Obvious highlight: (a) Madison Bumgarner has six dominant, shutout innings. Other highlights: (b) Steve Holm has four hits that include a homer, as well as a double; (c) David Maroul has three hits that include a homer; (d) Buster Posey has two hits that include a homer.
AAA: Fresno defeated Iowa 4-2
Fresno: LF Andres Torres: 2 for 5, 2 SO, SB, E
Fresno: RF John Bowker: 2 for 5, SO
Fresno: C Steve Holm: 4 for 5, HR, 2B
Fresno RHP Kevin Pucetas: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Fresno: RHP Sergio Romo: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 K--1 WP
Iowa: LHP Jason Waddell: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Holm, who had been 0 for 18 previously this year in the PCL, had a huge game with four hits, including his first two XBHs of the season. Torres and Bowker also had multi-hit lines, helping both of them keep their AVGs above .300.
Pucetas had his best start of the year, at least statistically. He had season-highs with 7.0 IP and 7 K, and the 0 ER and 1 BB matched season lows. He got his K/BB ratio back above 2.00 as he lowered his ERA below 4.00. Romo made his second PCL rehab appearance, throwing 11 of 18 pitches for strikes. In the 7th inning, Waddell, the ex-Giants farmhand, struck out three of the five batters he faced but still allowed a run.
AA: Connecticut defeated Portland 12-1
Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, HBP, SB
Connecticut: PH-DH David Maroul: 3 for 4, HR
Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 1 for 5, BB, 4 SO, CS
Connecticut: 3B Sharlon Schoop: 3 for 4, 2B, BB
Connecticut: LHP Madison Bumgarner: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K--1 PO
Connecticut: RHP Geivy Garcia: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Maroul entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 4th inning. He made an out in that at bat but he had hits in his next three ABs, including his 1st HR of the year. With three hits each, Maroul and Schoop paced the Defenders' sixteen-hit attack. Schoop and Bond both reached base four times, improving their respective OBPs to .358 and .408. Crawford continues to have issues with the strikeouts. The sombrero gives him a SO/AB of 31%, but it hasn't prevented him from reaching base as his OBP remains over .420. He 159 AB this year, with 57 H, 49 SO, and 53 other AB that have not ended in a H or SO. His SB/CS for the season is now 3/7.
Bumgarner had presumably his best start of the season, facing just two batters over the minimum and striking out half of the 20 batters he faced. Bumgarner has worked exactly 6.0 IP in each of three appearanceas a Defender and has been dominant for two appearances in a row with 19 K and 3 H in those two appearances. After a 1/6 GO/FO line today, he has 0.58 GO/AO ratio this year. Garcia struck out two of the three batters he faced in the 9th inning.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 9-5
(with all the game's runs scored in the first half of the game)
San Jose: 2B Ryan Lormand: 2 for 4, 2B
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 2 for 4, HR, SB
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, 2B, SO, E
San Jose: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Modesto: CF Charlie Blackmon: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, SO
Modesto: DH Hector Gomez: 2 for 4, HBP
San Jose: RHP T.J. Brewer: 6.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K--2 HR
Among six different Giants with two hits each, there were four who had an XBH. Posey's third HR in his last six games was his 8th HR of the season. Gillaspie, Villalona and Lormand had their 9th, 6th, and 3rd doubles of the season. Blackmon, the Rockies' #10 prospect, hit his 2nd HR. Gomez, the Rockies #5 prospect, was the game's only hitter to reach base three times.
Brewer was hit around in his third start of the season after eight relief appearances. The ten hits raised his BAA to .295. He had previously allowed just 5 ER and 2 BB this year but allowed another 4 ER in and 2 BB in this start. On the positive side, he did have a season-high 5 K.
A-: Augusta hosting Greenville was cancelled due to rain
(It was the final time the two teams play in the first half. The two teams have three series this year, with only four games emaining July 30 through August 2.)