There is no question that the big highlight of the day is (a) Tim Alderson's dominant upper minors debut. Also deserving highlight status are (b) Eli Whiteside homering twice for the Grizzlies and (c) a trio of San Jose Giants--Posey, Villalona, and Neal--each reaching base three times.
AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 12-8 (10 innings)
(after leading 7-1 in the middle of the 7th inning)
Fresno: SS Kevin Frandsen: 2 for 4, BB
Fresno: RF John Bowker: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 2 for 5, 2 HR, SO
Fresno: PH Jake Wald: 1 for 1, HR
Reno: SS Stephen Drew: 1 for 5, 3B, SO
Fresno: LHP Steve Hammond: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB
Fresno: LHP Geno Espineli: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Six Grizzlies had two hits each. Among them, Whiteside homered twice, his 3rd and 4th HRs of the year. The second homer was was a solo shot to lead off the 9th inning that provided a needed insurance run. Frandsen and Bowker each reached base three times, improving their respective OBPs to .370 and .434. Frandsen now has as many walks as strikeouts, while Bowker has more walks than strikeouts. Wald provided the game's big, dramatic shot with a one-out, grand slam HR in the 10th inning. The D'backs Drew played his first rehab game, including a triple against Hinshaw.
Hammond had an atypical start, allowing a season-high 4 BB but allowing season lows with just 1 H and just 1 ER. He got his ERA back below 5.00. After six straight appearances without allowing a run, Hinshaw allowed 3 ER. His WHIP since his demotion remains above 2.00 with 8 H and 9 BB in 6.2 IP. Espineli stranded both inherited runners in the 8th inning but then allowed two runs of his own in the 9th inning for his first blown save of the year.
AA: Connecticut defeated New Hampshire 3-0
(adding two insurance runs in the 9th inning)
Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4, E
Connecticut: RF Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 2 for 3, BB, GiDP, E
Connecticut: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 3, BB
Connecticut: RHP Tim Alderson: 6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Connecticut: RHP Jesse Foppert: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K
EME and Pill each reached base three times, raising their respective OBPs to very different marks of .380 and .304. Also with two hits was Crawford, who collected his first hits in the upper minors.
Making his upper minors debut, Alderson had his best start of the season, facing just two batters over the minimum. The second batter in the bottom of the 1st inning reached on an error. Otherwise, he had a perfect game into the 7th inning, when he allowed a one-out walk. After beginning the season with four starts, Foppert made his first relief appearance, pitching for the first time in a week.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 8-5
San Jose: SS Brian Bocock: 2 for 4, SF
San Jose: 2B Nick Noonan: 0 for 4, BB, CS, 2 E
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SO, GiDP
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 3, BB, HBP
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 3 for 5
San Jose: LHP Scott Barnes: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K--1 HR
San Jose: LHP Dan Turpen: 2.0 IP, 3 K
After going hitless in his previous two games, Posey rebounded by reaching base three times, including his 9th double. Villalona's three hits raised his AVG to .330. Batting leadoff and playing his second game since being demoted from Connecticut, Bocock was the other Giant with a multi-hit line. Batting cleanup, Neal also reached base three times, further improving his OBP to .455. The only Giant in the lineup without a hit, Noonan had a rough afternoon, including being picked off second base and committing his 5th and 6th errors of the season. Without a hit in his last three games, his AVG has fallen to .264.
Barnes allowed a season-high 4 BB but tied a season low with 3 H in his longest start of the season. Despite an ERA close to 5.00, he has a 3-1 W-L record this year. Turpen had a season-high 3 K as he picked up his 3rd save among eleven appearances. With today's appearance, he got his WHIP below 1.00.
A-: Augusta had a scheduled off-day
(Its next scheduled off-day is May 19.)