minor lines, 8/27/11

Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Justin Christian and Alex Burg homered as part of multi-hit games.

AAA: Fresn lost to Sacramento 5-4

Fresno: RF Justin Christian: 2 for 4, HR, SO, SB
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 3 for 4, PO
Sacramento: RF Michael Taylor: 2 for 4, 2 HR, SO

Fresno: SP Jason Stevenson: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HR

Pill had three of the Grizzlies' eight hits, raising his AVG to .311.  Christian's 8th PCL HR was their lone XBH.  The Athletics' Taylor had his 14th and 15th HRs.  His power has bounced back from last year when he had just 6 HRs, but it's still unclear whether his .465 SLG in his second year in the PCL projects much major league success.

In his second start, Stevenson had a WHIP over 1.50, but the only runs scored on on a solo HR in the 1st inning and a two-run HR in the 4th inning.

AA: Richmond defeated Akron 3-2 (10 innings)

Richmond: 1B Wes Hodges: 1 for 2, 2 BB, SO
Richmond: LF Wendell Fairley: 3 for 5, SO, SB
Akron: RF Ben Copeland: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO

Richmond: SP Ryan Verdugo: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K--1 WP, 1 PO
Richmond: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP

Fairley had the Flying Squirrels' only multi-hit line, with his three singles raising his AVG to .280.  Hodges also reached base three times.  Copeland, the ex-Giant now with the Indians, had his 15th double, one of just three hits for the Aeros.

Verdugo had an effective start, although his control still seems to be a work in progress with 4+ BB in four of his last seven starts.  His BB/IP ratio is now 0.46.  Hembree pitched a scoreless 10th inning for his 17th save.

A+: San Jose lost to Ranco Cucamonga 8-7 (14 innings)

San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 6, 2 BB, HBP, SB, CS
San Jose: C Tommy Joseph: 3 for 6, 2B, BB, SO, E
San Jose: 1B-C Alex Burg: 3 for 7, HR, 2B, SO

San Jose: SP Kelvin Marte: 6.0+ IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB
San Jose: RP Aaron King: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K--1 HB, 1 WP
San Jose: "RP" Juan Ciriaco: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB

Burg had his 10th HR and 21st double.  Joseph was one of two other Giants with three hits.  His second half surge continues as he has hit .303/.336/.592 since the Cal League's mid-June all-star break.  Brown reached base five times.  His SB/CS line is now 49/18, giving his a success rate of 73%.

Pitching in Southern California's generally hitter-friendly conditions, Marte had less than a quality start but was good enough to keep his ERA below 3.50 after 24 starts.  He had a 11/2 GO/FO line.  Pitching just his third game with a full-season affiliate this year, King had 4.0 scoreless IP--seemingly his best appearance in over a year.  Ciriaco, a reserve infielder, took the loss on the mound allowing a walk-off, bases-loaded, two-out single in the 14th inning.

A-: Augusta lost to Greenville 10-4

Augusta: 3B Raynor Campbell: 2 for 3, BB, SO, E
Augusta: C Eliezer Zambrano: 2 for 3, 2B, BB

Augusta: SP Ryan Bradley: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K--2 HR, 1 HB

Batting in the bottom third of the lineup, Campbell and Zambrano each had two of the GreenJackets' five hits.

Coming off his best pro start (6.2 scoreless IP), Bradley allowed a season-high 5 ER in his ninth start.

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Boise 6-1

Salem-Keizer: SS Joe Panik: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
San Jose: RF Brett Krill: 1 for 4, HR, SO

Salem-Keizer: RP Jack Snodgrass: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Among the Volcnaoes' six hits, Krill had his 6th HR, and Panik had his 10th double.

Since joining the Volcanoes' rotation, Snodgrass has pitched quite effectively in three starts, allowing just 1 ER (but 4 R) in 16.0 IP.  The 27th rounder's peripherals have been strong too with 10 H, 4 BB, and 15 K.

R: Giants defeated Cubs 6-3

Scottsdale: SS Kelby Tomlinson: 3 for 5
Scottsdale: 3B Jose Cuevas: 3 for 3, 2B, SF

Scottsdale: SP Kyle Vazquez: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Tomlinson and Cuevas each had three hits, giving both hitters an AVG above .340.

Vazquez had allowed just 1 ER in three of his last four starts.