minor lines, 6/10/10

Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Darren Ford homered and tripled among three hits, and both Brandon Belt and Nick Liles reached base four times.  Also notable, Henry Sosa allowed just 1 ER in 5.0 IP in his first start this year.

AAA: Fresno defeated Tacoma 9-5

Fresno: 2B-3B Brock Bond: 2 for 4, 2 BB
Fresno: CF Eugenio Velez: 3 for 5, SO
Tacoma: SS Jack Wilson: 1 for 2, HR

Fresno: SP Henry Sosa: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Osiris Matos: 1.0+ IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER
Fresno: RP Geno Espineli: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Tacoma: RP Steve Palazzolo: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K

Velez's three singles led six Grizzlies with multi-hit lines and raised his AVG to .322.  Bond reached base four times, raising his OBP to .419.  The Mariners' Wilson homered in his third PCL rehab game.

After seventeen relief appearances, Sosa made his first start, pounding the strike zone with 47 of 66 pitches for strikes.  He averaged 13 pitches per inning, allowing him to pitch five full innings in his first start.  With 4 ER, Matos's ERA soared to 4.72.  Espineli had 2.0 perfect IP, although he did allow both inherited runners to score.  Palazzolo, who pitched for Fresno last year, made his seventh appearance this year with a season-high 3 K.

AA: Richmond lost to New Britan 6-5
(after the scored was tied 1-1 through five innings)

Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 3 for 4, HR, 3B, BB
Richmond: RF Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 5, 2B

Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Richmond: RP Tony Pena Jr.: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Ford had perhaps his best game of the year, falling a double short of the cycle.  He is now hitting .236/.307/.356 through 208 AB after his first multi-hit game this month.  Stromsmoe continues to swing a hot bat.

After just one run through five innings, three runs in the 6th inning left Tanner shy of a quality start.  His ERA is now 3.72 through eleven starts.  His K/BB ratio is now 1.00.  Pena has now allowed a run in four of his last six appearances, raising his ERA to 2.36.

A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 5-4
(allowing two runs in 9th inning)

San Jose: DH Brandon Belt: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB, SO
San Jose: SS Manny Burriss: 2 for 3, SB, CS, E
San Jose: C Aaron Lowenstein: 2 for 3, 2B
Modesto: 3B Ryan Peisel: 2 for 4, 2 HR

San Jose: SP Eric Surkamp: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER--1 HR

Belt, one of two Giants hitters named to participate in the all-star game between the California and Carolina leagues, reached base four times.  He has had multiple hits in seven of his last ten games.  Burriss had a couple hits in his third rehab game, as well as his first steal, his first caught stealing, and his first error.  Backup catcher Lowenstein was a third Giant with two hits.  Peisel, whom the Rockies selected in the twelfth round two years ago, had his first two HRs of the year, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the 9th inning.

Surkamp, one of three Giants pitchers named to the mid-season all-star game, had his longest start since his complete-game shutout in mid-May, but he also had his fewest strikeouts since his first start of the year.  His K/BB ratio slipped just below 4.00.  Quirarte allowed his 2nd HR in 27.0 IP this year to take the loss.  Despite having an ERA of just 1.00, he has a 1-3 W-L record.

A-: Augusta defeated Hickory 9-3
(after a six-run 4th inning)

Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 3 for 4, BB, SB
Augusta: RF Ryan Lollis: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SO
Augusta: CF Daniel Cook: 3 for 4, 2 2B

Augusta: SP Kyle Vazquez: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--2 HB
Augsua: Hector Correa: 1.0 IP, 3 K

The GreenJackets' trio of outfielders combined to reach base ten times, including four times by Liles who had his 12th SB.  Cook had his 14th and 15th doubles.

With more than two walks for the first time in his last seven starts, Vazquez had a start with less than 5.0 IP for the first time this year.  His ERA remains below 3.25.  Correa struck out all three batters he faced.

DSL: Giants defeated Yankees1 6-5

Dominican: 2B Cristian Paulino: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO, SB
Dominican: SP Keurin Feliz: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR

Paulino's (18.9 y.o.) 2nd HR and single raised his SLG to .500 through 36 AB in ten games.  At least statistically, Feliz's (19.9 y.o.) second start was solid, although not quite as good as his first start (1 ER in 6.0 IP).