Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: both Tommy Joseph and Edgar Gonzalez had 2 HRs. Also contributing HRs as part of multi-hit performances were Brandon Belt, Conor Gillaspie, Joe Panik, Ryan Cavan, and Devin Harris. Craig Westcott and Ryan Bradley each allowed just 1 ER in their starts.
AAA: Fresno defeated Albuquerque 15-10(scoring eight runs in the 6th inning)
Fresno: LF Edgar Gonzalez: 4 for 6, 2 HR, SB
Fresno: RF Brandon Belt: 2 for 4, HR, BB, 2 SO
Fresno: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 3, HR, 2 BB
Albuquerque: 2B Ivan De Jesus Jr: 3 for 4, HR, BB, HBP
Fresno: SP Felix Romero: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HR
At gametime, the wind was blowing out to RF at 13 mph. Apparently taking advantage of the high-scoring conditions, Gonzalez had his 12th and 13th HRs. Gillaspie had his 10th HR, and Belt his 8th PCL HR. The Dodgers' 24-year-old De Jesus homered while reaching base five times.
Romero retired just two of his nine batters in one of the shortest starts this year by any Giants pitcher. His ERA rose above 5.50.
AA: Richmond defeated Binghamton 6-2
(scoring five runs in the 3rd inning)
Richmond: RF Francisco Peguero: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Richmond: 3B Chris Dominguez: 2 for 4, 2B
Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K--1 HR, 1 BK, 1 WP
Richmond: RP Mitch Lively: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Peguero and Dominguez each had two hits, including their 7th and 19th doubles since being promoted to the Eastern League.
Tanner had a solid start. Normally a ground ball pitcher, tonight he had 6 K and a 2/8 GO/FO line. Lively struck out three of his seven batters.
A+: San Jose defeated Lancaster 8-2
San Jose: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 4, 3B, BB
San Jose: C Tommy Joseph: 4 for 5, 2 HR, 2B
San Jose: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, 2 SO
San Jose: SP Craig Westcott: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Lancaster can be a friendly place to hit, and tonight the wind was blowing out to RF at 16 mph at gametime. It's not clear if that would necessarily help a right-handed hitter like Joseph, though, who perhaps had the best game of his pro career with 2 HRs and a double among four hits. Cavan added his 9th HR and 32nd double. Brown had his 9th triple while reaching base three times.
The conditions did not seem to affect Westcott much, who had one of his better starts of the second half, including a 12/4 GO/FO line. He improved his ERA to 3.02 and his W-L record to 13-3.
A-: Augusta defeated Lexington 9-1
Augusta: 1B Josh Mazzola: 4 for 4, 2B, HBP
Augusta: LF Devin Harris: 2 for 5, HR, SO
Augusta: C Jeff Arnold: 1 for 4, HR, BB, E
Augusta: 2B Delino DeShields Jr: 2 for 4, 2B, SB
Augusta: SP Ryan Bradley: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K--1 HB
Augusta: RP Edward Concepcion: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Augusta: RP Austin Fleet: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Leading the GreenJackets' sixteen-hit attack, Mazzola had four hits, raising his AVG above .250. Harris and Arnold had their 11th and 5th HRs. DeShields, whom the Astros drafted eighth overall a year ago had a couple hits plus his 27th SB. Still, he has had a disappointing first full pro season with an OPS barely above .600.
Bradley's sixth start was his most effective start yet, including a season-high 6.0 IP. After 3 BB in each of his last three starts, he had his first start without a walk. Concepcion and Fleet each had 2 K in 1.0 perfect IP.
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Spokane 8-4
(scoring four runs in the 8th inning)
Salem-Keizer: SS Joe Panik: 4 for 4, HR
Salem-Keizer: RF Brett Krill: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB, CS
Salem-Keizer: SP Reiner Roibal: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 WP
Salem-Keizer: RP Phil McCormick: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Panik had perhaps his best game as a pro. He had his 4th HR among four hits that lifted his AVG above .350. Krill, who had the Volcanoes' other multi-hit performance, also has an AVG just above .350.
Roibal had another effective starts. He has pitched at least five full innings in nine of his last ten starts. McCormick had 2 K in a perfect 9th inning. He has allowed just 10 H and 2 ER in 23.0 IP so far in his pro debut.
R: Giants defeated Rangers 6-2
Scottsdale: SS Carter Jurica: 3 for 5, 2 2B
Scottsdale: C Eric Sim: 3 for 5, CS
Scottsdale: SP Clayton Blackburn: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Scottsdale: RP Luis Angeles: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 WP
Scottsdale: RP Steven Neff: 1.1 IP, 2 K--1 WP
With three hits each for the rookie Giants, Jurica and Sim raised their AVGs to .303 and .330.
After three good starts, Blackburn's fourth start was less effective. He retired five of his first six batters, but the final four batters all reached base (including one by error). Angeles was effective in long relief to get the win. Neff struck out two of his five batters for his 1st pro save.
DSL: Giants lost to Nationals 11-8
(scoring all eight runs in the bottom of the 9th inning)
Dominican: C Fernando Pujadas: 2 for 5, HR
Dominican: SP Adalberto Mejia: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K--1 HB
Pujadas (19.7 y.o.) had his 3rd HR, surpassing his 2 HRs last year. After dominating through his first eleven starts, Mejia (18.1 y.o.) had his second straight start with 3 ER, talking the loss in both starts. This start came on nine days rest.