Highlights from the Giants' farm: Eric Hacker allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP, and Raynor Campbell homered and doubled among three hits.
AAA: Fresno defeated Iowa 8-5
(after leading 8-0 through five innings)
Fresno: RF Eugenio Velez: 1 for 5, HR, SO, SB
Fresno: LF Joe Borchard: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Fresno: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 3, HBP, 2 SB
Fresno: P Eric Hacker: 2 for 3
Iowa: 1B Micah Hoffpauir: 2 for 5, HR, SO
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K--1 HB
Velez and Borchard each had a two-run HR in the 5th inning--their 4th and 15th HRs, respectively. Bond, who reached base three times, and Hacker were two of four Grizzlies with two hits each. The Cubs' Hoffpauir homered for the second straight day.
Hacker seems to be both beginning and finishing the season strong. He allowed just 3 ER in April, but then had an ERA above 5.00 the next three months. Now he has allowed 1 ER or less in four of his last six starts.
AA: Richmond defeated Portland 5-4
(scoring all five runs in the bottom of the 9th inning)
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 0 for 2, 2 BB
Richmond: 1B Sharlon Schoop: 3 for 4, 2B
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Richmond: RP Jake Stevens: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 K--1 HB
Schoop had three of the Flying Squireels' seven hits, with his 6th double being their only XBH. His OPS remains below .700, though. Neal, who had walked only once in his previous eleven games, walked twice to be only other Squirrel to reach base twice.
Making his eighth start since being promoted to the upper minors, Westcott matched a season-high with 9 H. He has been too hittable over his last five starts with 37 H and just 15 K in 26.1 IP. Facing just one batter over the minimum in one of his longest appearances of the year, Stevens lowered his ERA to 2.22.
A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 3-2
(allowing all three runs in the 8th inning)
San Jose: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB, SO, PO, PB
San Jose: SP Jeremy Affeldt: 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 K--1 WP
San Jose: RP Justin Fitzgerald: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Monell, who had a red-hot July but then a cold first week in August, has heated back up with six XBHs over his last seven games.
Affeldt struck out three of seven batters in his second rehab appearance. Fitzgerald, the normal starter, had five scoreless innings before allowing three runs in the 8th inning, although the final run scored after he had departed the game.
A-: Augusta defeated Rome 4-2
Augusta: CF Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 4, 2B, SB
Augusta: 1B Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4
Salem-Keizer: SP Kelvin Marte: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Stromsmore, the 26-year-old playing his fifth Sally League game (which seems to coincide roughly with the trade of Evan Crawford), and Joseph both had two hits.
Making just his second start of the year, Marte pitched five scoreless innings.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Spokane 11-8
(after leading 4-3 through six innings)
Salem-Keizer: LF Raynor Campbell: 3 for 5, HR, 2B, SO, E
Spokane: SS Jurickson Profar: 0 for 4, SH, 3 SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Edward Concepcion: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 3 WP
Salem-Keizer: RP Aaron King: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Addison Proszek: 2.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 K--1 WP
Cambell's three hits including his 3rd HR and 10th double, lifting his SLG above .400. The Rangers' seventeen-year-old Profar had the oh-fer with the hat trick.
The 21-year-old Concepcion continues to struggle controlling the strike zone. He has issued four walks in five of his last seven starts and has a BB/IP ratio of nearly 0.75. That's still appreciably better than King's walk ratio, as he has 19 BB in 11.0 IP in his eleven NWL appearances. Proszek had his least effective appearance of the year.
R: Scottsdale had its regularly scheduled off-day (every fifth day)
DSL: The Gigantes' had their usual Sunday off-day
(their final Sunday off-day with their regular season concluding on Saturday)