Yesterday's highlights: (a) Clay Timpner reached base four times, including a walk-off HR in extra innings; (b) Brock Bond also reached base in all four plate appearances; and (c) Roger Kieschnick had two XBH among his three hits. Pitching-wise, Foppert and Odle had good starts, but perhaps the most significant line is Hinshaw's relief appearance.
AAA: Fresno defeated Round Round 6-5 (11 innings)
Fresno: CF Clay Timpner: 3 for 5, HR, 2B, BB, SB
Fresno: RF John Bowker: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SO, SB
Fresno: 2B Matt Downs: 2 for 4, 2B, SB
Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 0 for 5, 3 SO, E
Fresno: RHP Ryan Sadowski: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Fresno: RHP Osiris Matos: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K--1 HR
Round Round: RHP Bud Norris: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Timpner had his best game of the year, including a walk-off solo HR with two outs in the 11th inning. That was his 2nd HR this year, and he also had his 4th double. He paced the Grizzlies with three of their dozen hits, raising his AVG to .257, while also reaching base a fourth time via a walk. Bowker and Downs reached base three times. Rohlinger's hit streak came to an abrupt end with the oh-fer that included the hat trick. Even so, his AVG in May remains high at .417.
Sadowski had his shortest start of the year, throwing just 51 of 88 pitches for strikes in 4.0 IP. He still has yet to allow more than 3 ER in a start this year. Hinshaw had perhaps his best relief appearance of the year, throwing 17 of 24 pitches for strikes in 2.0 perfect IP. Matos, who allowed 2 HR in 6.0 IP while in the majors, allowed a HR in his first appearance since his demotion. Norris, who entered the season ranked as the Astros top pitching prospect, had his least effective start of the season. He had allowed just 8 ER over his first six start but allowed 4 ER in this start to raise his ERA to a still very good 2.61.
AA: Connecticut defeated New Hampshire 4-2
Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 3 for 3, BB, SB, CS
Connecticut: RF Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 1 for 4, HR, GiDP
New Hampshire: 2B Brad Emaus: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, E
Connecticut: RHP Jesse Foppert: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Connecticut: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
Connecticut: LHP Joe Paterson: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Bond remains the Defenders' hottest hitter in May. After reaching base four times, his line for the month is .400/.500/.475 in 40 AB. On the downside, he not been an effective basestealer this year with a 5/5 SB/CS line. EME had his 3rd HR. The Blue Jays' Emaus had another good game against the Defenders, including his 12th double of the season.
Foppert matched his longest start of the season and had perhaps his best start yet. It was at least his first start without allowing an earned run, bringing his ERA below the 3.50 mark. Even with the 3 BB, the 5 K means he now his K/BB ratio above 1.00. Joaquin retired just two of the four batters he faced, raising his WHIP to nearly 1.50. Paterson struck out two of the four batters he faced in 1.1 perfect IP for his 2nd save. He has outstanding stats so far this year with 9 H, 2 BB, and 15 K in 13.1 IP with only one unearned run allowed.
A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 8-4
(after scoring six decisive runs in the 5th inning)
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 4, HR, BB
San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 3 for 5, HR, 2B
San Jose: CF Shane Jordan: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
San Jose: RHP Sergio Romo: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
San Jose: RHP Oliver Odle: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Kieschnick paced the Giants' offense with three of their thirteen hits, raising his AVG to .317. Both he and Neal connected for their 5th HRs. Jordan had his first multi-hit line of the season and also had his first XBH. His OPS remains below .400 through 43 AB.
Romo faced the minimum three batters, despite allowing a walk, in his first rehab appearance. Odle then made the "start" delayed by an inning. It was perhaps his second best start of the year, but his ERA remains above 6.50.
A-: Augusta lost to Greenville 11-2
Augusta: 1B Josh Mazzola: 1 for 3, 2B, HBP
Augusta: DH Mike Loberg: 1 for 4, HR
Greenville: 1B Anthony Rizzo: 2 for 4, 2 HR, BB
Augusta: RHP Mike Loree: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K--1 HR, 1 WP, 1 IBB
Loberg's two-run HR with one out in the 9th inning was one of the GreenJackets' four hits. Mazzolo, the only GreenJacket to reach base twice, had his 7th double. Rizzo, the Red Sox' sixth round pick two years ago, homered twice, his 3rd and 4th HRs of the year.
Loree allowed a season-high 6 ER and a season-high 3 BB while having a season-low 1 K as his W-L record dropped to 1-4 through six starts. His ERA rose to 4.98.