minor lines, 5/5/10

Highlights from the Giants' farm: Zach Wheeler had 9 K in 5.0 shutout IP, and Charlie Culberson homered twice.

AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 6-2

Fresno: SS Juan Ciriaco: 2 for 4

Fresno: SP Horacio Ramirez: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Fresno: RP Osiris Matos: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Ciriaco was the only Grizzly to reach base twice, with the two singles raising his AVG to .243.

Ramirez pitched just three innings in his third start.  It's not clear from the box score why he left the game before the 4th inning.  Matos provided long relief with his longest appearance of the year.  The couple earned runs edged his ERA upwards to 2.77.

AA: Richmond lost to Altoona 5-2

Richmond: SS Brandon Crawford: 0 for 5, 3 SO
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal 2 for 4, SB
Richmond: RF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 4, 2B, SO, SB
Altoona: C Hector Gimenez: 4 for 4, 2 HR, 2B

Richmond: SP Mike MacDonald: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Altoona: SP Ross Ohlendorf: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Neal and Kieschnick each had two of the Flying Squirrels' nine hits, raising their AVGs to .235 and .284, respectively.   Kieschnick's double was his first this year after 37 doubles last year.  Both players stole a base after having stolen just one base between them previously this year.  Crawford had the oh-fer with the hat trick.  He once again has more strikeouts than hits (21 SO vs 19 H in 85 AB, .224 AVG).  Gimenez, the Pirates' 27-year-old farmhand, had a huge game with four hits, including his 2nd and 3rd HRs.

MacDonald pitched well in his sixth start of the season, although he did not pitch long enough to have a so-called quality start.  Ohlendorf pitched four plus innings in his first rehab appearance.  His performance included a 6/0 GO/FO line.

A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 4-3

San Jose: 3B Drew Biery: 2 for 4, CS
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4, 2 HR, E

San Jose: SP Craig Westcott: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HR

Culberson had his best game of the year, connecting for a pair of solo HRs in the 3rd and 5th innings.  With just over half his hits going for extra bases, he now has a .244/.289/.474 line through 78 AB.  This was his third straight multi-hit game.  Biery was the only other Giant to reach base twice.

In his fifth start, Westcott had a season-high 5 K, but he also had a season-high 6 H as he allowed his first runs of the year.  His ERA remains impressively below 1.00.

A-: Augusta defeated Greenville 6-0

Augusta: 3B Chris Dominguez: 2 for 4, SB, E
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 1 for 4, HR
Augusta: SS Sharlon Schoop: 2 for 4, SB

Augusta: SP Zach Wheeler: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K--1 HB, 1 WP, 1 BK
Augusta: RP Ryan Verdugo: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 4 K
Augusta: RP Jose Casilla: 1.1 IP, 2 K

Joseph led off the 6th inning with his 5th HR.  Dominguez and Schoop were among four GreenJackets with two hits each.  Dominugez also committed his 8th error.

Wheeler's fifth start was the best start of his young career as he struck out nearly half of the nineteen batters he faced.  He lowered his ERA to 4.50 and improved his K/BB ratio to nearly 2.00.  Verdugo and Casilla completed the shutout, also striking out nearly half of the thirteen batters they faced.