Highlight from the Giants' farm: Tommy Joseph doubled twice among three hits.
AAA: Fresno lost to Iowa 5-3
Fresno: C Steve Holm: 2 for 4
Iowa: RF Brad Snyder: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, 2 SO
Fresno: SP Henry Sosa: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--3 HR
Iowa: SP Jeff Samardzija: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
With two of the Grizzlies' six hits, Holm had their only multi-hit line. Hitting .240/.352/.385 in 192 AB this year, might he be the Giants' third-string catcher in September, or might that distinction fall to his Fresno teammate Jackson Williams? Snyder, the former top 100 prospect for the Indians who is now in the Cubs organization and who is the older brother of former Giants' farmhand Ben Snyder, had his 20th HR and 29th double.
Sosa's recent proclivity to the gopher ball got him once again. He has yielded 12 HR in 29.0 IP over his last six appearances (five starts). In eight appearances since the all-star break, his ERA is nearly 6.00. He was outpitched by the Cubs' Samardzija, who has been on a roll recently, with an ERA of 2.93 over his last seven starts.
AA: Richmond had its final scheduled off-day this year
(They currently have a 59-60 W-L record.)
A+: San Jose had its final scheduled off-day this year
(After winning the first half title, their W-L record is 20-29 in the second half.)
A-: Augusta defeated Rome 8-7
(after leading 2-1 through six innings)
Augusta: DH Tommy Joseph: 3 for 5, 2 2B
Augusta: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Augusta: SP Brian Irving: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Augusta: RP Jose Casilla: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Joseph and Sanchez combined for five of the GreenJackets' thirteen hits as they each reached base three times. They raised their respective AVGs to .244 and .284.
Irving followed up his best start of the year (0 ER in 7.0 IP) with another very good effort until he was tagged for three runs in his final inning. His ERA crept upwards to 4.38. Casilla allowed just his second earned run in the past three months.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Spokane 12-3
Salem-Keizer: LF Ryan Scoma: 2 for 4, HR, SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Edwin Escobar: 3.0+ IP, 11 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--2 HR
Scoma, the only Volcano to reach base safely twice as he had his fourth straight-multi-hit game, had his 3rd HR. He entered the evening hitting .326/.387/.435 through 193 AB.
Anticipating this start this morning, I thought Escobar may be the top prospect on the Volcanoes roster. But then he allowed a season-high 8 ER tonight, ballooning his ERA by more than a full run to 5.26. He did not retire any of the seven batters he faced in the 4th inning.
R: Giants defeated AthleticXXXXs 3-2
Scottsdale: RF Rafael Rodriguez: 2 for 4, CS
Scottsdale: CF Chuckie Jones: 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, SB
Scottsdale: SP Kendry Flores: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Scottsdale: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Raf-Rod had two of the rookie Giants' seven hits, raising his AVG to .280. Jones reached base three times. It was also his first game without a strikeout in ten days.
Making his eight starth among ten appearances, Flores had his longest appearance of the year. With just 1 ER, he got his ERA below 4.00. Striking out three of five batters, Hembree managed to raise his K/IP above 2.00 (15 K in 7.0 IP). He has received his first pro save.
DSL: Giants defeated Yankees1 15-1 (eight innings--completed early)
Dominican: 2B Cesar Soto: 3 for 5, 2B, SO
Dominican: SP Luis Angeles: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HB
Soto (19.4 y.o.) had three hits, including just his third XBH in 155 AB, to raise his AVG to .226. Angeles (20.8 y.o.) has allowed 1 ER or less in seven of his last eight starts. He has a sub-2.00 ERA.