minor lines, 8/31/11

Wednesday highlights from the Giants' farm: Ryan Cavan and Jose Flores homered as part of multi-hit games, and Chris Heston allowed only an unearned run in 6.0 IP.  Also notable, Cameron Lamb had 6.0 shutout IP, and Eric Sim reached base in all four plate appearances.

AAA: Fresno lost to Reno 4-3
(allowing all four runs in the 1st inning)

Fresno: CF Tyler Graham: 2 for 4, SO, E

Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Fresno: RP Jean Machi: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Graham had the Grizzlies' lone multi-hit line, edging his AVG up to .273.

Despite allowing nearly half his batters to reach base safely (29 TBF, 9 H, 5 BB), Yourkin kept the damage to 3 ER.  Machi, whom the Giants have loaned to the Mexican League this year, where he had a 2.30 ERA in 48 appearances, pitched a perfect 7th inning in his PCL debut.

AA: Richmond defeated New Britian 8-4

Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 3 for 4, 2B, BB
Richmond: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 5, 2 2B, E

Richmond: SP Justin Schumer: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
Richmond: RP Hector Correa: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Richmond: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K

Ford and Culberson each had three hits as they combined to reach base in seven of ten plate appearances.  Ford's nine-game hitting streak has raised his AVG to .293 in 22 Eastern League games (all in August).  Culberson had his third straight multi-hit game but has still hit just .249/.277/.365 in 181 AB since the all-star break.

Schumer walked nearly a third of his eighteen batters but allowed just one uneared run.  Correa did not allow another run until the 8th inning.  Hembree threw just half his 24 pitches for strikes while walking two and striking out two.  After beginning August with eight straight appearances without a walk, he has issued 5 BB over his last four appearances.

A+: San Jose defeated Bakersfield 10-1
(after scoring eight runs in the first two innings)

San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 5, BB, SO, SB
San Jose: C Hector Sanchez: 1 for 4, HR, BB
San Jose: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, 2 BB
San Jose: 3B Jose Flores: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO

San Jose: SP Chris Heston: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
San Jose: RP Jacob Dunnington: 1.0 IP, 2 K--1 WP

Cavan had a big game with his 12th HR while reaching base four times.  Sanchez had his 11th HR of the year.  Flores added his 2nd HR.  Brown had his 50th SB.

Heston had his seventh straight quality start.  This start included an 11/2 GO/FO line.  He has been perhaps the Giants' best pitcher in the second half.  Making his first appearance in nearly three weeks, Dunnington did not quite pitch a perfect 7th inning, but he did strike out his first two batters and then get the third batter to GiDP.

A-: Augusta had a scheduled off-day
(its final off-day of the year with five games remaining)

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Tri-City 4-0

Salem-Keizer: CF Jesus Galindo: 2 for 2, 3B, BB, SF, SF, 2 SB
Salem-Keizer: SS Joe Panik: 3 for 5, CS

Salem-Keizer: SP Cameron Lamb: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Galindo reached base four times, raising his OBP above .350.  Panik's three singles raised his AVG to a team-leading .337.

For the second time in four starts, Lamb did not allow a run or a walk.  While his BB/IP ratio is barely above 0.20, a BAA of .290 has helped lead to an ERA above 5.00.  Tonight's start included a 10/1 GO/FO line.

R: Giants lost to Dodgers 4-2
(allowing all four runs in the 5th inning to lose the AZL title game)

Scottsdale: C Eric Sim: 2 for 2, 2B, 2 HBP, E
Scottsdale: 2B Cristian Paulino: 2 for 3, 2B, PO

Scottsdale: SP Joan Gregorio: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 WP
Scottsdale: RP Derek Law: 2.0 IP, 2 K

Sim, who reached based in all four plate appearances, and Paulino combined for four of the rookie Giants' just five hits.

Gregorio allowed just a couple baserunners in the first four innings but then allowed hits to four of his six batters in the 5th inning (with one of the other two reaching via Sim's error).  Law was arguably better than perfect, getting six outs while facing just five batters.