Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Ryan Rohlinger homered while reaching base three times, and Brandon Belt extended his hitting streak while reaching base four times.
AAA: Fresno defeated Sacramento 5-4
Fresno: SS-3B Ryan Rohlinger: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO, GiDP
Fresno: C Buster Posey: 1 for 4, BB, SO
Fresno: RF Joe Borchard: 2 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Sacramento: 1B Chris Carter: 1 for 3, BB, SO
Sacramento: DH Jack Cust: 1 for 1, HR, 3 BB
Fresno: SP Joe Martinez: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K--2 HR
Fresno: RP Denny Bautista: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Sacramento: SP Vin Mazzaro: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K--1 HR--2 HB
Rohlinger and Borchard were two of the four Grizzlies with two hits each. Borchard had his 4th HR, and Rohlinger his 1st HR. Posey also reached base twice. The A's top prospect Carter had his 5th HR. Cust, who is perhaps the highest paid player in the PCL, had his 4th HR and reached base safely in all four plate appearances.
Both starting pitchers struggled to find the strike zone, combining for eleven free passes. Martinez threw 51 of 98 pitches for strikes, and Mazzaro threw 56 of 103 pitches for strikes. Mazaro, who made 17 starts in the majors last year, has a 2.59 ERA so far this year. Martinez's ERA is now 3.60. Bautista pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 4th save.
AA: Richmond had its second scheduled off-day this year
(Its next scheduled off-day is May 17.)
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 5-1
San Jose: 1B Brandon Belt: 2 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, CS
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, 2B
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 2 for 4, 2B
San Jose: SP Craig Westcott: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HB
Belt extended his hitting streak while reaching base in all four plate appearances. I think the hitting streak is now at sixteen games. He raised his AVG to .433. Among three other Giants with two hits each, Culberson had his 6th double, and Monell his 3rd double. Hitting just .172, most of Culberson's hits have gone for extra bases as he has just three singles among his ten hits.
Westcott had his second straight start allowing just two hits but also issued a season-high three walks. Last year's 30th round pick has yet to allow a run this year in 18.0 IP over his four starts.
A-: Augusta lost to Hagerstwon 6-4
(allowing five runs in the 7th and 8th innings)
Augusta: RF Daniel Cook: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO, GiDP
Augusta: 1B Luke Anders: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 2 for 3, GiDP
Augusta: SP Devan Kline: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 PO, 1 E
Augusta: RP Ryan Verdugo: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Anders had his 4th HR, and later in the game Cook had his 1st HR. Liles, the Giants' seventh rounder a year ago, was the only GreenJacket with a multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .333.
After nine relief appearances last year and seven this year, Kline made his first pro start. He faced just one batter over the minimum in five innings. Verdugo had 3 K but allowed the other four batters he faced all to reach base. He has now allowed 6 ER over his three appearances this year, giving him an ERA of nearly 15.00.