikes).

AA: Connecticut lost to Akron 7-4

Connecticut: LF Brad Boyer: 2 for 4, 2B
Connecticut: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 3, HR, BB, SO
Akron: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall: 1 for 5, HR, SO

Connecticut: RHP Daryl Maday: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR
Akron: LHP Scott Barnes: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 HR

Boyer and Pill each had two of the Defenders' eight hits.  Pill's 15th HR and Boyer's 16th double were the Defenders' only two XBHs.  Playing in his fourth game for the Aeros, Chisenhall, the 20-year-old who has emerged this year for the Indians as perhaps one of the top fifty prospects in baseball, had his 1st HR in the upper minors.

After five straight starts with 2 ER or less, Maday yielded 5 ER in this start, nudging his ERA back up to 3.65.  Snyder also allowed a couple runs, raising his ERA to 2.14.  In nine innings, they combined for a 3/15 GO/FO line.  Barnes, whom the Giants traded to the Inian just a few weeks ago, made his upper minors debut against his former organization.  His fourth start overall in the Indians' organizaton included a 1/8 GO/FO line.

A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 7-6
(allowing a run in the bottom of the 9th inning after scoring two runs in the top half)

San Jose: CF Darren Ford: 3 for 5, 2 HR, SO
San Jose: DH Thomas Neal: 1 for 3, 2 BB, 2 SO
San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 5, HR, SO
San Jose: 3B Skyler Stromsome: 2 for 4, 2 2B

San Jose: LHP Craig Clark: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HB

Ford entered the night with just 4 HRs, but had a couple two-run, two-out HRs in this game, one in the 3rd inning and then a game-tying shot in the 9th inning.  Kieschnick added his organization-leading 23rd HR in the 8th inning.  Neal reached base three times.  Stromsmoe had his 6th and 7th doubles.

After four straight starts with at least 7.0 IP, Clark had less than a quality start.  His ERA slipped upwards a bit to 2.72.

A-: Augusta defeated Lake County 4-3
(rallying for two runs in the top of the 9th inning)

Augusta: 2B Juan Perez: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 SO
Augusta: PH Mike Loberg: 1 for 1, 2B

Augusta: LHP Ari Ronick: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Augusta: LHP Ryan Verdugo: 1.0 IP, 3 BB--1 IBB
Lake Country: LHP Nick Hagadone: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 WP

Perez had the GreenJackets' only multi-hit line, but his AVG remains just below .250.  It's been a tough year for Loberg, but he delivered a pinch-hit, two-RBI double in the 9th inning tonight.

Ronick had a quality start, which basically maintained his ERA at 3.00.  It seems that Verdugo has been striking out nearly half the batters he has faced, but today he walked three of the five batters he faced.  Hagadone, whom the Indians acquired from the Red Sox at the trading deadline, made his second start since joining the Indians' organization and twelfth start overall as he continues his comeback from Tommy John surgery.

NWL: Salem-Keizer at Spokane suspended in the 4th inning due to rain
(The game is to be completed tomorrow.)

Salem-Keizer: RF Ryan Lollis: 1 for 2, HR, SO
Salem-Keizer: RHP Jorgue Bucardo: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 1 WP

Lollis (37th rounder) led off the 4th inning with his 2nd HR, scoring the Volcanoes' only run in this game so far.  Rain will tie this as Bucardo's shortest start of the year, matching the 3.2 IP he had in his first start of the season.  He had yielded only one hit, but it was a two-run, one-out HR in the 4th inning.

R: Giants defeated Angels 5-3
(after shutting out the Angels through eight innings)

Scottsdale: RF Ryan Scoma: 2 for 3, 2B, SO, PO

Scottsdale: RHP Cameron Lamb: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Scottsdale: RHP Kelvim Pichardo: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Despite batting ninth and being the only rookie Giant with just three plate appearances, Scoma was the only Giant with a multi-hit line.  His AVG is now .258.

Lamb, the 20-year-old Australian, had another effective start.  In his last five starts, he has 9 H, 12 BB, 1 ER, and 18 K in 19.2 IP.  Pichardo made his first appearance of the year with a perfect 7th inning.

DSL: Giants defeated Rays 6-2

Dominican: 3B Cesar Osuna: 2 for 4, HBP
Dominican: RHP Kendry Flores: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K--1 WP

Osuna (19.6 y.o.) was one of three Gigantes to reach base three times.  WIth multi-hit lines in five of his last six games, he has improved his season line to .249/.317/.292 through 185 AB, but his OPS is still over .100 points lower than a year ago.  Flores (17.8 y.o.) continues to pitch very well.  He now has a 2.25 ERA and a 7-1 W-L record after a dozen starts in his first pro season.