Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Thomas Neal had 3 HRs; Ryan Rohlinger, Drew Biery, and Ryan Cavan also homered as part of multi-hit efforts; and Matt Yourkin allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Las Vegas 8-1
Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 2 for 3, HR, BB
Fresno: CF Eugenio Velez: 2 for 4, 2B, HBP, SB
Las Vegas: 1B Brett Wallace: 2 for 3, HBP, SO
Las Vegas: 3B Edwin Encarnacion: 2 for 4, 2 E
Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Fresno: RP Scott Nestor: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Rohlinger homered and reached base three times in his first PCL rehab game. Velez also reached base three times. Reaching base three times for the 51's was Wallace, the Blue Jays' top prospect. He and the recently demoted Encarnacion were the only 51's to reach base twice.
Yourkin had his longest and most effective start of the year. In a new season-high 7.0 IP, he matched the season-high 8 K he set in his last start. Plus, he has no walks over his last two starts. He now has 49 K vs 19 BB in 58.2 IP this year. Nestor had 2.0 scoreless IP in his Fresno debut (although not his PCL debut as he pitched for Albuquerque two years ago).
AA: Richmond defeated Erie 6-3 (11 innings)
Richmond: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 5, BB, SO
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 3 for 5, 3 HR, BB, IBB, SO
Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HB, 1 IBB
Richmond: RP Rafael Cova: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
Neal, who had just 4 HRs previously this year, homered three times, first in the 4th inning, then in the 6th inning, and then finally a two-run, two-out shot in the 11th inning. Of the four other Flying Squirrels with multi-hit lines, Crawford walked to be the only one to reach base three times.
Tanner had his second longest start of the season and might have been on his way to completing eight full inning for the first time this year, but he was ejected following a balk call in the 8th inning. He did not allow a run after the 3rd inning. Cova struck out two of four batters for his 14th save.
A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 5-4 (10 innings)
San Jose: DH Brandon Belt: 1 for 5, HR
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4
San Jose: 1B Drew Biery: 2 for 3, HR, BB, IBB
San Jose: SP Eric Surkamp: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K--1 HB, 2 WP, 1 PO
San Jose: RP Ben Wilshire: 2.0 IP, 2 K
San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K
Culberson's three hits raised his AVG to .325. Belt led off the 4th inning with his 10th HR, and Biery led off the 7th inning with his 7th HR.
Surkamp had his second straight start with 7 K, but he has also allowed 4+ ER in three of his last five starts. His ERA is now 3.69. Wilshire had 2.0 perfect IP in his eighteenth appearance. Quirarte retired six of seven batters, but that one batter tripled and then scored on a suicide squeeze in the 10th inning.
A-: Augusta defeated Kannapolis 4-3
Augusta: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, 3 SO
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4, SO
Augusta: SP Andrew Reichard: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Jose Casilla: 1.0 IP, 1 K
It was a feast or famine type game for Cavan, who had his 4th HR and 23rd double but struck out in his other three plate appearances. He's not usually a three true outcomes type of player, though, given his SO/AB ratio below 17%. Joseph had the GreenJackets' other multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .217.
Reichard has delivered 6.0 solid IP in both his starts this year. Casilla, who got his 3rd save, had his sixth straight appearance without allowing a hit or a walk.
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Tri-City 4-2
Salem-Keizer: RF-CF Jose Medina: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Salem-Keizer: 1B Daniel Brock: 1 for 3, BB, SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Cameron Lamb: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Seth Rosin: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 K
Medina's three-run, two-out HR in the 5th inning provided most of the Volcanoes' offense. Brock was their only hitter to reach base twice.
Lamb, the 21-year-old Australian who had a 2.04 ERA in thirteen AZL starts last summer, had 3.0 scoreless IP in his 2010 debut. Facing ten batters in his second pro appearance, Rosin, the Giants' fourth rounder this year, struck our four, got four ground ball outs, allowed one fly ball out, and allowed a single (to the next to last batter he faced).
R: Scottsdale had its regular off-day (every fifth day)
DSL: Giants defeated Yankees1 4-0
Dominican: 3B Cristian Paulino: 2 for 3, SF, CS
Dominican: SP Luis Angeles: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 WP
Paulino (18.9 y.o.) had the Gigantes' only multi hit line, raising his AVG to .259. With his second straight start with no runs allowed, Angeles (20.6 y.o.) improved his ERA to 1.71 through five starts.