minor lines, 5/18/10

Tuesday highlights from the Giants' farm: Zach Wheeler had his most effective pro start with 6.0 shutout IP, Eric Hacker had 7.0 scoreless IP, and Juan Perez reached base seven time in eight plate appearances over a doubleheader.

AAA: Fresno defeated Oklahoma City 4-1

Fresno: 2B Freddy Sanchez: 1 for 2
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB, SO
Fresno: RF Joe Borchard: 3 for 4, 2B
Oklahoma City: C Jarrod Saltalamacchia: 2 for 4, E

Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Fresno: RP Henry Sosa: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB
Fresno: RP Alex Hinshaw: 0.2 IP

With three of the Grizzlies' seven hits, Borchard lifted his AVG back above .350.  Posey also reached base three times.  Both Borchard and Posey had their 11th doubles.  Sanchez was removed for a pinch runner in the 3rd inning, which seems curious as this was by far his shortest appearance during his rehab stint.  The Rangers' Saltalamacchia, who spent basically all of last year in the majors, was one of two Redhawks with two hits.

After two straight starts with 3 ER, Hacker had his second start this year without allowing a run.  He now has a 7-1 W-L record through eight starts and a 2.20 ERA.  He threw 100 pitches (63 strikes).  Retiring just one of five batters, Sosa allowed his first run in over a month.  Hinshaw retired both batters he faced to get out of the bases loaded jam he inherited from Sosa.

AA: Richmond lost to Altoona 3-1

Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 2 for 5
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 3 for 5, SB

Richmond: SP Daryl Maday: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Erie: SP Andy Oliver: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

With three of the Flying Squirrels' eight hits (all singles), Neal lifted his AVG to .268.  Ford had the Squirrels' other multi-hit line, but his AVG remains below .250.

In eight starts, Maday has allowed more than 1 ER just twice, but he has also completed 6.0 IP just twice.  His ERA remains an impressive 1.57.  After winning six straight starts, this was his second start with a no decision.  He had a 7/3 GO/FO line.  Oliver, whom the Tigers' drafted 58th overall a year ago and signed for an over-slot nearly $1.5 million, is perhaps most noted for his lawsuit against the NCAA last year.  Jumped to the Eastern League for his pro debut, he has a 3.79 ERA through eight pro starts.

A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 5-4 (7 innings) in game 1
(scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 7th inning)

San Jose: RF Juan Perez: 2 for 3, BB, 2 SB, CS
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 2 for 3, 2B, SB, E
San Jose: LF James Simmons: 2 for 3, 3 SB

San Jose: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 HB
San Jose: RP Brian Anderson: 1.0 IP

Perez reached base three times and ran his SB/CS line this year to 5/4.  Culberson added two hits, including his 11th double.  Simmons also had two hits, plus three steals, including a steal of home.

Fitzgerald had his least effective start of the year, doubling the number of earned runs he has allowed this year.  Still he completed 6.0 IP as his ERA rose to 2.00.  While getting a season-high 8 K, he allowed only two fly ball outs (7/2 GO/FO).  Anderson pitched a perfect 7th inning in his third appearance.

A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 5-1 (7 innings) in game 2

San Jose: CF Juan Perez: 3 for 3, 2B, BB, SB

San Jose: SP Oliver Odle: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
San Jose: RP Joe Paterson: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K

Perez reached base four times.  The three hits, including his 13th double, raised his AVG above .350.  He also stole home.

Making his second straight start in a doubleheader against Visalia, Odlie pitched five scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to nearly 4.00.  He allowed just two fly ball outs (10/2 GO/FO line).  Paterson allowed his first earned run in 9.0 IP since his demotion to San Jose.

A-: Augusta defeated Savannah 1-0
(scoring the game's only run in the bottom of the 9th inning)

Augusta: SS Sharlon Schoop: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Augusta: DH Hector Sanchez: 2 for 3

Augusta: SP Zach Wheeler: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--2 WP
Augusta: RP Mitch Lively: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Savannah: SP Brandon Moore: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K

Sanchez was the only GreenJackets to reach base twice.  His two singles lifted his OBP above .300.  So far this year he has been more of a power hitter with a 50% XBH/H ratio.  Schoop had the oh-fer with the hat trick as the GreenJackets struck out thirteen times.

Wheeler bounced back from his previous start (6 ER in 2.2 IP) with the longest start of his young pro career.  He faced just three batters over the minimum in 6.0 IP.  Lively's 3.0 scoreless IP completed the shutout, but both pitchers still have ERAs above 5.00.  Moore, the Mets' fourteenth rounder two years ago whom Baseball America did not rank among the Mets' top thirty prospects, had his best start of the year.  In his first full season, he has impressive peripheral stats with 31 H, 6 BB, and 55 K in 42.2 IP.