Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Matt Downs had 4 XBH over two games in a double-header; (b) Steve Holm homered and doubled in the first half of the double-header; (c) Brandon Crawford also homered and doubled; and (d) Francisco Peguero had three more hits.
AAA: Fresno lost to Tacoma 10-6 (7 innings) in game 1
Fresno: 1B Kevin Frandsen: 1 for 4, HR
Fresno: 2B Matt Downs: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
Fresno: C Steve Holm: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
Tacoma: CF Jerry Owens: 2 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Tacoma: 3B Matt Tuiasosopo: 2 for 4, HR, SO
Tacoma: DH Brad Nelson: 2 for 3, HR, 2B
Fresno: RHP Kevin Pucetas: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 2 BB, 5 K--3 HR
Downs, Frandsen, and Holm connected for their 11th, 9th, and 2nd HRs, respectively. Downs also had his 25th double, while Holm had his 12th double. The Mariners had also three hitters homer, including Tuiasosopo, who has missed most of this season; Owens, who began the year in the majors with the White Sox; and Nelson, who began the year in the majors with the Brewers.
Pucetas pitched a complete game, but yielding nine runs in the 3rd and 4th innings made this perhaps the least effective start of his pro career. His ERA rose to 3.76. Still in line for a possible call-up to be the Giants' fifth starter?
AAA: Fresno defeated Tacoma 7-4 (7 innings) in game 2
Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 3 for 4, HR, 2B, SO
Fresno: 2B Matt Downs: 2 for 4, 3B, 2B, SO
Fresno: SS Juan Ciriaco: 3 for 4, 2B
Tacoma: 3B Matt Tuiasosopo: 3 for 3, HBP
Fresno: RHP Ronnie Ray: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Fresno: RHP Osiris Matos: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K--1 HB
Fresno: LHP Geno Espineli: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Rohlinger had three hits, including his 12th HR, which was a grand slam with two outs in the 3rd inning, and his 31st double. Ciriaco also had three hits. Downs had 2 XBH in both halves of the double-header. Tuiasosopo continued his good day reaching base in all four plate appearances in the second half of the double-header.
In what was essentially a bullpen game for the Grizzlies, Ray made his second start of the year among 35 appearances. His ERA is now nearly 5.00. Matos improved his ERA to 3.11 with 2.0 scoreless IP. Hinshaw threw 13 of 19 pitches for strikes. Espineli pitched a perfect 7th inning for his 17th save.
AA: Connecticut defeated New Hampshire 8-3
Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 5, 2 2B, GiDP
Connecticut: CF Mike McBryde: 2 for 4, BB
Connecticut: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 3, HBP, SO
Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
Connecticut: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Connecticut: LHP Joe Paterson: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Among six Defenders with two hits each, the two middle infielders, Bond and Crawford, had their lines stand out with all four of their hits being for extra bases. Crawford had his 3rd HR and 20th double, but his SLG remains just .370 in his 276 AB in the Eastern League. Bond had his 16th and 17th doubles. McBryde and Pill each reached base three times.
Broshuis had less than a quality start but improved his W-L record to 3-2 in six Eastern League starts. This start came on three days rest after the abbreviated emergency start he made on two days rest. Paterson struck out two of the four batters he faced.
A+: San Jose lost to Rancho Cucamonga 5-3 (11 innings)
San Jose: CF Darren Ford: 2 for 5, HR, BB, SO, SB
San Jose: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, BB, SO
San Jose: RHP Kyle Nicholson: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Ford and Gillaspie both reached base three times. Ford led off the bottom of the 1st inning with his 4th HR, and later he added his 22nd SB. Both players have rather similar hitting lines this year. Gillaspie, who is nearly two years younger than Ford, is hitting .281/.367/.372 through 363 AB, while Ford is hitting .273/.364/.389 through 275 AB.
Nicholson, who had been quite the innings-eater for Augusta, pitched "just" five innings in his Cal League debut.
A-: Augusta lost to Greenville 4-2
Augusta: CF Francisco Peguero: 3 for 4, SB
Augusta: RHP Orlando Yntema: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Augusta: LHP Ryan Verdugo: 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 K--1 IBB
With three of the GreenJackets' seven hits, Peguero was the only GreenJacket to reach base twice. The 21-year-old is hitting .382/.409/.494 in his 170 AB this year.
Yntema, who was Salem-Keizer's opening day starter this year, took the loss in his full-season debut. Verdugo inherited two baserunners with no outs in the 8th inning. He gave an intentional walk to the second batter he faced, but otherwise struck out three of the other six batters. Last year's ninth round pick now has a line of 6 H, 6 BB, 0 R, and 20 K in 13.1 IP in his ten Sally League appearances.
ssA: Salem-Keizer had their second of three scheduled off-days
(Their remaining scheduled off-day is August 19.)
Volcanoes on Northwest League leaderboards in selected stats:
--Hitters:
AVG: Biery 1st
OBP: Biery 6th, Cavan 10th
SLG: Anders 7th, Biery 8th
HR: ChDominguez 3rd
SB: (none)
--Pitchers:
ERA: Yntema 4th, JoBucardo 6th, WiBucardo 7th
WHIP: JoBucardo 4th, Yntema 8th, WiBucardo 9th
K: JoBucardo 4th
IP: JoBucardo 1st, Yntema 4th
R: Giants defeated Padres 6-3
Scottsdale: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 4, 2B
Scottsdale: LF Rafael Rodriguez: 2 for 4, GiDP
Scottsdale; RHP Addison Proszek: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Scottsdale: RHP Aaron Davidson: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Scottsdale: RHP Ben Wilshire: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Scottsdale: RHP Jason Stoffel: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Sanchez's 4th double was the rookie Giants' only XBH. His three total bases raised his SLG to an even .400 through 55 AB. Raf-Rod was one of two other Giants with a couple hits.
Proszek got his third start but has pitched just 6.2 IP total in those three starts. Davidson provided effective long relief. The 24-year-old Wilshire had 2 K in a perfect 7th inning. Stoffel allowed one of two inherited runners to score but received his first pro save.