Sunday highlights from the Giants' farm: Juan Perez had five hits, Chris Heston had 7.0 shutout IP, and both Luke Anders and Adam Duvall homered.
AAA: Fresno lost to Memphis 10-2
(allowing seven runs in the 6th inning)
Fresno: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 1 for 3, 2 BB
Fresno: LF Brandon Belt: 0 for 2, 2 BB (1 IBB), SO
Fresno: C Chris Stewart: 0 for 1, 2 BB, HBP, SO
Memphis: SS Pete Kozma: 4 for 4, 2B, BB (IBB)
Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K--1 IBB, 1 WP
Fresno: RP Henry Sosa: 1.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB--1 HR, 1 HB
Memphis: SP P.J. Walters: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 BB, 2 K
Gillaspie had one of just two hits for the Grizzlies' as both he and Stewart reached base three times. Top prospect Belt also reached base twice, although that is not particularly remarkable for a corner outfielder. Kozma, the Cardinals' first round selection four years ago, had four hits as he reached base in all five plate appearances. His AVG remains just .220, though.
Perhaps the nearby Mississippi floodwaters made it tough to throw strikes today the two starting pitchers, Yourkin and Walters, combined to throw fewer than half their pitches for strikes (55 of 100 for Yourkin and 39 of 87 for Walters). Both pitchers had season-high walk totals. Sosa had a disastrous 7th inning that raised his ERA above 10.50. He didn't exactly pound the strike zone with 21 of 38 pitches for strikes.
AA: Richmond defeated Harrisburg 11-4
(after adding five insurance runs in the 8th inning)
Richmond: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 3, 2B, SO, SB
Richmond: SS Nick Noonan: 3 for 4, BB
Richmond: CF Juan Perez: 5 for 5, 3B, 2B, CS
Richmond: 1B Sharlon Schoop: 3 for 5, 2B, E
Richmond: SP Daryl Maday: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K--1 HB
Richmond: RP Danny Otero: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Richmond: RP Jason Stoffel: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K--1 HB
The Flying Squirrels' offense exploded for 22 hits as every position player in the starting lineup had at least two hits. They were led by Perez's five hits, including his 2nd triple and 9th double, which improved his season line to .270/.318/.365 through 137 AB. With three hits each, Culberson, Noonan and Schoop raised their respective AVGs to .293, .278, and .130. Schoop had previously been 0 for 18 this year.
Maday allowed a season-high 8 H in his shortest start of the year. His ERA rose to 3.77. Otero struck out two of his four batters. Stoffel snapped a string of five straight appearances allowing at least one earned run.
A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 2-0
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 3, HBP, 2 SO, SB
San Jose: 1B Luke Anders: 2 for 3, HR
San Jose: SP Chris Heston: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K--2 HB, 1 WP
San Jose: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Anders had his 6th HR as he had two of the Giants' six hits. Brown was one of two other Giants to reach base twice, with the single extending his hitting streak to ten games.
Heston had his most effective start of the year, setting a new season-high with 8 K, matching a season-high 7.0 IP, and not allowing a run for the second time in second starts. He improved his W-L record to 4-1 as he lowered his ERA to 2.76. Hembree got his 12th save.
A-: Augusta lost to Hickory 4-1
Augusta: 2B Carlos Willoughby: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
Augusta: 3B Adam Duvall: 1 for 3, HR, BB
Hickory: SS Jurickson Profar: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, E
Augusta: SP Austin Fleet: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Brett Bochy: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Duvall led off the 6th inning with his 8th HR. He has homered four times in his last seven games. He and Willoughby were the only two GreenJackets to reach base twice. The Rangers' 18-year-old Profar has a five-game hitting streak during which span he has had four doubles. His AVG is just .229 but over half his hits (12 of 22) have been XBHs, giving him a .438 SLG.
Fleet's general pattern this year of alternating effective starts and not-so-effective starts continues. This start fits in the latter category, putting his ERA back above 4.50. Bochy made his pro debut with 2.0 scoreless IP.