minor lines, 8/18/10

Highlight from the Giants' farm: Ryan Cavan homered as he reached base in all five plate appearances.  Also notable, top prospect Zach Wheeler allowed 1 ER in 4.0 IP.

AAA: Fresno lost to Omaha 5-0

Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 2 for 3, 2B
Omaha: 3B Mike Moustakas: 2 for 5, HR

Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--2 HR

Williams had two of the Grizzlies' four hits as they managed just base baserunners.  Moustakas, whom the Royals drafted second overall three years ago, had his 26th HR this year.  He extended his hitting streak to eight games as he pushed his SLG back above .600.

Yourkin, who had a 2.65 ERA in six July starts, had his third straight start with 4 ER.  He has also allowed 6 HRs over his last four starts.

AA: Richmond lost to New Britain 3-1

Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 4, 2B, SO

Richmond: SP Mike MacDonald: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Richmond: RP Adrian Martin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K

No one reached base twice for the Flying Squirrels, and Neal's 35th double was their only XBH.

MacDonald had his third straight quality start.  Martin made his first appearance in the Giants' organization facing his former RockCat teammates from earlier this year.  He struck out two of four batters.

A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 7-2

San Jose: DH Jose Flores: 2 for 3, BB, SO
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 1 for 2, BB, HBP, SO
San Jose: 3B Joel Weeks: 3 for 4, 2B

San Jose: SP Oliver Odle: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Weeks had three of the Giants' nine hits.  He also had their only XBH and was their only hitter in the lineup not to strike out.  Flores and Monell also reached base three times each.

Over his last eight starts, Odle has an ERA over 8.00.  How much longer does he keep his spot in the rotation?  Stoffel worked a scoreless 9th inning.

A-: Augusta defeated Savannah 9-1
(taking an early 7-1 lead through three innings)

Augusta: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 2, HR, 2 BB, HBP
Augusta: RF Ryan Lollis: 1 for 4, HR

Augusta: SP Zach Wheeler: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K--1 WP, 1 BK

Cavan homered while reaching base in all five plate appearances.  His HR was his 14th, while Lollis had his 3rd HR.  Cavan's rate stats are now .275/.346/.435 through 476 AB.

Wheeler's second start since returning to the rotation was not as good as his first start, but he still allowed just 1 ER in 4.0 IP despite 4 BB.  After a 5.06 ERA in his first seven starts, he has a 1.89 ERA in his eleven appearances since.

ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Spokane 17-1
(allowing ten runs in the 5th inning)

Salem-Keizer: 2B Julio Izturis: 2 for 4, CS
Spokane: CF Jake Skole: 3 for 5, 2B, BB, SO
Spokane: SS Jurickson Profar: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, BB, SH

Salem-Keizer: SP Shane Kaufman: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Aaron King: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 WP

Izturis had two of the Volcanoes' six hits, raising his AVG to .309.  Skole, the Rangers' first round pick this year, had three hits to raise his AVG to .269.  After a couple days off, the Rangers' 17-year-old Profar returned to the lineup and had his 3rd HR and 14th double as a pro.

Kaufman had 4.0 scoreless IP before not retirining any of the eight batters he faced in the 5th inning, which led to a season-high 8 ER.  King has issued multiple walks in seven of his last eight appearances, with a whopping 18 BB in 8.0 IP.

R: Giants lost to Angels 5-2

Scottsdale: 3B Wes Hobson: 2 for 4, 2B, GiDP

Scottsdale: SP Lorenzo Mendoza: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Scottsdale: RP Dontrelle Willis: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Scottsdale: RP Matt Graham: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 IBB

Hobson's fifth double in his last six games was the rookie Giants' only XBH.

Mendoza had his shortest start of the year, despite striking out two of four batters, as the rookie Giants used a different pitcher in each inning.  Willis may be the oldest player on the rookie Giants' roster, but currently the stats suggest he might be their least effective pitcher.  This was his first appearance in exactly two weeks.  Graham, perhaps the most hyped prospect on the rookie Giants' staff, allowed a run as he retired just two of six batters.

DSL: Giants lost to Phillies 2-0

Dominican: RF Hector Mercedes: 2 for 3
Dominican: SP Keurin Feliz: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 WP

Mercedes (18.10 y.o.) had a multi-hit performance for the third time in his last four games, but his AVG remains just .210.  Feliz (20.0 y.o.) had his longest start of the year and with 0 ER improved his ERA to 1.51.