Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Both Chris Dominguez and Jeff Arnold had three hits. Also notable: top prospect Zack Wheeler had 8 K in 5.2 IP.
AAA: Fresno lost to Las Vegas 7-0
(after trailing 1-0 through six innings)
Fresno: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 1 for 2, SH
Fresno: DH Travis Ishikawa: 0 for 3, 3 SO
Fresno: SP Andrew Kown: 6.0+ IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Las Vegas: SP Mike MacDonald: 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Gillaspie's single was one of just two hits for the Grizzlies. Following the oh-fer with the hat trick, Ishikawa now has 5 H vs 11 SO in 28 AB.
Kown had a fine start through six innings but then did not retire any of the three batters he faced in the 7th inning, all of whom scored. MacDonald, who pitched for Richmond last year, was sensational facing some of his former teammates. He pitched the complete game shutout facing just two batters over the minimum.
AA: Richmond at Altoona was postponed by rain
(A makeup doubleheader is scheduled for August 23.)
A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 5-3
San Jose: SS Carter Jurica: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, HBP, SO
San Jose: 3B Chris Dominguez: 3 for 4, SB
San Jose: LF Wendell Fairley: 2 for 3, BB
San Jose: SP Zack Wheeler: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 HB, 1 WP
San Jose: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Dominguez and Fairley combined for five of the Giants' thirteen hits as they both reached base three times. They were also the only two Giants in the lineup not to strike out. Jurica also reached base three times, and his 2nd double was the Giants' only XBH.
Wheeler came up just shy of the quality start when he left the game with two outs and two runners on base (one of whom subsequently scored) in the 6th inning. He struck out one third of the 24 batters faced. Hembree pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 1st save.
A-: Augusta lost to West Virginia 8-5
(allowing multiple runs in each of the first three innings)
Augusta: LF Devin Harris: 1 for 3, HR, BB, SO
Augusta: C Jeff Arnold: 3 for 4, 2B
Augusta: SP Edwin Escobar: 3.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Augusta: RP Matt Graham: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Augusta: RP Jake Dunnington: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Arnold had three of the GreenJackets' ten hits, raising his AVG to .269. Harris had his 3rd HR in nine games, but his AVG remains well below the Mendoza line as he has just two singles this year.
Escobar has now had two very ineffective starts. He has yet to pitch an inning this year without allowing at least a couple runs. Graham provided fine long relief, retiring twelve of fourteen batters. Dunnington struck out two of his three batters in the 9th inning.