Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Eric Surkamp and Josh Banks each allowed just 1 ER in 7.0+ IP; and Brad Eldred, Adam Duvall, and Raynor Campbell each homered as part of multi-hit performances.
AAA: Fresno defeated New Orleans 6-2Fresno: 1B Brandon Belt: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO, E
Fresno: RF Brad Eldred: 2 for 4, HR
New Orleans: 3B Matt Dominguez: 2 for 4
Fresno: SP Josh Banks: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Fresno: RP Santiago Casilla: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Belt and Eldred both had their 5th HRs of the year. Dominguez, the Marlins' top prospect, singled twice in his triple-A debut.
Banks had his longest start of the year. He threw just 88 pitches (61 strikes) in 7.0 IP and had a 10/3 GO/FO line. His ERA remains above 5.50, though. Casilla made his fourth rehab appearance, throwing 12 of 23 pitches for strikes.
AA: Richmond lost to Bowie 3-2 (16 innings)
(with each team scoring a run in the 10th inning)
Richmond: SS Nick Noonan: 2 for 6, 2B, BB
Richmond: DH-LF Justin Christian: 2 for 5, 2 BB (1 IBB), SO
Richmond: SP Eric Surkamp: 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 PO
Richmond: RP Ronnie Ray: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Bowie: SP Wynn Pelzer: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 WP
Noonan and Christian had four of the Flying Squirrels' nine hits and three of their four walks. Noonan's season line is now .264/.347/.391 through 110 AB--a definite improvement over his .237/.280/.304 performance last year in the same league.
Surkamp made his longest start of the year, pitching into the 8th inning for the first time. He improved his ERA to 1.76. Ray's impressive season out of the bullpen continues as he faced the minimum twelve batters in 4.0 scoreless IP, getting his ERA just below 1.00. Pelzer, one of the Orioles' top ten prospects after they acquired him in the Miguel Tejada deal a couple years ago, also had a fine start. Both Surkamp and Pelzer threw just over 100 pitches, but Surkamp managed to pitched a couple innings longer.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 9-2
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 4, 3B, BB, SO, 2 SB
San Jose: SS Brandon Crawford: 0 for 5, 4 SO
San Jose: 2B Ryan Cavan: 3 for 5, 2B
San Jose: SP David Mixon: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--2 HB
San Jose: RP Chuck Lofgren: 2.0 IP, 3 K
Cavan had three of the Giants' eleven hits, raising his AVG to .274. Brown also reached base three times. He had his 3rd triple and his 24th and 25th SBs. Crawford had the oh-fer with the sombrero.
Mixon pitched very effectively in his second start start of the year. His performance included a 10/5 GO/FO line. Lofgren struck out half of his six batters.
A-: Augusta lost to Greenville 6-5
Augusta: 3B Adam Duvall: 2 for 6, HR, SO, 2 E
Augusta: 1B Ryan Scoma: 2 for 5, HR, SO
Augusta: CF Raynor Campbell: 1 for 4, HR, HBP, 2 SO
Augusta: SP Seth Rosin: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Augusta: RP Gaspar Santiago: 2.0 IP, 3 K
Augusta: RP Jacob Dunnington: 3.0 IP, 5 K
Augusta: RP Andrew Bowlin: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Duvall, Campbell, and Scoma had their 10th, 5th, and 3rd HRs, respectively, with each homering off the Drive's starting pitcher. Duvall also made his 12th and 13th errors.
Rosin had his second shortest start of the year. In relief, Santiago, Dunnington, and Bowlin were dominant, striking out 10 of 23 batters faced. The only two batters to reach base against them both reached on errors. All three relievers have ERAs close to 3.50.