Independence Day highlights from the Giants' farm: Brandon Belt had four hits, including his first upper minors HR; Tommy Joseph homered has part of his three-hit night; Johnny Monell and Jose Flores homered as two of seven San Jose Giants with multi-hit lines; and Felix Romero and Oliver Odle each allowed just 1 ER (in 6.2 IP and 7.0 IP, respectively).
AAA: Fresno defeated Colorado Springs 5-4
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 4, SO
Fresno: SS Ryan Rohlinger: 3 for 4, 2B
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Fresno: RP Osiris Matos: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Rohlinger and Pill combined for five of the Grizzlies' eight hits, raising their respective AVGs to .342 and .300.
Hacker didn't quite have a quality start, but this was his longest start in his last nine starts and the most strikeouts he had had in an even longer period of time. Matos had 2 K in 1.1 perfect IP.
AA: Richmond defeated Erie 4-3 (10 innings)
Richmond: 1B Brandon Belt: 4 for 5, HR, SO
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillsapie: 2 for 4, SH
Richmond: SP Felix Romero: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Richomd: RP Ronnie Ray: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Richmond: RP Rafael Cova: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Belt had four hits in his second Eastern League game, including his 11th HR this year. Gillaspie was one of two other Flying Squirrels with a multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .256.
Romero is on a bit of a mini-roll since joining the rotation in early June. In five starts, he has a 2.93 ERA after an ERA of 5.59 in eleven relief appearances. Ray had 2 K in 1.1 perfect IP. Cova retired just two of seven batters for his second blown save, but his ERA remains just 1.74.
A+: San Jose defeated Bakersfield 13-1
San Jose: LF Wendell Fairley: 4 for 6, 2 2B
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, HR, BB
San Jose: DH Jose Flores: 3 for 5, HR
San Jose: SP Oliver Odle: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP, 3 K
The first seven Giants in the batting lineup allo had multi-hit lines. Fairley, batting second in the lineup, which is the highest he has been all season, had four hits, including just his 5th and 6th doubles. Monell and Flores added their 6th and 3rd HRs as two of three Giants to go deep.
Odle had his second straight strong start, improving his W-L record to 9-2 and getting his ERA below 4.00. Stoffel struck out all three batters he faced. He now has 36 K (vs 11 BB) in 29.1 IP.
A-: Augusta lost to Lexington 6-5
Augusta: CF Evan Crawford: 3 for 5, CS
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 3 for 4, HR, HB
Augusta: SP Brian Irving: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K--1 HR
Joseph and Crawford each had three hits, including Joseph's 8th HR, raising their AVGs to .226 and .262.
Irving made his longest start among four starts (and 22 appearances overall) but took the loss in large part due to three unearned runs. The 5 K matched a season high, but the 6 H set a new season high.
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Vancouver 14-4
Salem-Keizer: C-RF Jesse Shriner: 2 for 3, 2 BB
Salem-Keizer: LF Carlos Quintana: 2 for 5, HR, SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Edward Concepcion: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Aaron King: 0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 4 BB
One of five Volcanoes with two hits, Quintana, who was hitting last in their lineup, had his 2nd HR of the year. Shriner reached base four times.
Concepcion's fourth start was easily his best of the year, including a 12/3 GO/FO line. King followed Concepcion's 6.0 scoreless IP with about as bad a relief appearance as a pitcher can have as he walked all four batters he faced. He now has 7 BB in 5.0 IP in his six relief appearances with the Volcanoes.
R: Giants defeated Mariners 4-2
Scottsdale: C Joseph Staley: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
Scottsdale: CF Johnathan DeBerry: 3 for 4, SO
Scottsdale: SP Armando Paniagua: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Scottsdale: RP Danny Otero: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Playing in his eighth pro game, Staley had his 2nd HR and 2nd double. After going hitless through his first five pro games, DeBerry got three hits in his sixth game.
Paniagua had his second straight start with 0 ER in 5.0 IP, giving him a 1.29 ERA through three starts. Otero worked a perfect 7th inning in his first appearance in a year. He had a 1.15 ERA in 39 Eastern League appearances a year ago before getting hurt.
DSL: The Gigantes had their usual Sunday off-day