Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Eric Hacker had 7.0 scoreless IP, and David Mixon allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Colorado Springs 3-1
Fresno: RF Ben Copeland: 2 for 3, BB
Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Colorado Springs: 3B Eric Metcalf: 4 for 4
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Fresno: RP Joe Paterson: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Colorado Springs: SP Jhoulys Chacin: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
While every spot in the lineup had a hit, Copeland had the Grizzlies' only mutlit-hit line, lifting his AVG to .276. Williams' 3rd PCL HR was their only XBH. Metcalf, who saw time with the Rangers in 2007 and 2008, had four of the Rockies' affiliate's eight hits.
Hacker had 13.0 scoreless IP in his last two starts at home (with 6 ER in 4.2 IP at Reno sandwiched in between). In terms of ERA, July was his second best month of the season with a 4.19 ERA in six starts. Paterson struck out two of his three batters. Chacin, who entered the year ranked among the Rockies' top five prospects, retired just seven of the sixteen batters he faced. It was his first PCL starts since April after recently being optioned back to the minors.
AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 4-2
(after rallying for two runs in the 8th inning)
Richmond: 2B Nick Noonan: 2 for 4, SO
Richmond: 1B Brandon Belt: 2 for 4, 3B
Richmond: C Tyler LaTorre: 2 for 3, 2B
Richmond: SP David Mixon: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Richmond: RP Ronnie Ray: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Altoona: SP Jeff Locke: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Belt's 6th EL triple and LaTorre's 11th double were both of the Flying Squirrels' XBHs. Along with Noonan, they combined for six of the Squirrels' nine hits.
Mixon bounced back from his last start (7 ER in 4.2 IP) with another very solid start. He has had 2 ER or less in 6.0+ IP in seven of his last ten starts. His ERA has been under 4.00 in all four months this year. Ray pitched a perfect 8th inning for his first win. Locke, whom the Pirates acquired from the Braves as part of the Nate McLouth trade, has been one of the hotter pitchers recently. The 22-year-old has allowed just 7 ER over his four starts since being promoted to the upper minors, and he had 9 K in his previous start.
A+: San Jose defeated Inland Empire 8-6
(after leading 8-0 in the middle of the 6th inning)
San Jose: DH Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, HBP, SO, SB
San Jose: 1B Michael Sandoval: 2 for 5, HR, 2B
San Jose: LF Wendell Fairley: 3 for 4, 2B, SO
San Jose: SP Oliver Odle: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 WP
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 0.2 IP
Sandoval had his 3rd HR and 6th double. He has an impressive .333/.403/.571 line through 63 AB, although the 29-year-old is appreciably older than nearly all of his Cal League opponents. Fairley's three hits paced the Giants' eleven-hit attack. His AVG is now above .300, although it is a fairly empty AVG with a .711 OPS. After reaching base three more times, Monell finished July with a .459 OBP.
Odle had his first quality start since the beginning of the month on Independence Day. July was his least effective month of the season with an ERA close to 6.50. Stoffel got the final two outs for his 18th save.
A-: Augusta lost to Savannah 5-0
Augusta: DH Nick Liles: 2 for 4, 2B
Augusta: SP Brian Irving: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 WP
Liles' two hits, including his 18th double, were two of the GreenJackets' four hits. He was also the only GreenJacket in the lineup not to strike out.
Irving's eighth start was his shortest of the year. His ERA is now 4.71.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Yakima 11-3
Salem-Keizer: 2B Julio Izturis: 2 for 5, E
Salem-Keizer: SP Edward Concepcion: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Salem-Keizer: RP Matt Graham: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Izturis had the Volcanoes' only multi-hit line while also committing his 6th error.
Concepcion matched a season-high with 6 ER in his ninth start of the year. Graham allowed more than 1 ER for the first time in his six relief appearances.
R: Scottsdale had their regular off-day (every fifth day)
DSL: Giants defeated Mets 4-3
Dominican: LF Jorge Lopez: 2 for 4, 2B
Dominican: SP Keurin Feliz: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Lopez (18.10 y.o.) had his first two hits, including his 3rd double, in ten days, raising his AVG back above the Mendoza line. Feliz (19.11 y.o.) had perhaps hist best start of the year, improving his W-L record to 5-0 through seven starts. His stat line looks a little odd given how hard he appears to hit (.229 BAA) despite a K/IP ratio below 0.60.