Today's highlights: (a) Madison Bumgarner takes the hard luck loss; (b) Henry Sosa has his best start of the year; (c) Ehire Adrianza has a double and two walks in four plate appearances.
AAA: Fresno defeated Las Vegas 10-2
(after adding six insurance runs in the 8th inning)
Fresno: 2B Kevin Frandsen: 2 for 4, BB, SB
Fresno: DH Adam Witter: 1 for 5, HR, 3 SO
Fresno: 1B Jesus Guzman: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Fresno: RHP Ryan Sadowski: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Frandsen and Guzman, who is two years younger than Frandsen, both reached base three times, after entering the night with OBPs of .358 and .323, respectively. Witter homered for the second straight day. With the hat trick, he also had his first multi-strikeout line among 8 PCL games.
Sadowski was one out short of a quality start. He threw 94 pitches (55 strikes) in less than six innings. He improved his W-L record to 2-1 and his ERA to 3.62.
AA: Connecticut lost to Reading 4-2
(allowing four runs over the final three innings)
Connecticut: LF Bobby Felmy: 2 for 4, 2B
Connecticut: RHP Henry Sosa: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 WP
Connecticut: RHP Matt Yourkin: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R--1 E
Felmy had his fourth straight multi-hit game, giving him 10 H in 16 AB in the first four days of May.
Making his fifth start, Sosa had his longest start of the year and his first start without an earned run. He improved his ERA to 2.35. His peripheral stats are now 19 H, 6 BB, and 17 K in 23.0 IP. Yourkin has pitched well this year, but tonight he retired just one of the five batters he faced.
A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 2-0
San Jose: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4
San Jose: 2B Nick Noonan: 2 for 4, GiDP
San Jose: C Buster Posey: 0 for 4, PB, E
San Jose: LHP Madison Bumgarner: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HB
San Jose: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
San Jose: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
With two hits each, San Jose's two middle infielders had half of the Giants eight hits, raising their respective AVGs to .372 and .281. Although he had an oh-fer tonight, there have not been many questions about Posey's offense this season. Perhaps his defense is more of a concern as tonight he allowed his 4th passed ball and commited his 2nd error.
Bumgarner faced only four batters over the minimum in five innings, but without any run support he suffered his first loss of the season. His ERA remains below 1.50, but perhaps that stat is a bit deceiving since he has allowed more unearned runs than earned runs this year . Broshuis and Quirarte faced just one batter over the minimum in four innings of scoreless relief.
A-: Augusta lost to Lexington 4-3
Augusta: 2B Juan Perez: 2 for 4, 2B, SO, 3 E
Augusta: SS Ehire Adrianza: 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, SO
Augusta: RHP Kyle Nicholson: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 PO
Adrianza reached base three times and had just his 3rd XBH of the year. He improved his season line to .286/.384/.365 through 63 AB. The only GreenJacket with a multi-hit line tonight, Perez had his fifth multi-hit game in his last nine games. He is hitting .343 over his last nine games, but his AVG for the season remains below .250. Defensively tonight, he committed his 3rd, 4th, and 5th errors.
Making his fifth start, Nicholson had his second straight start with 2 ER in 7+ IP, which have lowered his ERA under 6.00 after three relatively poor starts to begin the season. His W-L record is now 0-4. Tonight he had an 11/4 GO/FO ratio.