Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Brandon Crawford reached base four times, and Bryan Salsbury had 6.0 no-hit (and shutout) IP. Also notable, Buster Posey had another multi-hit performance, and Eric Hacker had 5.1 shutout IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 6-5Fresno: C Buster Posey: 2 for 4, 3B, BB
Fresno: CF-LF Fred Lewis: 1 for 3, HR, BB, SB
Fresno: LHP Eric Hacker: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Posey had his third straight multi-hit game to begin the season, including a triple. Lewis had a two-run HR in the 4th inning as he continues to have a successful rehab stint, although I don't expect this success to shorten his rehab stint.
Hacker faced just three batters over the minimum in his regular season debut with the Giants' organization. He had a 4.45 ERA in 27 minor league starts last year, mostly in triple-A. Hinshaw had two strikeouts in a perfect 8th inning. Despite facing just three batters, he threw 21 pitches (14 strikes).
AA: Richmond lost to Bowie 5-4
(allowing three runs in bottom of 8th inning)
Richmond: SS Brandon Crawford: 1 for 2, 3 BB, SO, SB
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, HR, SF, SO
Bowie: C Caleb Joseph: 3 for 4, 2 2B
Richmond: SP Daryl Maday: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Richmond: RP Dan Turpen: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K--1 HR
Gillaspie, who had just 4 HRs last year, connected for his first homer of this year, a solo shot in the 6th inning. Drawing three walks, Crawford reached base four times. He also had his first steal. Joseph, who is considered among the Orioles' top ten prospects, had three hits, including two doubles.
Maday pitched effectively well in his season debut. He had a 4.25 ERA in 25 starts in the same league last year. Turpen yielded the big three-run HR in the 8th inning for the blown save and loss.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 3-1
(rallying for all three runs in the final two innings)
San Jose: 3B Ryan Lormand: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SO, 2 SB
San Jose: RF James Simmons: 2 for 4, 3B, SO
San Jose: SP Ari Ronick: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K--1 HR
San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 K--1 WP
Modesto: RP Rex Brothers: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER--1 PO
Lormand had his second straight big game after not appearing in the season opener, once again reaching base three times. Simmons was one of two other Giants' with a multi-hit line.
Ronick issued four walks, but the solo HR accounted for the only run he yielded. He also had a 6/1 GO/FO line. A year ago, he had a nice ERA (2.65), but he was also more of a low-walk and fly ball pitcher. We'll see what kind of pitcher emerges the rest of this year. Quirarte pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the save, with the only batter who reached base being the one Quirarte struck out. Brothers, whom the Rockies selected 34th overall last year, yielded a couple runs in the 8th inning to take the loss and blown save.
A-: Augusta defeated Greensboro 8-2
(after breaking out for five runs in the 1st inning)
Augusta: CF Evan Crawford: 1 for 5, HR, BB, SO
Augusta: 3B Chris Dominguez: 3 for 5, E
Augusta: SP Bryan Salsbury: 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--2 WP
Augusta: RP Chris Gloor: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Crawford led off the game with his second pro HR. Dominguez's three singles paced the GreenJackets' eleven-hit attack.
Salsbury pitched six no-hit, shutout innings in his full season debut. Despite issuing just one walk, he faced four batters over the minimum, with two reaching on an error and another on a wild pitch after striking out. He became the first Giants minor league starter to pitch six complete innings this year. Gloor struck out six of the eleven batters he faced but still allowed a couple earned runs.