Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Gary Brown homered while reaching base four times, and Ryan Verdugo allowed just 1 ER in 6.0 IP. Also notable, Brandon Belt homered while reaching base twice in his first minor league game this year.
AAA: Fresno lost to Reno 9-2
(allowing six late insurance runs after trailing 3-2 through seven innings)
Fresno: LF Brandon Belt: 1 for 3, HR, BB, SO
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 4, E
Fresno: SP Shane Loux: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HB
Fresno: RP David Mixon: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Tucson: SP Micah Owings: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Belt's two-run HR in the 1st inning scored the Grizzlies' only runs. With two of the Grizzlies' five hits, Pill remains hot, batting .377.
Loux had his third quality start in four outings, but his W-L record dropped to 0-3. He had a 13/3 GO/FO line and now has a 3.76 ERA. Mixon had his least effective appearance of the season, continuing his scuffles. He has allowed at least one earned run in five of his seven appearances. Owings, who has returned to the Diamondbacks' organization which drafted him, has won all three of his starts. He has a 2.81 ERA.
AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 3-2 (11 innings)
(with the teams combining for three runs in the 11th inning)
Richmond: LF Justin Christian: 3 for 5, SB
Richmond: SP Ryan Verdugo: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Richmond: RP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 K
With three of the Flying Squirrels' seven hits, the 31-year-old Christain raised his AVG to .291. He has had multiple hits in three of his last four games.
Verdugo had another strong start. He has allowed just 3 ER in 16.1 IP in his first three starts. This was his first time pitching a full six innings. Making his sixth appearance, Quirarte did not allow a baserunner for the first time this year, getting his WHIP below 1.50.
A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 10-3
(adding five late insurance runs)
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 3 for 5, HR, HBP
San Jose: DH Nick Liles: 3 for 6, 2 2B, 2 SO
San Jose: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 5, 2 2B
Visalia: 1B Matt Davidson: 4 for 4, 2 2B, CS
San Jose: SP Jake Dunning: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Visalia: SP Tyler Skaggs: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 8 K--1 HR
Brown had his 1st pro HR while reaching base four times. With three hits apiece, he and Liles combined for nearly half of the Giants' thirteen hits. Both Liles and Sanchez and two doubles each. Davidson, whom Baseball America ranked as the Diamondbacks' #3 prospect, hit safely in all four of his plate appearances, improving his season line to .279/.333/.377 through 61 AB.
Making his fourth start, Dunning pitched into the 6th inning for the first time this year. His ERA remains over 5.50. Skaggs, whom Baseball America ranked as the Diamondbacks #2 prospect after they acquired him from the Angels as part of the Dan Haren trade, had his second straight start allowing 4 ER. He did strike out one third of his 24 batters, but his W-L record dropped to 0-3.
A-: Augusta lost to Delmarva 6-1
(allowing four insurance runs in the 8th inning)
Augusta: RF Rafael Rodriguez: 1 for 3, BB
Augusta: SS Ydwin Villegas: 1 for 3, BB, CS
Augusta: SP Taylor Rogers: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K--1 WP
Raf-Rod and Villegas reached base twice as they accounted for two of the GreenJackets' just three hits. Both entered the season ranked among the Giants' top 30 prospects, but their AVGs look pretty different right now at .293 and .159, respectively.
Rogers had perhaps his best start of the year. After having just 2 K in his first two starts combined, he had 8 K, striking out one third of his 24 batters. He also had a 9/2 GO/FO line. Still, his W-L record dropped to 0-3.