minor lines, 5/21/10

Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: Charlie Culberson had three hits in both ends of a doubleheader, and Eric Stolp allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP.

AAA: Fresno lost Nashville 3-1

Fresno: 2B Brock Bond: 1 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 SO
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 0 for 2, 2 BB, SF, SO
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 4, 2B

Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 4.0+ IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 PO
Fresno: RP Steven Edlefsen: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K--1 PO
Fresno: RP Waldis Joaquin: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Pill had two of the Grizzlies' five hits, including his 13th double and raising his AVG to .284.  Posey and Bond also reached base twice.

Yourkin allowed just one run through four innings but then did not retire any of the three batters he faced in the 5th inning.  He threw 71 pitches (49 strikes) in his fourth start.  He had allowed just 2 ER in his previous three starts, so his ERA rose to 2.81 as a starter.  Edlefsen, who had issued just two walks in his previous nine appearances, uncharacteristically struggled with his control, issuing four walks while throwing just barely half of his pitches (24 of 47) for strikes.  Joaquin has not allowed a run in his six apperances since being optioned to the minors earlier this month.

AA: Richmond lost to Reading 7-3

Richmond: SS Brandon Crawford: 1 for 3, BB, SO, E
Ricmond: 1B Juan Ciriaco: 2 for 4, 3B, GiDP
Richmond: 2B Nick Noonan: 1 for 2, BB, SF
Reading: RF Domonic Brown: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, GiDP, SB

Richmond: SP Mike MacDonald: 4.0+ IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 BK

For the second straight game, Ciriaco had more hits than any of his teammates.  Both middle infielders, Crawford and Noonan, also reached base twice.  Both have AVGs close to .250.  Crawford's error was his 4th.  Brown, the Phillies' top prospect, was among those reading base twice for the Phillies.  The 22-year-old is hitting .333/.410/.623 through 114 AB so far this year.

In his eighth start this year, MacDonald allowed new season highs with 9 H, 6 R, and 5 ER.  His H/IP rose above 1.00 (.287 BAA), but his ERA remains just 3.35.

A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 13-3 in game 1
(completing game suspended on April 11)

San Jose: SS Ehire Adrianza: 3 for 6, 2 2B, GiDP
San Jose: CF Francisco Peguero: 3 for 5, 2 SO, SB
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4, 2B, SF
San Jose: 1B Brandon Belt: 3 for 3, BB

San Jose: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
San Jose: RP Eric Stolp: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Four Giants--Peguero, Adrianza, Belt, and Culberson--all ended up with three hits each in this game.  Since a number of these hits happened over a month ago but some happened last night, I won't comment further.

With the game resumed, Fitzgerald finally has his first official start of the year--six starts later.  Stolp pitched all seven innings of the game after it was suspended, facing just two batters over the minimum.  He had a 16/3 GO/FO line.  Officially this counts as his second appearance of the year, although he has made nine appearances overall this year.  While he officially ended this game with a 2.00 ERA, his actual ERA this year is 3.74.

A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 4-1 (7 innings) in game 2

San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 3
Modesto: C Jordan Pacheco: 2 for 4, 2B

San Jose: SP Ari Ronick: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HB
San Jose: RP Kyle Woodruff: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Modesto: SP Kenneth Durst: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

With three of the Giants' five hits, Culberson raised his AVG to .273.  The Rockies' Pacheco is continuing his assault on Cal League pitchers.  As if his .378/.449/.500 line in 74 AB in April was not good enough, he has hit .405/.489/.635 through his first 74 AB in May.

Coming off the DL, Ronick made his first start in over a month and just his third start of the year.  Woodruff provided long relief.  Through 7.2 IP in three appearances this year, he is apparently not a ground ball pitcher at all given his 0.15 GO/AO ratio.  Due to the suspended game, Durst had the rare feat of starting both games of this de facto doubleheader.  After yielding 6 ER in 1.1 IP in this first half of the doubleheader, he gave up no earned runs in the second game.

A-: Augusta defeated Greenville 5-2
(rallying for three runs in the 9th inning)

Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 3 for 4, 2B, SB

Augusta: SP Jorge Bucardo: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Augusta: RP Ryan Verdugo: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 4 K

After just hits in his last six games, Liles had another three-hit game, raising his AVG back up to .292.  He also stole home for his 6th SB this year.

In his eighth start, Bucardo had his second shortest start of the year.  Verdugo struck out half of the eight batters he faced.