Highlights from the Giants' farm: both Tommy Joseph and Joe Borchard homered and singled, and Brian Irving allowed only an unearned run in 6.2 IP. Also notable, Henry Sosa allowed just 1 ER in 5.1 IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Sacramento 3-2
(extending their division lead over Sacramento to two games with eleven games remaining)
Fresno: LF Joe Borchard: 2 for 4, HR
Fresno: C Steve Holm: 2 for 4, 2 SO
Fresno: SP Henry Sosa: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 BK
Fresno: RP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Borchard led off the 7th inning with a game-tying big fly, his 16th HR this year. Holm was one of two other Grizzlies with two hits.
Sosa had his sixth straight start pitching into the 6th inning. He has allowed just 1 HR in his last two starts after allowing 12 HRs in his previous six starts. Runzler appeared on back-to-back days for the first time in his rehab assignment, working a perfect 8th inning.
AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 9-6 in game 1
(completing a game suspended in the 4th inning on July 12)
Richmond: SS Brad Boyer: 2 for 3, 2B, GiDP
Richmond: RF Clay Timpner: 3 for 5, 2B
Richmond: RP Adrian Martin: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 BB
Richmond: RP Andy Sisco: 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Timpner finished the game with three hits. Boyer played only the portion of the game played today, getting two hits.
Picking up the game from where it was suspended, Martin and Sisco provided 4.2 scoreless IP.
AA: Richmond lost to Altoona 5-1 (7 innings) in game 2
Richmond: SS Brad Boyer: 1 for 3, 2B
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 IBB, 1 WP
Richmond: RP David Quinowski: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR
No one reached base twice for the Flying Squirrels. Boyer's 5th double was their only XBH.
Officially, Westcott ended up starting both ends of this doubleheader. After he allowed 5 ER in 3.1 IP back in July, today he allowed just 2 ER in 5.0 IP. Statistically, this was his best start in over a month. He has a 5.40 ERA in eleven starts since his promotion to the upper minors.
A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 3-2
San Jose: 3B Drew Biery: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
San Jose: SS Ehire Adrianza: 1 for 4, HR
San Jose: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
San Jose: RP Ryan Verdugo: 1.2 IP, 3 K
San Jose: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Adrianza plated both of the Giants' runs with his 3rd HR. Biery reached base twice, including once via his 13th double. He has hit just .220 since mid-June.
Fitzgerald had less than a quality start, dropping his W-L record to 9-6. After a 3.18 ERA in his first dozen starts, he has had a 4.17 ERA over next dozen starts. Verdugo had 3 K in 1.2 perfect IP. Stoffel pitched a scoreless 9th inning despite retiring just three of six batters.
A-: Augusta defeated West Virginia 18-1
(after scoring eight runs in the 2nd inning)
Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 4 for 6, 2B
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 6, HR
Augusta: RF Ryan Lollis: 4 for 6
Augusta: SP Brian Irving: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 WP, 1 E
In the 2nd inning, Joseph connected for his 16th HR. Both corner outfielders--Liles and Lollis--had four hits each. Both hitters have AVGs above .300.
Irving had one of his best starts of the year, lowering his ERA to 4.50.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Vancouver 7-2
Salem-Keizer: 3B John Eshleman: 1 for 3, BB, E
Salem-Keizer: SP Edward Concepcion: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Addison Proszek: 2.1 IP, 1 K
Eshleman was the lone Volcano to reach base twice.
Concepcion continues to struggle with his control. Even though most of tonight's damage was "unearned," his ERA remains well above 6.00. Proszek bounced back from his three previous appearances (16 R in 4.0 IP) with 2.1 perfect IP.
R: Giants lost to Athletics 8-3
Scottsdale: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 4, 2B
Scottsdale: C Jose Staley: 2 for 3, 2B, HBP, SO
Scottsdale: SP Kendry Flores: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--2 BK
Scottsdale: RP Ryan Bean: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Staley was the only rookie Giant to reach base multiple times. He had his 9th double, while Brown, the Giants first round pick this year, had his first XBH as a pro as he played in his third pro game.
Flores had an odd line. He struck out one third of his eighteen batters, but more than that got base hits. The remaining five batters either grounded out or flied out. Bean struck out all three batters he faced. He has 21 K through his first 17.0 IP.
DSL: The Gigantes begin their playoff series tomorrow