Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Eric Surkamp surpassed the 100 K mark while allowing just 1 ER in 6.0 IP, and (b) Rafael Rodriguez had three hits, including a pair of doubles.
AAA: Frenso had the final day of its three-day all-star break
PCL All-Stars lost to INT All-Stars 6-5
International: RF-CF Drew Stubbs: 2 for 5, HR
Pacific Coast: 3B Esteban German: 3 for 4, HR, 2B, SB, E
Pacific Coast: RHP Bud Norris: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Pacific Coast: RHP Kevin Pucetas: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
The Rangers' German three hits, to lead all hitters in this game. Stubbs, who is one of the Reds' better prospects, was one of two other players in the game with a multi-hit line.
The Astros' Norris was the only pitcher to go more than an inning. He threw 23 pitches (16 strikes) in 2.0 perfect IP. Pucetas, the Giants' lone representative, loaded the bases (including an error) but pitched a scoreless 4th inning.
AA: Connecticut had the second day of its two-day all-star break
The EL North All-Starts lost the EL South All-Starts 5-3
North: 2B Brock Bond: 0 for 2, BB
North: RF Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 0 for 1, BB
North: LHP Joe Paterson: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HB
North: RHP Danny Otero: 1.0 IP, 2 H
The Giants' affiliate had four players in the all-star game. Bond and EME, the two hitters, reached base in just one of four plate appearances. Paterson had one of his least effective appearances of the years, allowing 3 ER in the 3rd inning. He retired just three of the eight batters he faced. In the 7th inning, Otero allowed hits to two of the four batters he faced.
A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 6-4
San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SO
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 2 for 4, 2B, GiDP
San Jose: 2B Nick Noonan: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO, 2 E
Modesto: SS Hector Gomez: 3 for 4, 2B, SF, E
San Jose: LHP Clayton Tanner: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Neal had the Giants' only multi-hit line, further improving his team-leading .346 AVG. Kieschnick reached base three times. Noonan had his 5th HR but also committed his 13th and 14th errors. Gomez, who entered the season considered among the Rockies' top prospects, had three hits, but his AVG remains just .266.
Tanner allowed just 2 ER, improving his ERA to 3.33, but with the errors he allowed runs in four of the six innings he pitched. With just 2 K against 1 BB, his K/BB ratio slipped below 3.00.
A-: Augusta defeated West Virginia 8-2
Augusta: RF Juan Perez: 2 for 3, SO, CS
Augusta: LF Wendell Fairley: 1 for 2, 2 BB
Augusta: LHP Eric Surkamp: 6.0+ IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Augusta: LHP Ryan Verdugo: 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 6 K
Before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the 8th inning, Perez had the GreenJackets' only multi-hit line, getting his AVG back up to .260. Fairley reached base three times. He has a .323 OBP despite just a .227 AVG.
Surkamp allowed just 1 ER in through 6.0 IP and finished the night with a .355 ERA. He continues to rack up the strikeouts, and his 8 K tonight pushed him past 100 K in just 83.2 IP. Making his eighth appearance of the year, Verdugo didn't need his defense, striking out six and walking the other batter he faced. The strikeout total is all the more impressive considering he had just 2 K in his previous five SAL appearances.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost Eugene 7-2
Salem-Keizer: SS Ryan Cavan: 1 for 3, 3B, BB
Salem-Keizer: LF Dan Cook: 2 for 4
Salem-Keizer: RHP Joe Valdez: 1.0+ IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K--1 HB
Salem-Keizer: LHP Brandon Graves: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--2 HR
Cavan and Cook, both reaching base twice, accounted for three of the Volcanoes' four hits, their only XBH, and one of their three walks.
Valdez had the disaster starter, failing to retire any of the four batters he faced int he 2nd inning. Graves attempted to provide long relief. He got ten outs but allowed all three inherited runner to score while allowing a pair of home runs as well.
R: Giants defeated Angels 6-4
(completing game suspended on June 30)
Scottsdale: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 5, 3B, 2B, SO
Scottsdale: 1B Carlos Quintana: 4 for 4, BB, SB
Scottsdale: RHP Bryan Salsbury: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Scottsdale: RHP Aaron Davidson: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--2 HR
Scottsdale: RHP Craig Westcott: 2.0 IP, 3 K
Quintana reached base in all five plate appearances. Sanchez, who performed so well in the DSL last year considering his age and defensive positoion but has had a fairly quiet bat so far this year, had two XBH.
After Salsbury pitched three scoreless innings back in June, Davidson was not as effective when the game resumed today. He allowed 4 ER in 3.0 IP. Westcott struck out half the batters he faced in 2.0 perfect IP while being credited with the win.
R: Giants defeated Angels 4-1 (7 innings) in game 2
(with all the runs scored in the 1st inning)
Scottsdale: LF Rafael Rodriguez: 3 for 4, 2 2B, SB
Scottsdale: 3B Josh Lopez: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Scottsdale RHP Chris Heston: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Raf-Rod had three hits, raising his AVG to .326. He also doubled his number of doubles. Lopez also reached base three times.
After three relief appearances, Heston (12th rounder) made his first pro start.
DSL: Giants lost to Pirates 4-0
Dominican: SS Cesar Soto: 2 for 2, 2B, BB
Dominican: LHP Keurin Feliz: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Soto (18.3 y.o.) is another one of those hitters to which the cliche about not being able to walk off the island does not apply. With more walks than hits, he continues to have an OBP above .300 despite an AVG below .200. Feliz (18.11 y.o.) made his first start in over a week. At least he now has as many strikeouts as earned runs (25 ER and 25 K in 41.0 IP, 5.49 ERA).