Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: David Mixon faced one batter over the minimum in 7.0 shutout IP, Tommy Joseph and Hector Sanchez both homered (and singled), and Nick Liles had two XBH among his three hits.
AAA: Fresno lost to Salt Lake 8-1
Fresno: DH Buster Posey: 1 for 4, SO
Fresno: LF Ben Copeland: 2 for 4, SO, E
Fresno: CF Tyler Graham: 2 for 4, SO
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K--1 BK, 1 E
Fresno: RP Alex Hinshaw: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 K
Fresno: RP Osiris Matos: 2.0 IP, 4 K
Copeland and Graham each had two hits for the second straight night, raising their AVGs to .256 and .538. This was just Graham's sixth game of the year as he spent most of April on the DL. Posey had an unremarkable line.
Hacker had his shortest and least effective start of the year. After surrendering just 5 R over his first five starts, he yielded 4 R in this start, but his ERA remains just 2.25. The 1 K also contrasts with the 23 K he had in his last three starts over 16.1 IP. Hinshaw gave up 4 H after having allowed just 2 H in his previous five appearances combined. His BAA rose to an even .300. Matos matched a a season-high 4 K in 2.0 perfect IP. His peripheral stats are now 9 H, 6 BB, and 17 K in 15.0 IP. He has pitched less than two full innings in just two of his eight appearances.
AA: Richmond defeated Harrisburg 1-0
(scoring the game's only run in the 8th inning)
Richmond: 1B Michael Ambort: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Richmond: 2B Nick Noonan: 2 for 4
Harrisburg: SS Danny Espinoa: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Richmond: SP David Mixon: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 WP
Richmond: RP Tony Pena: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Ambort picked an optimal time for his 1st HR of the year, going deep with two outs in the 8th inning for the game's only run. With two singles, Noonan was not just the only Flying Squirrel to reach base twice, but he was also the only Flying Squirrel to play in the game not to strike out. The Nationals' top five prospect Espinosa had the oh-fer with the hat trick.
Mixon had the best appearance of his pro career, including a (presumable) career-high 8 K. It was his second start in his last three with 7.0 shutout IP, this time facing just one batter over the minimum. He had a 7/3 GO/FO line, raising his GO/AO ratio for the season to 1.55. His BAA is just .197. Pena had 2 K in 2.0 perfect IP for his 4th save. Converted from an infielder to a pitcher in the middle of last year, the 29-year-old has peripheral stats of 10 H, 3 BB, and 12 K in 17.1 IP so far this year.
A+: San Jose lost to High Desert 15-3
San Jose: RF Juan Perez: 1 for 4, HR, SO
San Jose: DH Johnny Monell: 1 for 4, HR, SO
San Jose: SS Ehire Adrianza: 2 for 4, 2B, E
High Desert: LF Nate Tenbrink: 3 for 5, 2 HR
San Jose: SP Aaron King: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--2 HR, 1 HB
San Jose: RP Oliver Odle: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 K--1 HR, 1 HB
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP, 3 K
In the 7th inning, Perez and Monell both had their 4th HRs this year. Adrianza was the lone Giant to reach base twice, but his AVG remains below the Mendoza line. He also committed his 4th error. Tenbrink, whom the Mariners drafted in the seventh round two years ago, homered twice as he is finding the Cal League more to his liking than the Midwest League a year ago. After a .788 OPS last year, his OPS is just shy of 1.100 though 111 AB after this performance. While High Desert is one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums in all of baseball, he has actually hit better on the road than at home.
After having by far his best start of the year in his last start (10 K and 1 H in 5.0 shutout IP), King had his worst start of the year, allowing season highs with 7 H and 7 ER. His ERA rose above 7.00. Odle failed to provide long relief, seeing his ERA rise above 5.00. In a non-save situation, Stoffel bounced back from his previous two poor performances to strike out all three batters he faced.
A-: Augusta defeated Hagerstown 11-1
Augusta: DH Tommy Joseph: 2 for 5, HR
Augusta: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 3, HR, BB
Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 3 for 4, 3B, 2B
Augusta: SP Devan Kline: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Augusta: RP Ryan Verdugo: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Hagerstown: SP Jack McGeary: 3.0+ IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--2 HR
Joseph had his 6th HR, while Sanchez had his 1st HR. Also among the five GreenJackets' with multi-hit lines was Liles, last summer's seventh round pick by the Giants. His 2nd triple, 4th double, and a single raised his AVG to .348
Issuing four walks in his second start of the year, Kline pitched just three innings. His ERA remains below 2.00. Verdugo had 2 K in 2.0 perfect IP. McGeary, whom the Nationals signed for a $1.8 million bonus in 2007, had an ineffective start, raising his ERA above 5.00.