Memorial Day highlights from the Giants' farm: Travis Ishikawa, Brett Pill, and Luke Anders each homered as part of multi-hit days. Also notable, Andrew Reichard had 5.0 scoreless IP, and Carlos Willoughby reached base five times.
AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 8-6(allowing six runs in the 7th inning)
Fresno: 2B Brett Pill: 2 for 4, HR
Fresno: 1B Travis Ishikawa: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, SO
Fresno: RF Brad Eldred: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Colorado Springs: 2B Brad Emaus: 3 for 4, HR, 2B
Fresno: SP Shane Loux: 7.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Eldred led off the 2nd inning with his 8th HR of the year. In the 8th inning, Pill and Ishikawa went back-to-back with their 9th and 3rd HRs. After a slow start (.626 OPS in 68 AB in April), Ishikawa has hit .310/.462/.521 through 71 AB in May. Emaus, who began the year in the Mets organization before being returned to the Blue Jays and subsequently traded to the Rockies, has seen his bat come alive. He is now hitting .353/.416/.603 in 68 AB, although he does have significant home-road splits.
Loux matched a season high with 7 ER allowed. He allowed just one run through 6.0 IP but then allowed six runs in the 7th inning capped by a grand slam HR, after which he retired his final two batters.
AA: Richmond lost to Akron 3-2
(after tying the game in the 7th inning)
Richmond: 3B Sharlon Schoop: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Richmond: DH Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 2, BB, CS
Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Schoop and Stromsmoe each had two of the Flying Squirrels' seven hits, raising their repsective AVGs to .182 and .265.
Following up his best start of the year, Fitzgerald allowed a couple runs in the 1st inning but did not allow a run thereafter. He retired both batters faced in the 6th inning before being removed from the game. His walk rate remains high, with just BB/IP just barely below 0.50.
A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 5-3
(after leading 5-0 through seven innings)
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 3 for 4, 2 SB
San Jose: 1B Luke Anders: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
San Jose: SP Andrew Reichard: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
San Jose: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K--1 HR
Brown had another three-hit game, raising his AVG to .374. He now has 30 SBs. Anders connected for his 7th HR and 11th double.
Reichard has started three games this year and not allowed an earned run in two of them. His season ERA in nine appearances is 2.30. Hembree struck out three of his four batters, but the second batter faced got the 1st HR off Hembree in his pro career.
A-: Augusta defeated Rome 10-3
(scoring two runs in four different innings)
Augusta: DH Carlos Willoughby: 4 for 5, 2B, BB, 2 SB
Augusta: 3B Adam Duvall: 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB, HBP, SO, SB
Augusta: SP Gaspar Santiago: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--2 HR
Augusta: RP Seth Rosin: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB
Batting leadoff, Willoughby reached base five times, improving his season line to .284/.384/.350 through 197 AB. Duvall had his 11th and 12th doubles while reaching base four times.
Santiago made his second start, pitching an inning longer than in his previous start. Rosin made his second relief appearance of the year, this time pitching on two days rest. Three of his seven batters reached base.
DSL: Giants defeated Nationals 4-1 (6.5 innings--completed early)
Dominican: RF Hector Mercedes: 2 for 3, HR, SO
Dominican: SP Marvin Barrios: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Mercedes (19.7 y.o.), who had 1 HR last year in nearly 200 AB, homered in his second game of his second pro season. Barrios (18.8 y.o.) had 4.0 scoreless IP in his first start of his second pro season. Last year he had a 1.87 ERA while making two starts in thirteen appearances.