Monday highlights from the Giants' farm: Brandon Belt homered and doubled among four hits, and Jesus Guzman also had four hits with a couple XBHs. Also notable, Kelvin Marte began his start with 6.0 scoreless IP.
AAA: Fresno lost to Salt Lake 15-11
(allowing three plus runs in four of the first five innings)
Fresno: SS Ryan Rohlinger: 3 for 5, HBP, SO
Fresno: 3B Jesus Guzman: 4 for 6, 2 2B
Fresno: 1B Brandon Belt: 4 for 6, HR, 2B, SO, SB, E
Salt Lake: C Hank Conger: 4 for 6, HR, SO
Salt Lake: 1B Mark Trumbo: 3 for 5, 2 HR, BB, SO
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 3.2 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--2 HR
Fresno: RP Tony Pena Jr.: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER--1 HB
Fresno: RP Alex Hinshaw: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Dontrelle Willis: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Guzman and Belt each had four hits. After having just one hit in his first five pro games, Belt had four hits in his sixth pro game, including his 2nd PCL HR. Rohlinger singled three times as he also reached base three times. The Angels' Conger and Trumbo also reached base four times each as the combined for three HRs, including back-to-back HRs in the 1st inning, and four other hits. With Trumbo having 33 HRs, it is hard to explain how he has not gotten an opportunity in the majors following the injury to Kendry Morales. He has hit .362/.442/.655 for an OPS of nearly 1.100 since the all-star break?
Hacker had his least effective start since the all-star break. Both Pena and Hinshaw had their second straight appearances allowing 3 ER each. Willis pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
AA: Richmond lost to Erie 4-2
Richmond: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 0 for 2, BB, HBP
Richmond: RF Clay Timpner: 1 for 4, HR
Richmond: SP Jeff Stevens: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Richmond: RP Mitch Lively: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 K
Timpner had his 4th HR. Gillaspie was the lone Flying Squirrel to reach base twice. Timpner and Gillaspie were also the only two Squirrels in the lineup without a strikeout.
Stevens made his second straight start after 43 relief appearances to begin the season. Lively has now provided 7.1 scoreless IP in relief during Stevens' two starts.
A+: San Jose lost to Stockton 9-5
(allowing six runs in the 8th inning)
San Jose: DH Wendell Fairley: 1 for 4, HR
San Jose: LF James Simmons: 1 for 4, HR
Stockton: SS Grant Green: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO
San Jose: SP Andrew Romo: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--3 HB, 2 WP
San Jose: RP Ryan Verdugo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 2 K--2 WP
San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER
Fairley had his 1st HR this year, which was the 6th HR of his pro career over three seasons. It was a no doubt HR too into the Jackson Rancheria "Back Porch." Simmons added his 12th HR. Green, the Athletics' first rounder a year ago, had his 19th HR as a decisive, go-ahead, three-run HR in the 8th inning.
Romo had 5 K but also issued four free passes (1 BB plus 3 HB) as his third Cal League start lasted less than three innings. Verdugo also issued four free passes (4 BB) in his relief appearance. That more than doubled the 3 BB he had issued in eleven previous appearances this month. Quirarte allowed 5 ER to inflate his ERA to 3.90 and drop his W-L record to 2-9. If pitching is the key to the post-season, the Giants, who have the worst record in their division in the second half, do not appear poised to do well in the playoffs given the performance of their pitchers in the second half.
A-: Augusta lost to Lakewood 3-2
(allowing the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 9th inning)
Augusta: LF Nick Liles: 2 for 4, SO
Augusta: 2B Ryan Cavan: 1 for 4, HR
Lakewood: 1B Jonathan Singleton: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Augusta: SP Kelvin Marte: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--2 PO
With two singles, Liles was the lone GreenJacket to reach base twice. Cavan led off the 4th inning with his 16th HR, just two behind teammate Chris Dominguez for the team lead. Singleton, who has emerged as perhaps an elite prospect after the Phillies drafted him in the eighth round last year, had a double to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He has hit .297/.397/.489 through 360 AB in his pro debut, although he has cooled off appreciably in July and August after his sizzling debut in May through June.
Marte's fourth start this year was his longest, but he faltered with 2 ER in the 7th inning after beginning with 6.0 scoreless IP.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Vancouver 6-5
Salem-Keizer: 2B Julio Izturis: 2 for 4, SO, E
Salem-Keizer: DH Mike Murray: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Vancouver: 1B Antwoin Kirby-Jones: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, SO, E
Salem-Keizer: SP Edwin Escobar: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 WP, 1 E
Murray had his 5th HR. Izturis was one of two Volcanoes with two hits but also committed his 13th error. Kirby-Jones, the Athletics' ninth rounder this year, had his 13th HR and 10th double but also his 12th error.
The 18-year-old Escobar continues to struggle with his control. He has 21 BB in 28.1 IP over his last seven starts.
R: Giants lost to Reds 6-5
(in the AZL playoff semifinals after both teams scored four runs in 8th inning)
Scottsdale: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 5, 3B
Scottsdale: 2B Carlos Willoughby: 1 for 3, 2 BB, GiDP
Scottsdale: SP Austin Fleet: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--2 HB, 1 WP
Scottsdale: RP Mike Kickham: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 IBB
Scottsdale: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Brown had the rookie Giants' only multi-hit line, including his first pro triple. Willoughby reached base three times.
Fleet had a fairly unremarkable start as he was essentially outmatched by the Reds' starter. Kickham, the Giants' sixth rounder this year, was charged with 3 ER in the 8th inning. Hembree struck out three of four batters in the 9th inning. With the AZL season completed, perhaps a couple of these pitchers will join the Volcanoes for the six games remaining on their schedule.
DSL: Giants' defeated Reds 7-0
(winning game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series)
Dominican: DH Luis Vasquez: 3 for 4, 2B
Dominican: SP Joan Gregorio: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--2 WP
Vasquez (19.5 y.o.), who had had .281 AVG in his second DSL campaign, had three of the Gigantes' eleven hits. The tall, lanky (listed as 6'7", 180 lb) Gregorio (18.7 y.o.) had his second straight start with 7.0 scoreless IP. He had a 2.80 ERA in fourteen starts in his first DSL season.