minor lines, 5/31/10

Highlights on Memorial Day from the Giants' farm: Brandon Belt homered while reaching base four times, Pat Burrell and Ehire Adrianza also reached base four times, and both Jorge Bucardo and Mike MacDonald allowed just 1 ER in their starts.

AAA: Fresno defeated Salt Lake 7-6

Fresno: DH Pat Burrell: 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, HBP, SO
Fresno: SS Angel Berroa: 2 for 5, 2B, GiDP, E

Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 BK
Fresno: RP Waldis Joaquin: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K
Salt Lake: SP Trevor Reckling: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 4 K--1 HB

Burrell reached base four times in his second game in the Giants' organization.  Berroa had the Grizzlies' only multi-hit line, but his AVG remains just .227.

Yourkin had another solid start.  His ERA in six starts is just below 3.50.  Joaquin scuffled through the 6th inning, requiring 34 pitches (19 strikes) in the frame.  With just 1 ER allowed previously in the PCL this year, his ERA nearly tripled to 2.70.  Barely 21-years-old, the Angels' Reckling made his second start against the Grizzlies' this month.  He allowed 4 ER in both starts, contributing to an ERA that is above 6.00--more than double the sub-3.00 ERA he had in 23 Texas League starts last year.

AA: Richmond lost to Bowie 3-2 (11 innings)

Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 2 for 4, BB, SO, GiDP

Richmond: SP Mike MacDonald: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Richmond: RP Rafael Cova: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HB, 1 WP, 1 IBB
Bowie: SP Zach Britton: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K--1 WP, 1 IBB

Neal had the Flying Squirrels' only multi-hit line, but his AVG remains just .259.  After hitting .231 in April, he hit .276 in May, albeit with less secondary average as his OPS declined from .718 in May to .671 in April.  His XBH/H ratio was barely 20% in May.

MacDonald finished May with his best start of the month, getting his ERA back below 4.00.  With three more scoreless innings, Cova got his ERA below 0.50.  His only earned run of the year came ten days ago.  Britton, who is one of the Orioles' top five prospects and was coming off perhaps his best start of the year, delivered another solid start.  In May he had a 2.60 ERA in six starts.  After a 15/1 GO/FO line today, he also had a 4.27 GO/AO ratio in May.

A+: San Jose lost to Rancho Cucamonga 5-3

San Jose: SS Ehire Adriana: 1 for 2, 3 BB, CS
San Jose: LF Mark DeRosa: 0 for 4, BB, SO, 2 GiDP
San Jose: 1B Brandon Belt: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, 2 BB
San Jose: RF Jose Medina: 0 for 1, 2 BB, SO

San Jose: SP Oliver Odle: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Belt had a big game, reaching base four times, including his 4th HR and 18th double. After slugging over .700 in April, he had slugged under .450 in May until today when he homered for the first time this month. Adrianza, batting second in the linup again, also reached base four times. DeRosa had a poor performance statistically in his first rehab game. Medina walked twice in his Cal League debut.

Making his third start among thirteen appearances, Odle had a quality start but still suffered his first loss, dropping his W-L record to 5-1.

A-: Augusta lost to Asheville 4-3 in game 1
(completing the previous day's suspended game)

Augusta: RF Ryan Lollis: 2 for 3, BB, SB
Augusta: 2B Ryan Cavan: 3 for 4, 2B, SO

Augusta: SP Chris Heston: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Brian Irving: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HB

Cavan and Lollis both reached base three times, with their five hits, including Cavan's 18th double, raising their respective AVGs to .275 and .303.

After Heston's five innings the previous day, Irving retired barely half of the dozen batters he faced, with the one run allowed in the top of the 6th inning being the game's decisive run.

A-: Augusta defeated Asheville 7-1 (7 innings) in game 2

Augusta: 1B Luke Anders: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Augusta: C Hector Sanchez: 1 for 4, HR

Augusta: SP Jorge Bucardo: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Anders reached base three times, raising his OBP above .350. Sanchez had his 3rd HR. The 20-year-old is hitting .260/.330/.438 through his first 96 AB in his full-season debut.

Bucardo pitched a full 7.0 IP for the fourth time this year in ten starts, this time for his second career complete game. He lowered his ERA a bit more to 1.87. He had a 6/7 GO/FO line.