Highlights from the Giants' farm: Conor Gillaspie and Brandon Belt both had three hits, and David Mixon allowed just a single run in six innings. Also notable, Matt Downs doubled twice, and Bryan Salsbury pitched seven solid innings.
AAA: Fresno defeated Portland 2-1(scoring a run in both the 8th and 9th innings)
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 1 for 3, BB, SO
Fresno: 3B Matt Downs: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB
Fresno: PH Steve Holm: 1 for 1, 2B
Fresno: SP Joe Martinez: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HB
Fresno: RP Steven Edlefsen: 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Fresno: RP Denny Bautista: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Portland: SP Will Inman: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Portland: RP Luis Perdomo: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 IBB
After homering and tripling in his previous two games, Downs had his first two doubles of the year while reaching base three times. Posey was one of three other Grizzlies to reach base twice. Holm's pinch-hit, RBI double ended the game in the bottom of the 9th inning, scoring Downs, who had led off the bottom of the 9th inning with the second of his two doubles.
Martinez has allowed just one earned run through his first two starts. Edlefsen, who faced the minimum six batters through his two innings of relief, combined with Martinez for a 14/0 GO/FO line through the first seven innings. Bautista had two strikeouts in a perfect 9th inning. Inman held the Grizzlies to a single hit during five shutout innings. Perdomo, who the Giants selected in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2009 season before the Padres claimed him off waivers late in spring training that year, allowed both of the Grizzlies' late runs.
AA: Richmond defeated Reading 2-1
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 3 for 4, 2B
Richmond: RF Roger Kieshnick: 1 for 3, 2B, HBP
Richmond: SP David Mixon: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Gillaspie had three of the Flying Squirrels' eight hits, improving his AVG to .270. Kieschnick was the only other Squirrel to reach base twice. He had his first double of the season.
Mixon bounced back from his previous start (4 ER in 5.0 IP) with a fine start this time, allowing just five baserunners and a single run in six innings. A 20th round selection in 2007 who had been a solid but seemingly non-descript reliever through most of his minor league career, will he be this year's breakout performer on the Giants' farm?
A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 11-3
(after trailing 10-1 through four innings)
San Jose: 1B Brandon Belt: 3 for 4, 2B
San Jose: C Aaron Lowenstein: 2 for 4, 2B, SO, E, PB
Bakersfield: CF Engel Beltre: 4 For 6, HR, 3B
San Jose: SP Ari Ronick: 3.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--3 HR, 1 HB
San Jose: RP Eric Stolp: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 K
Belt's three hits raised his AVG to .417. Lowenstein, the Giants' backup catcher also had a nice game offensively, although apparently not such a nice game defensively given the error and passed ball. The Rangers' toolsy Beltre, who struggled with a .598 OPS in the Cal League a year ago, had his best game of the season. With four hits, including a grand slam HR in the 3rd inning, he had his first multi-hit line of the year.
Ronick got bombed in his second Cal League start. Stolp provided long relief, and he has now worked 9.0 IP over his three appearances.
A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 5-2
Augusta: 3B Chris Dominguez: 2 for 4, SO
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Augusta: SS Juan Martinez: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Augusta: SP Bryan Salsbury: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--2 HR
Augusta: RP Jason Jarvis: 1.1 IP, 3 K--1 WP
Dominguez and Joseph each had two of the GreenJackets' eight hits, raising their respective AVGs to .306 and .188. Martinez was one of two GreenJackets with a hat trick, and his oh-fer dropped his AVG below .100.
Aside from two solo HRs, Salsbury had a fairly dominant start. After six no-hit innings in his previous start, those two HRs account for the only runs he has allowed so far this year. Jarvis struck out three of the four batters he faced for his 3rd save.