Highlight from the Giants' farm: Matt Yourkin allowed 1 ER in 7.0 IP. Also notable, Francisco Peguero had another three-hit night.
AAA: Fresno defeated Tacoma 2-1
Fresno: SS Manny Burriss: 2 for 3, 2B, HBP, SH, SB
Fresno: DH Joe Borchard: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Fresno: RF Ben Copeland: 2 for 3, BB
Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Tacoma: SP Michael Pineda: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Burriss and Copeland, two of the three Grizzlies with two hits, each reached base three times. Borchard had his 11th HR.
Tonight Yourkin, who has seemingly emerged as the ace of the Grizzlies' rotation, locked horns with the Mariners' Pineda, whom Baseball America's Jim Callis suggests is among the top five pitching prospects currently in the minors. Both pitchers allowed just 1 ER before the game was ultimately decided in extra innings.
AA: Richmond lost to Reading 15-7 (11 innings)
(allowing eight runs in the 11th inning after allowing a tying run in the 9th inning)
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 3 for 6, SO
Richmond: 1B Brandon Belt: 1 for 4, 3B, 2 BB, IBB, SO
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Richmond: RP Michael Main: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 WP
Neal and Belt both reached base three times for the Flying Squirrels.
Westcott's fifth start since his promotion to the upper minors was his least effective start, but his ERA remains below 4.00 since his promotion. Main was the seventh Squirrels' reliever to appear in the game and the second of three relievers in the disastrous 11th inning. He retired just one of six batters faced.
A+: San Jose lost to Rancho Cucamonga 6-5
San Jose: RF Francisco Peguero: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 SO
San Jose: DH Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, 3B, 2B, BB, SO
San Jose: 1B Michael Sandoval: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 SO
San Jose: SP Kyle Nicholson: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Peguero and Sandoval each had three hits for the Giants, raising their respective AVGs to .318 and .328. Monell also reached base three times as he remains red hot with the bat. He had his 3rd triple and 17th double.
Nicholson had his fifth straight start with 4+ ER. At this point, is he in danger of losing his spot in the rotation, or perhaps even his place in organized baseball?
A-: Augusta had a scheduled off-day
(Their next scheduled off-day is August 11.)
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Yakima 6-4
(rallying for four runs in the 8th inning)
Salem-Keizer: 2B Adam Duvall: 2 for 4
Salem-Keizer: SP Shane Kaufman: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K--1 HR, 1 BK
Salem-Keizer: RP Matt Graham: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
With the Volcanoes' only multi-hit line, Duvall raised his AVG to .311.
Kaufmann allowed a season-high 3 ER in his second shortest start of the season (among six starts and nine appearances in the NWL). At least statistically, Graham had perhaps the best outing of his young pro career.
R: Giants defeated Reds 6-1
Scottsdale: C Joe Staley: 3 for 4, HR
Scottsdale: CF Chuckie Jones: 0 for 4, 4 SO
Scottsdale: SP Kendry Flores: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Scottsdale: RP Richard Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Staley had his 3rd HR among three hits, while Jones had the sombrero. Over his last ten games, Jones has struck out in over half his at bats (21 SO in 36 AB).
Flores' sixth start was not his longest start, but it does appear to be his most dominat start of the year. The 7 K in 4.0 IP raised his K/IP above 1.00. Hembree struck out two of his four batters in his second pro appearance.
DSL: Giants defeated Nationals 4-3
Dominican: LF Leondaro Fuentes: 3 for 4, 2B, SO
Dominican: SP Joan Gregorio: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Fuentes' (17.8 y.o.) three hits, including his 12th double, raised his AVG above .250. After perhaps his second best start of the year, Gregorio (18.6 y.o) has a 2.12 ERA through his first ten pro starts.