minor lines, 8/2/11

Tuesday highlight from the Giants' farm: Justin Christian homered as part of his fourth straight multi-hit game.

AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 4-3
(scoring two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning)

Fresno: CF-RF Justin Christian: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, BB, SO
Fresno: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4, SO, SB, E

Fresno: SP Dan Runzler: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K--2 HB
Reno: SP Wade Miley: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K--1 HR

Is the 31-year-old Christian the hottest hitter in the Giants organization right now?  He had his fourth straight multiple-hit game.  Since his late June promotion, he has hit .350/.446/.610 in 123 AB.  Making his PCL debut, Crawford was one of three other Grizzlies with two hits.

Runzler was neither as sharp or as dominant as in his previous start, but he allowed just 2 ER in 5.0 IP, while throwing barely half his pitches for strikes (42 of 83).  Miley, one of the Diamondbacks better prospects, had 10 K in his sixth PCL start, following up on a 12 K performance two starts earlier.

AA: Richmond lost to New Hampshire 7-6

Richmond: 2B Charlie Culberson: 1 for 4, HR
Richmond: LF Roger Kieschnick: 1 for 2, HR, 2 BB
Richmond: 3B Chris Dominguez: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 SO, E
Richmond: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, 2B
New Hampshire: C Travis d'Arnaud: 3 for 5, HR, 2 2B, SB

Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 HR
New Hampshire: SP Deck McGuire: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--2 HR

Kieschnick and Culberson had their 14th and 8th HRs, respectively.  Dominguez and Monell were two of three Flying Squirrels with two hits, including their 14th and 17th doubles.  The Blue Jays' d'Arnaud, who is one of the top 50 prospects in baseball, had another strong game, including his 15th HR and 28th and 29th doubles.  The 22-year-old has hit .326/.395/.562 in his first season in the upper minors.  From a scouting perspective, his defense also rates well, so he should stick at catcher unlike many other catching prospects with similar hitting stats.

Fitzgerald had his third straight quality start.  After 11 K in his previous start, he had 8 K in this start, striking out nearly one third of his 25 batters.  McGuire, whom the Blue Jays drafted eleventh overall a year ago, has managed quality starts in both of his starts since being promoted to the upper minors.

A+: San Jose lost to Inland Empire 4-0

San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 0 for 4
San Jose: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4

San Jose: SP Andrew Reichard: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--2 HR

With two of the Giants' five hits, Joseph was the lone Giant to reach base twice.  His two singles raised his AVG to .256.  Brown's oh-fer snapped his thirteen-game hitting streak.

Making his third straight start, and his ninth start among 22 appearances this year, Reichard had a quality start.  He has a 3.53 ERA as a starter.

A-: Augusta lost to Savannah 8-3

Augusta: DH Rafael Rodriguez: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO

Augusta: SP Gaspar Santiago: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Augusta: RP Edward Concepcion: 1.0 IP, 1 K

With his 13th double and a walk, Rodriguez was one one of three GreenJackets to reach base twice.  The 19-year-old has a .241/.288/.305 line through 315 AB this year.

Santiago pitched less than five full innings for just the second time in his last eight starts.  The 4 BB was perhaps a season high.  As a starter, his K/BB ratio is 1.56.  In a perfect 7th inning Concepcion did not allow a baserunner--a relatively rare occurrence for him considering his WHIP is above 1.50.

ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Boise 8-5

Salem-Keizer: CF Jesus Galindo: 3 for 5, 2 2B, SO, SB
Salem-Keizer: 3B Garrett Buechele: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB, SO

Salem-Keizer: SP Reiner Roibal: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Galindo had three hits, including his 7th and 8th doubles, raising his AVG to .288.  He also had his 21st SB.  Buechele reached base four times.  He has a .314 OBP in 93 AB since his promotion to the NWL.

Making his ninth start, Roibal had a season-high 6.0 IP and a season-low 0 ER, improving his ERA to 3.53.

R: Giants lost to Dodgers 14-6

Scottsdale: DH Ben Thomas: 3 for 5, HR
Scottsdale: 1B Brian Nicholson: 3 for 4, 3B, 2B, HBP, SO, E

Scottsdale: SP Edwin Escobar: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Scottsdale: RP Kyle Crick: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB--1 HB

Thomas had his 6th HR among three hits.  Also with three hits, Nicholson had his 1st triple and 3rd double.

Making his ninth AZL start, Escobar allowed a summer-high 5 ER, pushing his ERA above 4.00.  After 5.0 scoreless IP in his first four appearances, Crick retired just one of seven batters in his fifth appearance.

DSL: Giants lost to Rangers 7-1

Dominican: DH Victor Feliz: 2 for 2, 2 BB, SB
Dominican: SP Adalberto Mejia: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

With two of the Gigantes' three hits, Feliz (20.8 y.o.) reached base in all four plate appearances.  In his twelfth start, Mejia (18.1  y.o.) allowed new highs with 9 H, 3 BB and 3 ER.  Despite the least effective start of his career, his ERA is still just 1.12.