Wednesday highlights from the Giants' farm: Brett Pill homered among three hits, and Justin Fitzgerald had 11 K and just 1 ER in 7.0 IP. Also notable, Garrett Buechele homered while reaching base three times, and Adalberto Mejia had 6.0 scoreless IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Salt Lake 12-3(scoring at least one run in each of the first six innings)
Fresno: RF Justin Christian: 3 for 5, 2B, SO, SB
Fresno: SS Bill Hall: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB, SO, GiDP
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 3 for 5, HR, 2B
Fresno: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 1 for 4, HR, BB
Salt Lake: 2B Alexi Amarista: 3 for 4, HR, SO, SB, CS
Fresno: SP Jonathan Sanchez: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 WP, 2 PO
The Grizzlies homered three times--Pill's 20th HR, Gillaspie's 7th HR, and a 1st HR by the rehabbing Hall. Both Pill and Christian and three hits each, keeping their AVGs close .320. Amarista, who has 46 AB with the Angels this year, had a strong game, including his 3rd HR.
Making his third rehab start, Sanchez allowed 10 of 25 batters to reach base but limited the damage to 2 R. He threw 54 of 95 pitches for strikes.
AA: Richmond defeated Erie 4-2
(scoring three runs in the 7th inning)
Richmond: 1B Wes Hodges: 3 for 4, 2B, E
Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
Richmond: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 K
With three hits, Hodges was only Flying Squirrel to reach base more than once. The 26-year-old has hit .320/.345/.525 in 139 AB since joining the Giants organization after the Indians released him.
Fitzgerald had perhaps the best start of his career, matching a career-high with 11 K. He also had a 7/2 GO/FO line. Hembree pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 10th save.
A+: San Jose lost to Lancaster 6-1
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
San Jose: SP Craig Westcott: 6.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Brown's 25th double was the Giants' lone XBH and just one of their four hits overall. He also threw out a runner at the plate, as well as at second base.
Westcott's second-half scuffle continues. After a 2.09 ERA in a dozen starts before the Cal League's all-star break, he has a 5.77 ERA in his six starts since.
A-: Augusta had a scheduled off-day
(their third of three July off-days)
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Yakima 5-4
Salem-Keizer: RF Brett Krill: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Salem-Keizer: 3B Garrett Buechele: 2 for 3, HR, BB, GiDP
Salem-Keizer: SP Reiner Roibal: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Buechele had his 3rd HR. Krill reached base three times, including once via his 11th double.
Roibal allowed more than 1 ER for just the third time in eight starts. With 5 K and 0 BB, he raised his K/BB ratio above 4.00.
R: Giants defeated Angels 3-1
Scottsdale: C Eric Sim: 2 for 4, GiDP, SB
Scottsdale: LF Elliott Blair: 2 for 4, 2B
Scottsdale: SP Edwin Escobar: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 HB, 1 BK, 1 PO
Sim and Blair were two of the three rookie Giants with two hits each. They raised their respective AVGs to .289 and .295. Sim also picked off a runner at second base.
Making his eighth AZL start, Escobar had a season-high 7 K. His third straight start with 1 ER lowered his ERA to 3.13.
DSL: Giants defeated Nationals 8-2
Dominican: DH Herody Mesa: 2 for 3, HR, BB, SB
Dominican: SP Adalberto Mejia: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--1 BK
Mesa (20.3 y.o.) had his 1st pro HR while reaching base three times. Mejia (18.1 y.o.) faced just three batters over the minimum in 6.0 scoreless IP that included a season-low 2 H. His stats continue to be outstanding. They are perhaps the best stats of any Giants short-season pitcher (in ten or more starts) since Jesse Foppert ten years ago.