Saturday highlight from the Giants' farm: Chris Heston allowed 1 ER in 8.0 IP. Also notable, Joan Gregorio had 5.0 one-hit, scoreless IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 7-4Fresno: RF Justin Christian: 2 for 3, 3B, BB
Fresno: LF Brad Eldred: 1 for 3, HR, BB
Fresno: C Hector Sanchez: 2 for 4, 2B
Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 6.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Christian and Sanchez each had two hits for the Grizzlies, including Christian's 2nd PCL triple and Sanchez's 7th PCL double. Eldred led off the 2nd inning with his 19th HR.
Yourkin, who had so often had exactly 6.0 IP in his starts, had one of his longer starts, facing and retiring one batter in the 7th inning. His ERA is now 4.86.
AA: Richmond lost to Trenton 17-5
Richmond: LF Roger Kieschnick: 1 for 4, HR
Richmond: SP Ryan Verdugo: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Richmond: RP Daryl Maday: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR
Richmond: "RP" Skyler Stromsmoe: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB--1 HB
No one reached base twice for the Flying Squirrels, and Kieschnick's 13th HR was their lone XBH.
Verdugo had his shortest start fo the year, walking four of his seven batters. Going the distance in the count to six batters, he may have reached the Giants' single inning pitch limit. Maday, the first of five Squirrels relievers, was not particularly effective in long relief, and the rout was on. Stromsmoe ended up with his third relief appearance this year.
A+: San Jose defeated Lancaster 4-3
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 4, 3B
San Jose: 3B Juan Ciriaco: 1 for 2, BB, GiDP
San Jose: SP Chris Heston: 8.0+ IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Brown had two of the Giants' five hits, including his 7th triple. Ciriaco also reached base twice.
Pitching into the 9th inning, Heston had his longest start of the year. He was perhaps the Giants' best pitcher in July, posting a 2.97 ERA in five starts.
A-: Augusta deated Hickory 6-5
(after trailing 5-2 through two innings)
Augusta: CF Chris Lofton: 3 for 4, 2 2B
Augusta: 1B Josh Mazzola: 1 for 4, HR
Augusta: C Jeff Arnold: 2 for 4, 2B, PB
Augusta: SP Taylor Rogers: 1.0+ IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Augusta: RP Justin Schumer: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 K
Augusta: RP Brett Bochy: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Combining for half of the GreenJackets' ten hits, Lofton and Arnold raised their AVGs to .267 and .224. Mazzola had his 10th HR.
Rogers had his shortest and perhaps worst start of the year. Schumer, the first of four relievers, had 3.2 scoreless IP. Bochy had 2 K in a perfect 9th inning for his 2nd save.
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Yakima 9-2
(falling behind 7-0 after three innings)
Salem-Keizer: SS Joe Panik: 2 for 4, 3B, SO
Salem-Keizer: SP Brandon Allen: 3.0 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
With two of the Volcanoes' five hits, including his 2nd triple, Panik raised his AVG to .340.
Allowing hits to 11 of 18 batters, Allen's BAA rose to .299, and his ERA to 6.58. He has 1-7 W-L record after nine starts.
R: Giants defeated Diamondbacks 5-3
Scottsdale: 3B Jose Cuevas: 1 for 3, HR, BB, E
Scottsdale: RF Elliott Blair: 3 for 4
Scottsdale: SP Joan Gregorio: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 BK
Scottsdale: RP Kyle Crick: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K
Cuevas had his 7th HR but also committed his 7th error (in 24 games). Blair's three singles raised his AVG to .333.
In eight starts, the 19-year-old Gregorio now has peripheral stats of 25 H, 11 BB, and 31 K in 35.2 IP. Comparing his current stats to his DSL stats last year, his WHIP is down, and his K/IP is up. After walking just one in his first three pro appearances, Crick had 2 BB in his fourth pro appearance.
DSL: Giants lost to Mets1 2-1 (6 innings--completed early)
Dominican: LF Julio Pena: 0 for 1, 2 BB
Dominican: SP Yeini Martinez: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 2 HB
Pena (18.7 y.o.) was the lone Gigante to reach base twice, pushing his OBP above .300. Making his ninth start, Martinez (20.8 y.o.) took the complete-game loss.