minor lines, 6/17/10

Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Francisco Peguero tripled twice among his three hits, Felix Romero allowed just 1 ER in 6.0 IP, and Clay Timpner reached base in all three plate appearances.  Also notable, Chris Heston allowed just 1 ER (but 3 R) in 6.1 IP.

AAA: Fresno defeated Portland 4-3
(with each team scoring a run in the 9th inning)

Fresno: LF John Bowker: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Fresno: CF Eugenio Velez: 3 for 4, 2B, 2 CS

Fresno: SP Kevin Pucetas: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Fresno: RP Alex Hinshaw: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Portland: SP Scott Munter: 2.0 IP, 1 H

Velez and Bowker combined for half of the Grizzlies' ten hits, including Velez's 2nd double and Bowker's 4th double.  Bowker had his streak of consecutive games with a homer snapped but still had a good game overall.

Pucetas had a season-high 6 K in his eleventh start this year as he effectively bounced back from his last start (8 ER in 1.2 IP in Las Vegas).  Pucetas has not been an innings-eater as he is averaging less than five innings per start and he has pitched more than five innings only once in his last six starts.  Last night he threw 69 pitches (43 strikes).  Hinshaw's 2.0 scoreless IP lowered his ERA to 3.55.  Munter, the ex-Giant now in the Padres organization, made his first start since at least 2004.  With a BAA below .200, his ERA is just 2.33 through 38.2 IP this year.

AA: Richmond lost to Binghamton 1-0

Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Richmond: 1B Clay Timpner: 1 for 1, 2 BB, SB

Richmond: SP Felix Romero: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Timpner had one of the Flying Squirrels' five hits (all singles) and two of their four walks as he reached base in all three plate appearances.  Although he has cooled off considerably in June with an OBP below .300, his OBP for the season is still above .380.  Ford had the oh-fer with the hat trick.  He has more strikeouts than hits (56 H vs 60 SO in 235 AB, .238 AVG).

Making his second start after eighteen relief apperances, Romero allowed just 1 ER in 6.0 IP.

A+: San Jose defeated Lake Elsinore 9-3

San Jose: DH Francisco Peguero: 3 for 5, 2 3B, SO
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 5, 3B, 2B, 2 SO
San Jose: RF James Simmons: 3 for 5, 2B, SB
Lake Elsinore: LF Jaff Decker: 3 for 4, HR, SO

San Jose: SP Craig Westcott: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 WP

The Giants pounded out seven XBH, with two each from Peguero and Monell.  Peguero now has 8 triples this year.  With three hits each, Peguero and Simmons raised their respective AVGs to .278 and .237.  Decker, who entered the year as one of the Padres' top prospects but has had a disappointing year with a sub-.600 OPS, had a big game last night with his 3rd HR and three hits overall.

In his twelfth start, Westcott allowed a new season-high 3 ER and matched a season-high with 4 BB.  His BB/IP is now above 0.50, but his ERA remains just 1.55.

A-: Augusta lost to Savannah 4-1

Augusta: 1B Luke Anders: 2 for 4
Augusta: LF Daniel Cook: 2 for 4

Augusta: SP Chris Heston: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Craig Whitaker: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HB, 1 IBB

Anders and Cook each had two of the GreenJackets' seven hits (all singles), raising their AVGs to .293 and .271.

Despite allowing just 1 ER, Heston saw his W-L record drop to 2-7.  With just 2 ER over his last three starts, he has improved his ERA to 5.32 through thirteen starts.  After nineteen relief appearances with Richmond, Whitaker made his first appearance with Augusta.  He previously pitched for the GreenJackets in 2007 and 2005.

ssA: Salem-Keizer has their season-opener tonight

R: Scottsdale opens their season next Tuesday

DSL: Giants lost to Marlins 2-1

Dominican: C Gabriel Cornier: 1 for 3, BB, PB
Dominican: RP Jose Reyes: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HB, 2 WP

Cornier (18.0 y.o.) is off to a hot start this year, with an AVG above .400 through his first ten games.  He hit just .191 in 152 AB a year ago.  Reyes (19.5 y.o.) provided 4.2 scoreless IP in long relief in his first pro appearance.