Tuesday highlights from the Giants' farm: catchers Johnny Monell and Jackson Williams combined for 3 HRs and five hits. Also notable, Clayton Tanner allowed 2 ER in 6.2 IP.
AAA: Fresno lost to Tacoma 9-3(after trailing 8-1 through four innings)
Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 2 for 4, HR
Tacoma: 2B Dustin Ackley: 2 for 4, HBP, SO
Tacoma: CF Greg Halman: 2 for 5, HR, 3B, 2 SO
Fresno: SP Henry Sosa: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--2 HR
Fresno: RP Alex Hinshaw: 1.1 IP, 3 K
Williams, one of just two Grizzlies to reach base twice, had his 2nd HR. Ackley, whom the Mariners drafted second overall last year and has already been promoted to the PCL, reached base three times. Halman, who is not exactly noted as a singles hitter, had his 23rd HR, plus his 3rd triple. Despite a SO/AB ratio barely below 40%, the 22-year-old's SLG is nearly .600.
Returning to the rotation after five relief appearances, Sosa was bombed with season-highs 8 ER and 9 H. After 2 HRs in each of his last two appearances, he has yielded 9 HR in 70.2 IP this year. Hinshaw struck out two of his five batters.
AA: Richmond lost to Reading 9-4
(completing the previous day's suspended game)
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 3 for 4, 2B
Richmond: C Aaron Lowenstein: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Reading: 1B Matthew Rizzotti: 5 for 5, 2 2B
Richmond: SP David Mixon: 4.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Richmond: RP Skyler Stromsmoe: 1.0 IP
Gillaspie's three hits raised his AVG above .280. Lowenstein had his first two hits in his fourth game in the upper minors. Rizzotti, the Phillies' sixth rounder three years ago, had five hits to raise his AVG to .363. The 24-year-old continues to have a break-out season with an OPS over 1.000.
Mixon's perhaps poorest start of the season led to Stromsmoe making his pro pitching debut. He pitched a perfect top of the 9th inning.
AA: Richmond defeated Reading 6-2
Richmond: 2B Nick Noonan: 3 for 5
Richmond: SS Ryan Lormand: 3 for 5
Richmond: RF Thomas Neal: 3 for 4, BB, 2 SB
Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 WP, 1 BK
Richmond: RP Mitch Lively: 2.1 IP, 1 BB, 4 K
The first three hitters in the Flying Squirrels' lineup--Noonan, Lormand, and Neal--each had three hits. Neal, who also walked and had his 9th and 10th SBs, raised his AVG to .285, while Noonan and Lormand still have AVGs below .250.
Tanner made his ninth straight start with 3 ER or less. Plus in his last eight starts he has pitched into the 7th inning all but once, and in only one start has he allowed an unearned run. His ERA is now 3.14 through twenty starts. Lively struck out four of eight batters for his 2nd save.
A+: San Jose lost to Rancho Cucamonga: 4-3
(after leading 2-1 through five innings)
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 3 for 4, 2 HR
Rancho Cucamonga: CF Mike Trout: 0 for 2, 2 BB, SB
San Jose: SP Kyle Woodruff: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Monell had the Giants' only multi-hit line as his 7th and 8th HRs this month drove in all three of the Giants' runs. Trout, the Angels' first round pick last year who has emerged as one of the very top prospects in the minors this year, had his 1st SB in the Cal League in his thirteenth game since his promotion. He had 45 SB in the Midwest League and at least at one point ranked second in all the minors in that category.
The 24-year-old Woodruff made his second start, this time a quality start.
A-: Augusta hosting Hickory cancelled due to rain
ssA: Salem-Keizer had a scheduled off-day
(Their next scheduled off-day is August 10.)
Volcanoes on NWL leaderboards:
--Hitters:
AVG: Scoma 9th
OBP: Quintana 8th
SLG: (none--Scoma leads team at .452)
HR: (none--Burg, Shriner, and Medina lead team with 3)
RBI: Scoma 7th
SB: (none--Lofton leads team with 8)
--Pitchers:
ERA: Kaufman 9th
WHIP: (none--Rogers leads team at 1.39)
K: Escobar 6th
IP: Rogers 4th
R: Giants defeated Angels 8-1
Scottsdale: C Daniel Burkhart: 2 for 4, 3B, 2B, BB, SO
Scottsdale: RF Sundrendy Windster: 3 for 4, HR, 2B, BB
Scottsdale: SP Waldis Joaquin: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HB
Scottsdale: RP Reese Mcculley: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Burkhart tripled, doubled, and walked in his pro debut. Windster also had two XBH, including his 4th HR, and a walk.
Pitching on two days rest, Joaquin made his second rehab appearance. Mcculley struck out all three batters in his pro debut.
DSL: No results reported for Giants at Cubs2