Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: Tyler Graham, Tommy Joseph, and Hector Sanchez homered as part of multi-hit performances; and Felix Romero allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Tacoma 8-7
(rallying for two runs in 8th inning after scoring six runs in the 4th inning)
Fresno: LF Eugenio Velez: 2 for 5, 2 SB
Fresno: CF Tyler Graham: 2 for 4, HR, SO
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Henry Sosa: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 K
Fresno: RP Geno Espineli: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Tacoma: SP Michael Pineda: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Graham had his 1st HR of the year. He and Velez were two of three Grizzlies with two hits each. Velez also had his team-leading 23rd and 24th SBs.
Hacker had his third straight start with 4+ ER. After his impressive 1.25 ERA in April, his ERA in games since has been close to 6.00. The box score suggests Sosa looked impressive with his second straight relief appearance. He threw 29 of 49 pitches for strikes and had a 1/6 GO/FO line. This was a relatively rare appearance for him this year without issuing a walk. Espineli struck out three of his four batters. The Mariners' Pineda, whom Baseball America had suggested earlier in the day was among the top fifteen prospects currently in the minors, allowed 6 ER in 3.1 IP in his fourth PCL start.
AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 4-1
Richmond: CF Darren Ford: 2 for 5, SB
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 1 for 3, 2 BB
Richmond: SP Felix Romero: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Drawing both of the Flying Squirrels' walks, Gillaspie reached base three times, raising his OBP to .312. Ford, who had his 27th SB, was one of two Squirrels with two hits.
Romero continues his successful run as an Eastern League starter. In six starts, the 30-year-old has a 2.63 ERA and a K/BB ratio above 7.00.
A+: San Jose lost to Stockton 5-2
San Jose: 1B Michael Ambort: 1 for 4, HR, BB, SO, CS
San Jose: DH Johnny Monell: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB
Stockton: SS Grant Green: 2 for 4, HR, SO
San Jose: SP Oliver Odle: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--2 HR
Monell had his second straight big game, with his two doubles giving him the Giants' only multi-hit line. Ambort led off the 2nd inning with his 4th HR of the year. The Athletics' Green had his 8th HR, a two-run shot in the 1st inning to give the Ports the early lead.
Odle had perhaps his least effective start of the year. His ERA rose to 4.25.
A-: Augusta lost to Kannapolis 11-10
Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 3 for 5, 3B, SO
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, SO, 2 PB
Augusta: DH Hector Sanchez: 3 for 5, HR
Augusta: SP Jeremy Toole: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Augusta: RP Hector Correa: 1.1 IP, 4 H
While every GreenJacket in the lineup had a hit, they were led by the three hits each from Liles and Sanchez who raised their respective AVGs to .329 and .283. One of Sanchez's three hits was his 4th HR, while Joseph added his 11th HR a few innings later. Joseph also allowed his 12th and 13th passed balls.
This may not have been Toole's least effective start of the year given that he pitched into the 4th inning, but the 7 R and perhaps the 8 H too established new season highs. His ERA is now over 4.00. Correa struck out all four batters and seems to be on a roll recently. Over his last five appearances, he has 2 H, 1 BB, 1 R, and 11 K in 6.2 IP.
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Tri-City 3-2
(rallying for two runs in the 9th inning)
Salem-Keizer: CF Jose Medina: 2 for 5, 2B
Salem-Keizer: 3B-1B Adam Duvall: 1 for 3, HR, HBP, 2 SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Taylor Rogers: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Duvall led off the 9th inning with his 2nd HR, tying the score. Medina had the Volcanoes' only multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .303.
In his fifth start, Rogers not only had his first start without a walk, but he also established new season highs with 9 H and 6 K. He also had a 10/1 GO/FO line to raise his GO/AO ratio above 2.50.
R: Giants defeated Cubs 9-8 (10 innings)
Scottsdale: Carlos Willoughby: 4 for 5, 3B, 2B, SO
Scottsdale: DH Brian Cutspec: 1 for 5, HR, 2 SO
Scottsdale: SP Armando Paniagua: 2.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K--2 WP
Scottsdale: RP Jake Shadle: 3.0 IP, 2 K
Willoughby's four hits raised his AVG to .333. Cutspec had his 1st HR with two outs in the top of the 10th inning.
Paniagua's fourth start was his shortest of the year. He more than doubled his ERA after he had yielded just 2 ER previously this year. Shadle finished the game with 3.0 perfect IP in the first multi-inning appearance of his young pro career.
DSL: Giants defeated Cubs2 5-4 (7 innings)
(completed early)
Dominican: 2B Cristian Paulino: 3 for 3
Dominican: SP Marvin Barrios: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Paulino (18.10 y.o.) had three of the Gigantes' six hits and raised his AVG to .287. Making his first pro start after four relief appearances, Barrios (17.9 y.o.) faced just three batters over the minimum in 6.0 scoreless IP. He has allowed just 1 ER through his first 18.0 IP for a 0.50 ERA. His peripheral stats are equally impressive with 11 H, 1 BB, and 16 K in 18.0 IP.