Highlights from the Giants' farm: Madison Bumgarner allowed just 1 ER in 6.0 IP; among hitters, Brandon Belt and Daniel Cook both doubled twice and singled. Also notable was Chris Dominguez's 11th inning HR.
AAA: Fresno defeated Portland 3-2Fresno: SS Ryan Rohlinger: 1 for 3, BB, SO
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 1 for 4, 2B
Fresno: LF Jesus Guzman: 1 for 3, HR, SO
Fresno: SP Madison Bumgarner: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 E
Fresno: RP Steven Edlefsen: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Portland: SP Josh Geer: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 HR
Guzman's solo HR was his first XBH of the year. With just five hits through his first nine games, his AVG remains below the Mendoza line, as well as his OPS below .600. Rohlinger was the only Grizzly to reach base twice. Top prospect Posey had his first double of the year.
Bumgarner's third start was clearly his most effective of the year. After having more ER than IP in both of his previous two starts, this quality start managed to get his ERA below 9.00. He also had a 10/4 GO/FO line, although his GO/AO ratio was below 1.00 last year. He threw 51 of 74 pitches for strikes. Edlefsen allowed a couple hits, but both runners subsequently ran into outs in the basepaths, so Edlefsen faced just the minimum six batters in two innings. Geer, who spent most of last year in the majors with the Padres, matched Bumgarner's quality start allowing two runs in six innings.
AA: Richmond defeated New Britain 4-3
Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 2 for 3, 3B, SH, CS
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 1 for 3, BB
Richmond: RF Clay Timpner: 2 for 3
Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HB
Richmond: RP Jake Stevens: 1.1 IP, 2 K
New Britain: SP Carlos Gutierrez: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Ford and Timpner each had two of the Flying Squirrels' seven hits. While Ford is off to a relatively slow start with a .231 AVG, Timpner has hit a blistering .474 (9 for 19) to start the season. Neal also reached base twice.
Tanner fell a bit short of a quality start. Although he allowed his share of baserunners, he kept the damage to two runs. His ERA remains below 3.00 through three starts. Making his fourth relief appearance, Stevens struck out two of the four batters he faced. Gutierrez, the Twins' first round pick two years ago, had his first quality start of the year.
A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 8-4
San Jose: 2B-3B Ryan Lormand: 2 for 4, BB, SO
San Jose: 1B Brandon Belt: 3 for 5, 2 2B
San Jose: DH Drew Biery: 0 for 2, 2 BB, HBP
San Jose: RF Juan Perez: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, GiDP
San Jose: SP Aaron King: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Belt had three hits, including his 3rd and 4th doubles. Lormand, Biery, and Perez also reached base three times. While Perez's .344 AVG is impressive, the other three aforementioned Giants all have more impressive AVGs of .400 or higher to start the season.
After issuing just one walk in his first start, King issued four walks in this start. His ERA rose above 5.00 as he took the loss.
A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 5-2 (11 innings)
Augusta: CF Daniel Cook: 3 for 6, 2 2B, 2 SO
Augusta: DH Chris Dominguez: 1 for 4, HR, BB, 3 SO
Augusta: SS Juan Martinez: 3 for 5, CS
Augusta: SP Jeremy Toole: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB< 4 K
Augusta: RP Devan Kline: 2.0 IP, 3 K
Cook and Martinez each had three hits. With a .326 AVG, Cook has hit in all but one of the GreenJackets' fourteen games. Martinez got his AVG above the Mendoza line. For the second day in a row, the GreenJackets enjoyed a walk-off HR, this time with Dominguez delivering the big three-run, one-out blow in the 11th inning, his 2nd HR of the year.
Toole, the Giants' tenth round selection a year ago, pitched a bit deeper in his second start, but he has still yet to reach five full innings. Kline, who signed as a non-drafted free agent last summer, struck out three of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings.