Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Mike McBryde had four hits, including three doubles; (b) Brian Bocock also had four hits, including a double; and (c) Tyler LaTorre also reached base four times. On the pitching side, honorable mention goes to Paul Oseguera and Aaron King, who both had solid starts. On the prospect front, Tim Alderson had a quality start with 3 ER in 6.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno lost to Las Vegas 5-4
Fresno: 2B Emmanuel Burriss: 0 for 0, BB, E
Fresno: SS Kevin Frandsen: 2 for 4
Fresno: RF-2B Matt Downs: 2 for 4, 2B, E
Las Vegas: 2B Joe Inglett: 2 for 3, BB, SB
Fresno: RHP Joe Martinez: 5.0+ IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
The Grizzlies' middle infielders did a good job of reaching base, combining for four of the team's nine hits and drawing their only walk. On the down side, Frandsen and Downs committed their 14th and 11th errors respectively. Burriss led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a walk and after going from first to third on Frandsen's single was immediately replaced by a pinch runner. Inglett, one of the middle infielders for the Blue Jays' affiliate, had another strong game. He has reached base in eight of his ten plate appearances this series.
Martinez made his fourth rehab appearance. He allowed just 2 ER through five innings but then failed to retire any of the four batters he faced in the 6th inning. Hinshaw stranded both runners he inherited from Martinez. Hinshaw actually threw a greater percentage of his pitches for strikes (nearly two thirds, 23 for 35) than Martinez did, as Martinez threw just 41 of 72 pitches for strikes.
AA: Connecticut defeated Reading 12-5
(after the game was tied 3-3 heading into the 7th inning)
Connecticut: CF Mike McBryde: 4 for 5, 3 2B, SB
Connecticut: C Tyler LaTorre: 2 for 3, 2 BB, SB
Connecticut: RHP Tim Alderson: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--2 HR
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
McBryde had four of the Defenders' fourteen hits, raising his AVG to just shy of .300. It seems odd to say this late in the season, but today McBryde doubled the number of doubles he has had in 36 Eastern League games. LaTorre also reached base four times, further raising his OBP to .395 through 109 AB. McBryde and LaTorre each had one of the Defenders' six steals today.
After pitching less than six full innings in three of his last four starts, Alderson had the quality start, despite allowing two big flies. He had allowed just 2 HRs in his previous nine starts in the upper minors. His ERA rose to 2.59. With 2 ER, Snyder saw his ERA rise back above 2.00. After a 0/5 GO/FO line today, his GO/AO ratio for the season is 0.68.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 11-1
(breaking the game open with seven runs in the 6th inning)
San Jose: SS Brian Bocock: 4 for 4, 2B, SO, E
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 4, 2B
San Jose: 2B Skyler Strosmoe: 1 for 3, 3B, BB
Modesto: CF Charlie Blackmon: 1 for 3, HR, HBP, SB
San Jose; LHP Paul Oseguera: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 HB
San Jose: RHP Steven Edlefsen: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Bocock had four of the Giants' nine hits. Bocock, Neal, and Strosmoe each had one of the Giants' three XBHs, and each of them 3 RBIs. The Rockies' Blackmon had another good game against the Giants, this time with his 3rd HR and 19th SB.
Oseguera's fifth start with San Jose was his best yet, a definite turn around from his last start in which he fell short of pitching five full innings. With 8 K, he struck out a third of the 24 batters he faced. Edlefsen had 2 K in a perfect 8th inning. In nineteen Cal League appearances, he has 15 H, 10 BB, and 38 K in 27.0 IP with a 1.00 ERA. Perhaps he is ready for another shot at the upper minors.
A-: Augusta defeated Bowling Green 4-3 (7 innings) in game 1
Augusta: 3B Charlie Culberson: 2 for 2, SF, E
Bowling Green: SS Tim Beckham: 0 for 3, SO, PO, E
Augusta: RHP Mike Loree: 6.0+ IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR, 1 PO
Augusta: RHP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 H
With hits in both at bats, Culberson raised his AVG to .250. He also committed his 27th error in 76 games. That is one less error than the Ray's Beckham, the top overall pick a year, has.
Loree allowed just one run through six innings but failed to retired either batter he faced in the 7th inning. With just 1 K in each of his last two starts, his K/IP has fallen below 0.50. Plus, he tends to be a flyball pitcher, with a 4/12 GO/FO line today and a 0.88 GO/AO ratio for the season. The win evened his W-L record at 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA. Quirarte allowed two of three inherited runners to score but was credited with his 4th save.
A-: Augusta defeated Bowling Green 3-1 (7 innings) in game 2
Augusta: CF Dom Duggan: 3 for 4, 2B, CS
Augusta: 1B Mike Loberg: 1 for 2, 2 BB
Augusta: SS Ehire Adrianza: 2 for 3, 2B
Bowling Green: SS Tim Beckham: 2 for 3
Augusta: LHP Aaron King: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Augusta: RHP Kyle Woodruff: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Batting leadoff, Duggan had three hits, including his 7th double, but his AVG remains just shy of .250. Loberg also reached base three times, but his OBP remains below .300. Adrianza had what has been for him a somewhat rare multi-hit line. He has had eleven hits in his ten games since the all-star break, though, to improve his season line to .267/.339/.351 through 225 AB. In the nightcap, Beckham had two of the Hot Rods' three hits.
King followed up his longest start of the year with another solid performance, this time allowing less than 2 ER for the first time since May. For the season, he now has a 4.37 ERA through thirteen starts. Woodruff faced the minimum five batters to finish the game and earn his first pro save (in his 26th pro appearance).
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Tri-City 6-5 (10 innings)
Salem-Keizer: CF Francisco Peguero: 3 for 5, 3B
Salem-Keizer: DH C.J. Ziegler: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB
Salem-Keizer: 3B Andrew Biery: 3 for 5
Salem-Keizer: RHP Orlando Yntema: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Occupying the heart of the Volcanoes batting lineup, batting third through fifth, Peguero, Ziegler, and Biery combined for eight of the Volcanoes' thirteen hits, both of their XBHs, and two of their four walks. They all have an AVG of at least .350 now through the first half month of NWL action.
Yntema had another effective start fo the Volcanoes. The 23-year-old has a 2.78 ERA through four starts and has pitched into the 6th inning in each of his last three starts.
R: Giants lost to Mariners 9-5
Scottsdale: CF Evan Crawford: 3 for 5, 2B, SB
Scottsdale: 1B Chris Dominguez: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Scottsdale: 1B Jonathan White: 2 for 4, 3B, 2B
Scottsdale: RHP Bryan Salsbury: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Scottsdale: RHP Chris Heston: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Crawford (9th rounder) and White (40th rounder) both had multi-hit lines for the rookie Giants. Dominguez (3rd rounder) had his first pro HR.
Salsbury (14th rounder) made his first pro start after two relief appearances. Heston (12th rounder) gave up the large crooked number in his second pro appearance.
DSL: The Gigantes had their usual Sunday off-day