Monday highlights from the Giants' farm: Devin Harris homered twice among four XBHs, and Johnny Monell homered and doubled. Also notable, Doug Mathis allowed just a couple unearned runs in 6.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno lost to Reno 6-2
(after the score was tied 2-2 through six innings)
Fresno: RF Brandon Belt: 0 for 2, 2 BB, 2 SO
Fresno: CF Tyler Graham: 2 for 4, 2B
Reno: CF Colin Cowgill: 3 for 4, 2B, BB
Fresno: SP Doug Mathis: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Fresno: RP Henry Sosa: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HB
Fresno: RP Marc Kroon: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Graham had the Grizzlies' only multi-hit line. With a single and his 2nd double, he raised his AVG to .278. Belt was the only other Grizzly to reach base twice. Is he perhaps being too patient at the plate? He either walked or struck out in all four plate appearances tonight. The Diamondbacks' Cowgill had another strong game against the Grizzlies. After homering and tripling yesterday, he reached base four times tonight.
Mathis had a strong start, not allowing an earned run, striking out nearly one third of his 24 batters, and posting an 8/1 GO/FO line. He got his ERA below 3.50. Sosa had another rough appearance. His BAA is now .400. Kroon worked a perfect 9th inning.
AA: Richmond defeated Trenton 9-6
(rallying for six runs in the 6th inning)
Richmond: 2B Charlie Culberson: 2 for 4, 3B, BB, SO
Richmond: DH Roger Kieschnick: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 SO
Richmond: CF Juan Perez: 2 for 3, HB
Richmond: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, SO
Richmond: SP Thomas Vessella: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Richmond: RP David Quinowski: 4.1 IP, 3 K
Trenton: SP Manny Banuelos: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Four Flying Squirrels had multi-hit performances. Monell had his 1st HR and 4th double. Kieschnick's three hits raised his AVG above the Mendoza line. Culberson and Perez also reached base three times.
Making just his second start among three appearances, Vessella pitched less than four innings. Quinwoski had perhaps the longest appearance of his career, at least in terms of IP, with 4.1 perfect IP. Yankees top five prospect Banuelos made his third start. It was his longest start with 4.2 IP but also included his first earned runs this year.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 6-4
(after scoring five runs in the first two innings)
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 0 for 5, 4 SO
San Jose: 3B Chris Dominguez: 1 for 4, HR, SO
San Jose: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 3, BB
San Jose: SP Kelvin Marte: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--2 HB
San Jose: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Modesto: SP Tyler Matzek: 2.0+ IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 8 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Dominguez had his 5th HR. Sanchez had the Giants' only multi-hit line, raising his AVG to an even .300. Brown had presumably the worst game of his pro career, with the oh-fer that included the sombrero. He had previously struck out just once in his previous five games and had had just 8 SO in 72 AB before tonight. The oh-fer also snapped his hit streak which extended back at least nine games.
Although he did allow three unearned runs, Marte got his ERA below 1.00 by allowing no earned runs. He had a 9/2 GO/FO line. Hembree struck out three of his five batters as he was credited with his 3rd save. Matzek, the Rockies' top prospect, struggled with his control. He had a BB/IP ratio last year just under 0.70, but I still suspect that by walking eight of eighteen batters, he established a new career high.
A-: Giants defeated Hickory 9-3
Augusta: RF Ryan Scoma: 2 for 4, 2B, BB, PO
Augusta: DH Devin Harris: 4 for 5, 2 HR, 2 2B
Augusta: SP Justin Schumer: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Harris had a huge game, with his 4th and 5th HRs and his 5th and 6th doubles. For the season, last summer's 48th round selection is now hitting .279/.333/.623 through 61 AB. Scoma also had a very good game, reaching base three times and throwing out a runner at the plate.
Making his fourth start, Schumer had his second longest start of the year, but he still came up one out shy of a quality start. Still, it's an improvement over his last start (5 ER in 5.0 IP).