Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Jesus Guzman homered twice, Charlie Culberson and Joel Weeks both homered while reaching base at least three times each, and Clayton Tanner pitching into the 8th inning allowing just 2 ER. Also notable, top prospect Zach Wheeler had 3 K in 1.0 scoreless IP.
AAA: Fresno lost at Las Vegas 7-4
Fresno: 2B Manny Burriss: 3 for 5
Fresno: LF Jesus Guzman: 2 for 3, 2 HR, BB, SO
Las Vegas: DH J.P. Arencibia: 1 for 3, HR, BB
Fresno: SP Daryl Maday: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--2 HR
Las Vegas: SP Jeremy Accardo: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Guzmand had his 11th and 12th HRs of the year. With three singles, Burriss had the Grizzlies' other multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .286. The Blue Jays' Arencibia had yet another big fly against the Grizzlies, this time connecting for his 27th HR to lead off the 4th inning.
Maday yielded 6 ER in his third PCL start, although that actually lowered his ERA, which remains above 10.00. The ex-Giant Accardo got his 16th save. He has spent most of the last three season in the minors since the Giants traded him four years ago.
AA: Richmond defeated Bowie 5-2
Richmond: 1B Brandon Belt: 2 for 4
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HB
Richmond: RP Mitch Lively: 1.2 IP, 2 K
The Flying Squirrels' two corner infielders--Belt and Gillaspie--were two of their three hitters with two hits each, raising their respective AVGs to .417 and .272.
Tanner had another effective start, including a 10/7 GO/FO line, lowering his ERA to 3.30. Lively got just the 3rd save of his pro career retiring all four batters he faced while getting five outs.
A+: San Jose defeated Lancaster 7-5
San Jose: RF Francisco Peguero: 3 for 4, BB, IBB, SB, CS
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4, HR, BB, IBB, SB
San Jose: 3B Joel Weeks: 2 for 3, HR, BB
San Jose: SP Kyle Nicholson: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 5 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K--3 HR
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Lancaster: SP Ross Seaton: 3.0+ IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Culberson had his 14th HR while reaching base four times. Peguero also reached base four times, with his three singles raising his AVG to .304. He now has a 33/13 SB/CS line. Weeks had his 3rd HR while reaching base three times.
How much difference a year can make. A year ago when Augusta had a four-game series at Lexington, both Nicholson and Seaton, who entered the year ranked among the Astros' top ten prospects, pitched complete game shutouts. This year in a different league, they combined to give up 11 in 9.1 IP. Both have ERAs above 6.00 this year. Stoffel pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 15th save, despite allowing two of four batters to reach base.
A-: Augusta lost at Charleston 3-2
Augusta: RF Daniel Cook: 2 for 3
Charleston: CF Slade Heatcott: 2 for 4, BB, SO, SB, CS
Augusta: SP Brian Irving: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HR
Augusta: RP Zach Wheeler: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
With two singles, Cook was the only GreenJacket to reach base twice. Heathcott, the Yankees' first rounder last year, had another solid game.
With a WHIP of 2.00 in his sixth start, Irving took the loss. Wheeler struck out three of four batters in his second relief appearance since the Futures Game.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Boise 10-3
Salem-Keizer: CF Chris Lofton: 2 for 3, GiDP
Salem-Keizer: 1B Carlos Quintana: 2 for 3, BB, SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Shane Kaufman: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Mario Rodriguez: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 WP
Lofton, the Giants' ninth rounder this year, and Quintana each had two hits for the Volcanoes, raising their respective AVGs to .271 and .293.
Kaufman's fourth start was his shortest. His ERA rose above 3.00. The 21-year-old Rodriguez provided long relief. Five of his nine appearances have been at least 3.0 IP.
R: Giants lost to Reds 7-5
Scottsdale: LF Jose De La Cruz: 4 for 4, HR, 2B, SB
Scottsdale: SP Lorenzo Mendoza: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Scottsdale: RP Chris Wilson: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Scottsdale: RP Reinier Roibal: 0.2 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
De La Cruz, the 19-year-old in his first AZL season, had the best game of his pr career. He had his first HR in two years and also doubled, singled twice, and stole a base.
Mendoza, who allowed more than 1 ER just once in his previous five starts, had his least effective start of the year. Wilson struck out all three batters in his second relief appearace as he returns from injury. Roibal, the 21-year-old Cuban, walked two of four batters in his pro debut.
DSL: The Gigantes had an off-day