Both Giants' affiliates still seeing post-season action lost last night, with no individual lines really standing out as highlight-worthy, although an honorable mention would go to Eddy Martinez-Esteve for his home run while reaching base twice.
AAA: Fresno ended its season on Labor Day
AA: Connecticut lost to Akron 7-2
(in game 1 of the best-of-five EL championship series)
Connecticut: DH Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 1 for 3, HR, BB
Connecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4, E
Connecticut: C Jackson Williams: 1 for 2, BB, SO
Akron: 1B Beau Mills: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, 2 SO
Akron DH Matt McBride: 3 for 4, HR, HBP, SO
Connecticut: LHP Ben Snyder: 3.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 2 HB
Connecticut: RHP Geivy Garcia: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 K--1 WP
Connecticut: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Connecticut: RHP Craig Whitaker: 0.2 IP
Connecticut: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Crawford had two of the Defenders' six hits, raising his post-season AVG to .227; but he also committed his 3rd error in six post-season games. EME homered to lead off the 7th inning. He and Williams drew the Defenders' only two walks as they also reached base twice. Mills, whom the Indians selected 13th overall in 2007, had two XBH, including a two-run, one-out HR in the 4th inning to give the Aeros a 5-0 lead. I believe most McCovey Chronicles commenters were upset that the Giants selected Madison Bumgarner over Mills, who hit .267/.308/.417 in 516 AB this year. How many are still upset about that choice? McBride, the 75th overall pick a year earlier in 2006, reached base four times, including his 8th inning HR. After an early May promotion to the Eastern League, he hit just .247/.301/.427 in 361 AB.
After dominating in his previous post-season start, Snyder was roughed up in this start. He retired just 11 of the 24 batters he faced, inflating his post-season ERA to 5.40. Garcia retired seven of the eight batters he faced in long relief. Hinshaw and Whitaker allowed an unearned run in the 7th inning. Making his first post-season appearance, Broshuis pitched the final two innings.
A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 11-4
(tying the best-of-five semifinal series at 2-2)
San Jose: DH Darren Ford: 0 for 2, BB, HBP, SO
San Jose: 2B Nick Noonan: 1 for 3, BB, SF, SO
San Jose: SS Brian Bocock: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
Bakersfield: 1B Ian Gac: 2 for 4, HR, SF, SO, E
San Jose: RHP Kyle Nicholson: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 6 K--1 HR, 1 WP
San Jose: RHP Ryan Shaver: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--4 WP
San Jsoe: RHP Trey Webb: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER--1 HB
San Jose: LHP Ryan Verdugo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
San Jose: RHP Rafael Cova: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Bakersfield: RHP Michael Main: 2.0 IP, 3 K
Bocock had the Giants' only XBH. Along with Ford and Noonan, he reached base twice. The Rangers' 24-year-old Gac, who had 22 regular season HRs but also a SO/AB ratio above 30% and an OBP below .300, had a three-run, two-out HR in the 3rd inning and 6 RBIs overall for the game.
Nicholson was roughed up in his post-season start. If I recall correctly, he pitched the AZL championship game a year ago, and although he pitched well in that game, he came up short in that pitcher's duel. Shaver managed to throw four wild pitches in less than two innings. Webb was ejected from the game after hitting the third batter he faced. Verdugo and Cova each had 3 K in their appearances. Main, the Rangers' first rounder a couple years ago, also had 3 K in his 2.0 perfect IP relief appearance. He has come back strong in a few relief appearances to end the season after struggling in the first half of the season as a starter. Mid-season he was diagnosed with an "unidentified viral infection" that had adversely affected his physical strength.
A-: Augusta ended its season on Labor Day
ssA: Salem-Keizer won the NWL championship series on September 10
R: Giants lost AZL championship game on August 31
DSL: The Gigantes finished their DSL championship series sweep on August 31