minor lines, 5/29/11

Sunday highlights from the Giants' farm: Zack Wheeler had 12 K in 7.0 shutout IP, Eric Surkamp allowed 0 ER in 8.0 IP, and Roger Kieschnick homered and singled.

AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 24-6
(allowing at least one run in every inning, including 13 runs in the 5th inning)

Fresno: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 3 for 5, 2B, SO
Fresno: RF Travis Ishikawa: 3 for 3, 2B

Fresno: SP Josh Banks: 3.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Fresno: RP Aaron King: 1.0+ IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB--1 HR
Fresno: RP Felix Romero: 0.2 IP, 7 H, 10 R, 4 ER, 1 BB--1 HR
Fresno: "RP" Edwin Villegas: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB

Gillaspie and Ishikawa each had three hits, including their 14th and 12th doubles.  They raised their respective AVGs to .290 and .267.

Pitching on a day with the wind officially blowing out at 23 mph to LF, the Grizzlies pitchers got battered, although they yielded just 2 HRs.  Banks threw 87 pitches (55 strikes) in the first three innings.  King made his 2011 season debut and his upper minors debut.  After allowing two runs in the 4th inning, he did not retire any of his three batters in the 5th inning.  Romero was tagged for ten more runs in the inning before he was relieved.  Villegas, who is presumably in Fresno as a backup infielder with Brandon Crawford now in the majors and Ryan Rohlinger not eligible to play while he goes through the waiver process after being DFA'ed, ended up making his PCL debut as a pitcher in the 8th inning.

AA: Richmond lost to Akron 2-1
(allowing a run in each of the last two innings)

Richmond: RF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 3, HR
Richmond: C Johnny Monell: 0 for 3, 3 SO

Richmond: SP Eric Surkamp: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 E
Richmond: RP Jason Stoffel: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB

Kieschnick scored the Flying Squirrels' lone run in the 2nd inning with his 2nd HR of the year.  With the oh-fer that included the hat trick, Monell's SO/AB ratio rose to nearly 30%.

Surkamp had his longest start of the year with 8.0 IP and his second straight start allowing just an unearned run.  His ERA fell to 1.33 despite allowing a season-high 8 H.  After a string of five straight appearances without a run, which had followed a string of at least four straight appearances with an earned run, Stoffel allowed an earned run to take his second loss of the year.

A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 2-0

San Jose: DH Gary Brown: 1 for 4
San Jose: 1B Luke Anders: 2 for 3, E

San Jose: SP Zach Wheeler: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K--1 HB
San Jose: RP Ari Roick: 1.1 IP, 2 K

Anders had two of the Giants' five hits, raising his AVG to .270.  Top hitting prospect Brown managed one of the other three hits.

At least from a statistical perspective, Wheeler had the best start of his pro career.  He had a career-high 12 K.  After issuing 15 BB over his past three starts, he had just 1 BB yesterday.  Ronick made his first appearance without allowing a baserunner in nearly four weeks.  He got his first pro save.

A-: Augusta lost to Rome 4-1
(falling behind 4-0 after four innings)

Augusta: RF Devin Harris: 1 for 2, 2B, HBP, SO

Augusta: SP Mike Kickham: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 BK

Harris was the lone GreenJacket to reach base twice.  He had his 15th double.

After allowing just 3 ER over his first three starts, Kickham allowed 4 ER in his fourth start.  His ERA now stands at an even 3.00.  The 8 H were a season high, and the 4 K were a season low, but he still has more strikeouts than hits this year (22 K vs 17 H in 21.0 IP).