minor lines, 5/14/10

Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: Thomas Neal reached base in all five plate appearances, Darren Ford reached base four times, Chris Dominguez homered and singled, and Charlie Culberson doubled twice in his three-hit performance.

AAA: Fresno lost to New Orleans 3-0

Fresno: 2B Brock Bond: 1 for 2, 2 BB
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 1 for 3, HBP, 2 SO
Fresno: 3B Jesus Guzman: 2 for 3
New Orleans: CF Emilio Bonifacio: 3 for 4

Fresno: SP Joe Martinez: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K--1 HB
Fresno: RP Matt Kinney: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB
New Orleans: SP Jorge Sosa: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 HB

Guzman had the Grizzlies' only multi-hit line.  His AVG is now up to .250.  Bond reached base three times, raising his OBP to .406.  Top prospect Posey reached base twice.  The Marlins' Bonifacio, who spent all of last year in the majors, had three hits, but his OBP remains a bit below .330.

Martinez had his second straight start with 7 K but suffered his first loss of the year, despite this being perhaps his third best start of the year (at least statistically).  With 18 K and 1 BB in his last three starts, he has improved his K/BB ratio to just better than 2.50.  Kinney made his first appearance in nearly a month.  The 33-year-old Sosa, who had eighteen appearances in the majors last year, had his best start of the season among five starts.

AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 7-1

Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 3 for 4, 2B, HBP, SB, CS
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 3 for 3, 2 BB
Richmond: C Jackson Williams: 2 for 3, BB, GiDP

Richmond: SP Craig Clark: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Although he didn't have an XBH, Neal reached base in all five plate appearances.  He has hit safely in his last ten games.  Hitting .333 in the first two weeks of May, he has raised his season line to .274/.353/.385 through 135 AB.  Ford also had three hits, including his 7th double.  He now has a 11/5 SB/CS line.  Williams alreached base three times.  After hitting nearly .300 in April, he has just .161 the past two weeks.

Making his seventh start, Clark had his second start this year with no earned runs allowed.  Still, his ERA remains above 4.00, and his K/BB barely above 1.00.  He did have a 5/4 GO/FO line in this start, but for the season his GO/AO ratio is below 1.00.  Overall, the peripheral stats indicate that Clark's stuff has not played as well in the upper minors.

A+: San Jose defeated Bakersfield 8-7
(after trailing 7-3 through three innings)

San Jose: 1B Brandon Belt: 3 for 4, SF, SO
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, 3B, BB
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 5, 2 2B, SO, E

San Jose: SP Aaron King: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR
San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP

Culberson and Belt each had three of the Giants' fifteen hits, including Culberson's 9th and 10th doubles, raising their respective AVGs to .252 and .396.  Monell also reached base three times, including his 2nd pro triple, which was his first in nearly three years.

King had his shortest start of the season.  With 7 R allowed in each of his last two starts, his ERA has risen to nearly 9.00.  Quirarte provided effective long relief, with 4.0 scoreless IP lowering his ERA below 1.00.  Pitching a scoreless 9th inning, Stoffel was credited with his first win.

A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 8-4

Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 3 for 5, 2B
Augusta: 3B Chris Dominguez: 2 for 5, HR, SO
Augusta: 1B Luke Anders: 2 for 3, 3B, 2 BB

Augusta: SP Chris Heston: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Ryan Verdugo: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 5 K

Dominguez had his 5th HR.  Liles' three hits raised his AVG to a team-leading .341.  Anders reached base four times, improving his OBP to .371.

Heston had his second straight start with 2 ER in 6.0 IP.  His ERA is now 4.50.  Verdugo had a season-high 5 K.  After allowing 6 ER in his first three appearances, in his four appearances since he has 2 H, 1 BB, 0 R, and 12 K in 7.0 IP.