Saturday highlights from the Giants farm: Chris Heston and Shawn Sanford combined to allow just an unearned in their two starts, and Adam Duvall homered while reaching base three times.
AAA: Fresno lost to New Orleans 4-2(after trailing 4-0 through six innings)
Fresno: LF Brandon Belt: 0 for 4, 2 SO
Fresno: 1B Travis Ishikawa: 0 for 1, 3 BB, SO
Fresno: C Chris Stewart: 2 for 3, 2 2B, HBP, SB, PB
New Orleans: 3B Matt Dominguez: 2 for 4, HR, SO
Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Geno Espineli: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Fresno: RP Santiago Casilla: 1.0 IP
Stewart's 4th and 5th doubles were two of the Grizzlies' four hits. Ishikawa reached base three times, raising his OBP to .384. Belt had the rare game in which he did not reach base, dropping his OBP below .500. Dominguez, the Marlins' top prospect, had his 1st HR of the year. An injury at the end of spring training has limited him to eleven games this year.
Yourkin had a somewhat odd line, matching season highs with 6.0 IP, 8 H, and 7 K. His ERA remains a bit above 4.50. Espinelli and Casilla, the matter making his fourth rehab appearance, each pitched a perfect inning.
AA: Richmond lost to Reading 4-3
(after both team scored two runs in the 1st inning)
Richmond: RF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 3, BB, SO
Richmond: C Aaron Lowenstein: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Richmond: SP Daryl Maday: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HR
Reading: RP Jose Contreras: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Kieschnick and Lowenstein each had two of the Flying Squirrels' seven hits, but both hitters still have AVGs below .230.
Maday matched his longest start of the year with 6.0 IP, but he also matched a season high with 4 ER and set a new season low with 1 K. Through seven starts his peripheral stats are 39 H, 10 BB, and 29 K in 37.0 IP. Making his second rehab appearance, the Phillies' Contreras retired just three of his six batters.
A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 1-0
(scoring the game's only run in the top of the 9th inning)
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 0 for 4, SO
San Jose: DH Hector Sanchez: 2 for 4, 2 2B
San Jose: RF Jarrett Parker: 1 for 2, 2B, BB, SO
San Jose: SP Chris Heston: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HB
San Jose: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0, 3 K
Sanchez's 11th and 12th doubles were two of the Giants' four hits (all doubles). Parker had his 10th double as he drew the Giants' only walk. Brown finally had his long hitting streak snapped.
Heston perhaps had the most effective start of his pro career. This start included an 11/3 GO/FO line. It was his second straight start without allowing a run, lowering his ERA to 2.32 through eight starts. Hembree struck out all three of his batters for his 13th save. In eight May appearances, his peripheral stats of 4 H, 4 BB, 0 R, and 14 K in 8.0 IP suggest dominance.
A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 3-1 (11 innings)
Augusta: 2B Adam Duvall: 2 for 4, HR, BB
Augusta: DH Drew Biery: 1 for 4, HR
Augusta: SP Shawn Sanford: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HB
Leading off the 7th inning, Biery had his 2nd HR--a solo shot to tie the score. Duvall later added his 12th HR--a two-run, one-shot in the 11th inning. Without double-checking, it seems that 12 HRs may lead all hitters in the Giants organization. Duvall, last summer's eleventh round selection, is now hitting .266/.351/.533 through 169 AB.
Sanford, who had allowed 1 ER in four of five previous starts, had his first start without allowing an earned. He improved his season ERA to 2.54. The 4 K also matched his season high.