minor lines, 8/19/11

Today's Highlights: Michael Mergenthaler got three hits, all for extra bases.  Andy Reichard and Justin Fitzgerald had quality starts.  And Clayton Blackburn only allowed two base runners in the longest start of his career, and they both got on the hard way: hit-by-pitch.

AAA: Round Rock defeated Fresno 12-2

Fresno: CF Andres Torres: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Fresno: 3B Bill Hall: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 SO, 2 E

Fresno: SP Geno Espineli: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Fresno: RP Waldis Joaquin: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

Fresno: RP Marc Kroon: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR

Well, it's not exactly time to look for help down here.  Torres, in his second rehab game this time around, got his first hit in nine at-bats, a home run.  Bill Hall, rehabbing his broken career, picked up his sixth double in 18 games in Fresno.  He also has five home runs in Triple-A.

Geno Espineli made his first start since 2007 with the Connecticut Defenders.  It didn't go much better than his 7.61 ERA in relief this season.  Waldis Joaquin, rumored to be an option to come up to the majors should the bullpen get any more hurt, didn't get through a full inning, though he was hurt by one of Bill Hall's two errors.  He left with two runners on, and Kroon took over.  Kroon gave up a walk and then a grand slam.

AA: Akron defeated Richmond 4-0

Richmond: 2B Charlie Culberson: 2-for-4

Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR, L (8-8)

Four of Richmond's five hits belonged to Culberson and Skyler Stromsmoe.  Culberson is still batting just .219 this August.  Justin Fitzgerald had a solid start, his best since collecting 11 strikeouts and giving up one earned run in seven innings on July 27th.

A+: San Jose defeated High Desert 5-1

San Jose: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI

San Jose: C Tommy Joseph: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 SO

San Jose: SS Ehire Adrianza: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB

San Jose: SP Andy Reichard: 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, W (8-2)

San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, S (1)

Leave it to San Jose to ruin a losing day.  Ryan Cavan is batting .275 over his last ten games with three doubles and two home runs.  Tommy Joseph added a double to his total on the season, giving him 28.  Adrianza's .500 OBP day gets him up to a .376 OBP in San Jose.

Andy Reichard had his longest start of the season, going 7 1/3 without walking anyone.  He has just 47 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings this season, with 19 walks.  Quirarte picked up his first save of the season at any level (four games at San Jose, 35 in Augusta).  He had six saves with San Jose in 2010.

A-: Charleston defeated Augusta 1-0

Augusta: 1B Josh Mazzola: 2-for-3, 1 SO

Augusta: SP Shawn Sanford: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 HBP, L (9-9)

Augusta: RP Seth Rosin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO

Now there's a Giants score.  Mazzola was the only player with more than one hit.  It was his first multi-hit game since going 4-for-4 on August 12th.  Shawn Sanford got Cained, with eight innings without an earned run.  It's his first start since giving up nine runs earned in 5 1/2 innings.  Seth Rosin had his first scoreless outing since giving up three runs in two innings in his last two games.

Sh-A: Eugene defeated Salem-Keizer 5-1

S-K: 2B Kaohi Downing: 1-for-1, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 E

S-K: SS Joe Panik: 1-for-4, 1 SO

S-K: SP Lorenzo Mendoza: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Downing had a 1.000 OBP day, though it didn't help much.  He has a .352 OBP on the season.  Panik is batting .378 over the last ten games.  Mendoza lowered his ERA to 4.27 in 11 stars, and has allowed two earned runs or less while going six innings and notching at least five strikeouts in his last six starts.

R: The Giants defeated the Padres 5-2

Giants: RF Michael Mergenthaler: 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Giants: SS Kelby Tomlinson: 2-4, 1 R, 1 3B

Giants: SP Clayton Blackburn: 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SO, W (3-0)

Mergenthaler got extra bases with each at-bat.  Over his last three games, he has collected seven hits, and only one was a single (four doubles, two home runs).  Tomlinson picked up his third triple of the season.  Blackburn only allowed two base runners, both being hit-by-pitch.  It's his first start without allowing a hit, and third without allowing a walk.  It's also the longest start of his young career.

DSL: No Game Scheduled