minor lines, 4/27/10

Lot of highlights on Tuesday from the Giants' farm: among the hitters, Buster Posey doubled twice, Ryan Rohlinger and Ryan Lormand each had three hits, and Brock Bond reached base four times; among the pitchers, Eric Hacker won his fourth straight start; David Mixon threw a complete game shutout, and Eric Stolp had 5.0 shutout IP.

AAA: Fresno defeated Portland 8-2

Fresno: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB, SO
Fresno: SS Ryan Rohlinger: 3 for 5, 2B, SB
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB
Portland: SS Sean Kazmar: 3 for 4

Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Fresno: RP Alex Hinshaw: 0.2 IP, 1 BB, 2 K--1 WP
Portland: SP Cesar Carrillo: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 BK

Rohlinger had three of the Grizzlies' thirteen hits, boosting his AVG to .351 and his OPS above .900.  Bond reached base four times, raising his OBP to .386.  Posey, who had had just four XBH through his first eighteen games, doubled his doubles total to four.  The Padres' 25-year-old Kazmar had three hits, raising his AVG to .308.

Hacker has been the Grizzlies' most effective starter so far.  He has not allowed more than one run in any start and now has a 4-0 W-L record.  His peripheral stats have also been dominant with 15 H, 3 BB, 0 HR, and 24 K in 21.2 IP.  So far the biggest knock against him may be that the 27-year-old has pitched longer than 5.1 IP only once.  In this start, he threw 89 pitches (59 strikes).  Hinshaw struck out two of the three batters he faced.  After allowing just two runs in his first three starts, Carrillo, the Padres' first rounder in 2005, had his least effective start of the year.  The high-scoring game lasted four hours, plus a one-hour rain delay.

AA: Richmond defeated New Britain 3-1 (7 innings) in game 1

Richmond: SS Brandon Crawford: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, 2B
Richmond: DH Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 2, BB

Richmond: SP Daryl Maday: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 PO
Richmond: RP Rafael Cova: 0.2 IP, 2 K

Gillsapie and Kieschnick were two of three Flying Squirrels with two hits each, raising their respective AVGs to .250 and .262.  Crawford connected for his 2nd HR to plate two runs in the 3rd inning.

Maday's fourth start was quite effective, although not as dominant as his last start (0 R on 2 H and 0 BB in 8.0 IP) a week earlier.  He fell an out short of the "quality start" but improved his W-L record to 3-0.  Cova struck out both batters he faced for his 6th save.

AA: Richmond defeated New Britain 2-0 (7 innings) in game 2

Richmond: C Tyler LaTorre: 1 for 2, 2B, BB, SO

Richmond: SP David Mixon: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

In the second game of the doubleheader, LaTorre was the only Flying Squirrel to reach base twice.  In five games as the backup catcher, he has hit 5 for 13 with 3 XBH and 8 BB for an OPS of nearly 1.200.

Making his fourth start of the year after just three starts a year ago, Mixon threw the complete game shutout.  It was the longest start of his career with a season-high 5 K.  He faced just three batters over the minimum and had a 12/4 GO/FO line.  His ERA is now 2.66.

A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 5-1
(after taking early lead with three runs in 1st inning)

San Jose: 3B Ryan Lormand: 3 for 4, 2 SB
San Jose DH Brandon Belt: 2 for 3, SF, SB
Stockton: SS Grant Green: 2 for 4, SO

San Jose: SP Eric Stolp: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 0.1 IP

A year ago Lormand had a .650 OPS in 211 AB.  Starting the year as once again a reserve infielder, Lormand has ended up providing much more in the first month of the season.  Hitting .352/.426/.389 through 54 AB he has won nearly everyday playing time.  The stats suggest he is more of a speedster than power hitter given his 5 SB and 2 XBH.  Belt extended his hitting streak to fourteen games and raised his AVG to .411.  Green, whom the Athletics' selected 13th overall last summer, had two of the Ports' five hits and is now hitting .286/.318/.429 through 84 AB in his first full season.

Making his first start after four relief appearances, Stolp had a very effective start, facing just two batters over the minimum and not allowing a single fly ball out (8/0 GO/FO line).  He improved his ERA to 3.86.  Stoffel retired the only batter he faced to strand three inherited runners and to be credited with his 5th save.

A-: Augusta lost to Asheville 8-0
(after allowing five runs in 1st inning)

Augusta: CF Evan Crawford: 2 for 4

Augusta: RHP Bryan Salsbury: 2.0+ IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K--2 HR
Augusta: SP Chris Gloor: 3.0 IP, 3 BB, 2 K

Crawford, the Giants' ninth rounder a year ago and the most athletic player in their 2009 draft class, had his first multi-hit game in his last ten games.  He has struggled to a .176/.253/.279 line through his first 68 AB this year.

After two great starts, Salsbury has struggled in his last two starts.  His ERA has risen to nearly 7.00 with 13 ER over his last two starts.  Gloor provided effective long relief.  He has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances.