minor lines, 9/2/11

Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: Gary Brown and Ryan Scoma homered as part of multi-hit games, and Tommy Joseph reached base in all five plate appearances.  Also notable, Paul Davis faced just one batter over the minimum in 6.0 IP.

AAA: Fresno defeated Tacoma 7-3
(scoring all seven runs during the 5th and 6th innings)

Fresno: CF Tyler Graham: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SO, 2 SB
Fresno: SS Edgar Gonzalez: 3 for 5, SB

Fresno: SP Justin Dowdy: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Fresno: RP Jean Machi: 2.1 IP, 3 K

While every Grizzly in the lineup had at least one hit, only Gonzalez had three hits, lifting his AVG to .319.  He was also the lone Grizzly without a strikeout.  Graham also reached base three times and had his 57th and 58th SBs.

After 48 relief appearances this year, Dowdy got the spot start for his first start of the season.  He threw 52 pitches (31 strikes).  Machi, the second of three relievers, threw 2.1 perfect IP.

AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 8-4

Richmond: 2B Charlie Culberson: 1 for 5, HR, 2 SO
Richmond: C Jackson Williams: 1 for 3, 2B, BB

Richmond: SP Daryl Maday: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Richmond: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Altoona: RP Tim Alderson: 2.0 IP, 1 K

Culberson had his 10th HR.  He had 16 HRs a year ago in the Cal League.  Williams was one of several Flying Squirrel to reach base twice.  Since his demotion from Fresno, he has hit .220/.278/.440 in 50 AB.

Back in the Eastern League after three PCL starts, Maday had a solid start, although he was not particularly effiicient with his pitch count, throwing 105 pitches (64 strikes) in 5.0 IP.  Hembree retired just half of his six batters but did not allow a run in a scoreless 9th inning.  The Pirates' Alderson had 2.0 perfect IP against his former team.  His ERA remains above 4.00, though.

A+: San Jose defeated Rancho Cucamonga 9-7

San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 5, HR, BB, SO
San Jose: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 2, BB, 2 HBP
San Jose: 2B Ryan Cavan: 3 for 4, 2B, HBP

San Jose: SP Kelvin Marte: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K--1 HR
San Jose: RP Ari Ronick: 2.0 IP, 1 K

In a game that had 26 hits, Cavan was the lone player with three hits, raising his AVG above .270.  Brown lef off the bottom of the 1st inning with his 13th HR.  Joseph reached base in all five plate appearances.  After a .291 OBP in the first half, he has a .338 OBP in the second half.

Marte had another solid start.  He has allowed more than 2 ER only twice in his last eight starts.  With 2.0 perfect IP, Ronick improved his ERA to 2.90.

A-: Augusta defeated Rome 7-4

Augusta: SS Robert Haney: 2 for 4, 2 BB, SB
Augusta: 1B Ryan Scoma: 4 for 5, HR, 2B

Augusta: SP Ryan Bradley: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Augusta: RP Brett Bochy: 1.0 IP, 2 K

Scoma had perhaps his biggest game of the year with his 6th HR, 26th double, and two singles.  His OPS remains well below .700.  Haney also reached base four times.

Bradley has allowed just 21 ER over his ten starts--a total that has been boosted by 9 ER over his last two starts.  With 2 K in a perfect 9th inning, Bochy further improved his impressive peripheral stats: 20 H, 8 BB, 1 HR and 51 K in 38.0 IP.

ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Tri-City 3-1

Salem-Keizer: C Dan Burkhart: 1 for 3, BB
Salem-Keizer: LF Shawn Payne: 1 for 1, BB, SB

Salem-Keizer: SP Paul Davis: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 HR

Burkhart and Payne, the latter who was not in the starting lineup, were two of three Volcanoes to reach base twice.

After nine AZL starts, Davis has allowed just 1 ER in each of his two NWL starts.  This start appears particularly impressive as he faced just one batter over the minimum--albeit a solo HR he allowed to that one batter.