Highlight from the Giants' farm: Nick Noonan had five hits.
AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 5-1
Fresno: 2B Brock Bond: 3 for 5
Colorado Springs: 1B Brad Eldred: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, 2 SO
Fresno: SP Henry Sosa: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--2 HR
Bond, who hit just .193 in July (11 for 57), started off August with a three-hit game, raising his AVG back to .287. Eldred, who began the week in the majors with the Rockies, had his 23rd HR and 18th double in the PCL this year.
Sosa allowed just 1 ER through five innings before allowing a couple runs in the 6th inning. He threw 83 pitches (55 strikes). He has allowed 2 HRs in each of his last three appearances after just 3 HRs previously this year.
AA: Altoona defeated Richmond 6-2
Richmond: 2B Nick Noonan: 5 for 5, SB
Richmond: 1B Sharlon Schoop: 3 for 5, SO
Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HB
Richmond: RP Mitch Lively: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Altoona: SP Bryan Morris: 5.0 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 WP
Noonan had perhaps his best game of the season. His five singles raised his AVG to .265. He and Schoop, who had three singles, accounted for half of the Flying Squirrels' sixteen hits (but just one XBH).
I'm not sure what to make of this start by Tanner. How often does a pitcher not give up an earned run but gives up unearned runs in three different innings? He also had 6 SB against him. Lively struck out three of his five batters. Morris, whom the Dodgers drafted in the first round four years ago (later in the same round they drafted Clayton Kershaw) and whom they subsequently included in the trade for Manny Ramirez, has re-emerged as one of the better pitching prospects this year, although he matched a season high with 10 H today.
A+: San Jose lost to Inland Empire 4-2
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, 2B
San Jose: SP Kyle Woodruff: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HR
Monell had the Giants' only multi-hit line, and his 18th double was their only XBH. Red hot, he has had multiple hits in five of his last six games.
Considering that this was just his third pro start, Woodruff's 7.0 IP is rather impressive. On the other hand, striking out just 1 of 28 batters is not a good indicator for success at higher levels. His GO/FO line was 11/8.
A-: Augusta lost to Savannah 2-1
Augusta: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 4, 2 SO
Augusta: SP Chris Heston: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--2 HB
Cavan was one of three GreenJackets with two hits, raising his AVG back above .280.
Heston once again pitched well, bouncing back from his last start (5 ER in 3.2 IP), but once again did not receive enough run support to claim a win. In ten starts since the end of May, he has a 1-6 W-L record despite a sub-3.00 ERA.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Yakima 6-4
Salem-Keizer: CF Chris Lofton: 2 for 4, HBP, SB
Salem-Keizer: 3B Kyle Mach: 2 for 3, BB
Salem-Keizer: SP Edwin Escobar: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Salem-Keizer: RP Stephen Harrold: 2.0 IP, 1 K
Mach reached base three times for the Volcanoes, but his OBP remains below .250 after 34 games. Lofton also had two hits as he also reached base three times, albeit with one more plate appearance than Mach.
In terms of earned runs, Escobar had his second worst start of the year allowing more than three earned runs for just the second time in nine starts. His ERA is 3.86. A high walk rate continues to be the main concern with his peripherals stats as he has walked at least three batters in six of his nine starts. Harrold had 2.0 scoreless IP to bring his ERA below 5.50 through nine NWL appearances.
R: Giants at Padres doubleheader postponed by rain
DSL: The Gigantes had their usual Sunday off-day