Today's highlights from the Giants' farm were concentrated in Connecticut with (a) Brock Bond reaching base in all five plate appearances, (b) Brandon Crawford reaching base four times, and (c) Jesse English throwing a complete game shutout. Highlights from outside Connecticut include (d) Clayton Tanner allowing just 1 ER in 7.0 IP and (e) Ryan Rohlinger having three hits.
AAA: Fresno defeated Sacramento 7-6
(rallying for two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning)
Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 3 for 5, 2B
Fresno: DH Joe Borchard: 1 for 4, HR
Fresno: RF Brian Horwitz: 1 for 2, HR, BB, HBP
Sacramento: 1B Daric Barton: 3 for 3, HR, 2B, BB
Sacramento: 2B-3B Jack Hannahan: 3 for 4, 2 2B
Fresno: RHP Matt Kinney: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--3 HR
Fresno: RHP Osiris Matos: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Sacramento: RHP Jerome Williams: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K--2 HR, 1 HB
Sacramento: RHP Henry Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 6 K
Rohlinger had three of the Grizzlies' nine hits, including his organization-leading 28th double. He improved his AVG to .288. Borchard and Horwitz both had their 4th HRs, albeit in fairly different playing time. Barton and Hannahan, both of whom the Athletics optioned recently optioned back to the minors, had three hits. Barton's three hits included his 7th HR and 20th double. He had another big game against Fresno but entered the night hitting just .250/.362/.418 through 232 AB.
Kinney gave up three more homers but was better than his last start when he failed to complete the 1st inning. His ERA is over 6.00 but still a bit lower than the ERA of ex-Giant Williams, who made his fourth start among fourteen appearances this year. Matos pitched a perfect 9th inning. The flame-throwing Rodriguez struck out six of the seven batters he faced. In three appearances against Fresno, he has 2 H, 5 BB, and 14 K in 7.0 IP.
AA: Connecticut defeated New Britain 6-0
Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 2, 3 BB, IBB
Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 3 for 4, 2B, BB, SO, PO
Connecticut: LHP Jesse English: 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
New Britain: RHP Carlos Gutierrez: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 IBB
The Defenders' two middle infielders, batting first and ninth in the lineup, reached base in all but one of ten plate appearances. Crawford is now hitting .264/.307/.363 in 201 AB since his promotion to the upper minors. Bond now has as many walks as strikeouts (37 BB and 37 SO in 264 AB), helping him to a .425 OBP.
Wow, this start seems statistically to come out of no where. English had not pitched into the 7th inning this year and had had an ERA close to 5.00 in his previous eleven starts, but he pitched the complete game shutout--perhaps the best start of his pro career considering the level of competition. The 7 K were a season high too. Gutierrez, the Twins' first round pick a year ago, allowed 3 ER in the 6th inning, making a relief appearance after starting in his six previous appearances in the upper minors.
A+: San Jose defeated High Desert 3-1
San Jose: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 4, 2B
San Jose: 2B Nick Noonan: 1 for 2, BB, E
San Jose: LHP Clayton Tanner: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 WP
San Jose: LHP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Drawing their only walk, Noonan was the only Giant to reach base twice. He also committed his 12th error. Neal's 24th double was one of their other five hits and their only XBH.
Tanner had an outstanding start, matching his longest start of the year with 7.0 IP and having his second highest strikeout total of the year with 8 K. He faced just four batters over the minimum as he improved his ERA to 3.36. Runzler struck out two of the four batters he faced for his 2nd Cal League save.
A-: Augusta at Asheville postponed by rain
(A makeup doubleheader is scheduled for tomorrow.)
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Yakima 11-0
Salem-Keizer: 2B Juan Martinez: 2 for 5, 3B, 2B
Salem-Keizer: 3B Joel Weeks: 2 for 4, HR, BB
Salem-Keizer: RHP Jose Valdez: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HB
Salem-Keizer: RHP Kyle Vazquez: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Among four Volcanoes with two hits each, Weeks had his 2nd HR, and Martinez (40th rounder) had two XBH for the second straight night, raising his SLG above .600 through 53 AB.
Valdez had his second straight quality start, getting his ERA below 4.00. After allowing 7 ER in his first two starts, he has just just 5 H, 3 BB, and 2 ER in his past two starts. Vazquez (15th rounder) had 2.0 perfect IP in his second pro appearance.
R: Giants defeated Brewers 6-3
Scottsdale: LF Leo Ochoa: 2 for 4, BB, SO
Scottsdale: RF Sundrendy Windster: 2 for 4, 3B
Scottsdale: RHP Aaron Davidson: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HB
Scottsdale: RHP Chris Heston: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Ochoa, a late round pick a year ago, reached base three times. His two singles raised his AVG above .400. Windster's 1st triple was the rookie Giants' only XBH. His two hits raised his AVG above .200.
Davidson's fourth pro start was his longest and his best yet, at least statistically. Heston (12th rounder) faced the minimum nine batters in 3.0 IP. He bounced back in his third pro appearance from the 5 ER he allowed in 0.2 IP in his second pro appearance.
DSL: Giants defeated Mets 4-2
Dominican: SS Cesar Soto: 2 for 3, 2B, HBP, CS, E
Dominican: LHP Diego De La Cruz: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 WP
Soto (18.2 y.o.) had just his second pro XBH in 27 games. After six relief appearances, De La Cruz (20.5 y.o.) made his first start of the season with impressive results. A year ago, he had an ERA close to 7.00 while starting eight of ten appearances.