Monday highlights from the Giants' farm: Tommy Joseph doubled twice, and Brian Burres did not allow an earned run in 7.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Tacome 3-2
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 2 for 4
Fresno: 3B Nick Noonan: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, E
Fresno: SP Brian Burres: 7.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Fresno: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP
Christian keeps on hitting, tonight with his fifth straight multi-hit game. Noonan was the other Grizzly to reach base twice. With a seven-game hitting streak, his AVG stands at .357.
After allowing 7 ER in his previous start, Burres bounced back with no earned runs in this start, getting his ERA back below 5.00. Hembree pitched a perfect 9th inning for the win after the game ended with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning when the last two Grizzly batters tripled and reached on an error.
AA: Richmond lost to Reading 5-3
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 SO, GiDP
Richmond: 1B Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4, 2 2B
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Brown and Joseph had been off to slow starts, but they each had two hits. They had combined for just one double previously this year, but tonight they had three.
Westcott had his best start of the season, at least from a statistical perspective, as 6.0 IP and 5 K were new season highs and 0 BB a new season low. He faced just four batters over the minimum, but three of those four scored.
A+: San Jose defeated Rancho Cucamonga 3-2
(with all the game's runs scored in the first three innings)
San Jose: CF Ryan Lollis: 1 for 3, BB, SO, SB
San Jose: LF Jarrett Parker: 0 for 1, 2 BB, SB
San Jose: RF Devin Harris: 1 for 3, HR
San Jose: SP Shawn Sanford: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 3 WP
San Jose: RP Chris Wilson: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Lollis and Parker both reached base twice, and both had their 1st SB of the year. Harris, who had 15 HRs last year, had his 1st HR this year.
Sanford has won all three of his starts, although his ERA is above 4.00 after allowing 6 ER in his previous start at High Desert. After just 3 K over his first two starts, he had 5 K tonight. Wilson pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 2nd save.
A-: Augusta lost to Charleston 5-1
Augusta: 3B Jose Cuevas: 1 for 4, HR
Charleston: C Gary Sanchez: 4 for 5, 2 2B, SO
Augusta: SP Edwin Escobar: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Scotty Walker: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Charleston: SP Jose Campos: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 HR, 2 WP
Cuevas, who had 9 HRs last summer in the AZL, had his 1st HR in full-season ball. Sanchez, the Yankees' top hitting prospect, had four hits. Repeating the Sally League after hitting .256/.335/.485 a year ago, he is off to a strong start hitting .385/.442/.487 through his first 39 AB this year.
After having 6.0 scoreless IP in his previous start, Escobar did not make it out of the 3rd inning in his second start. Walker, the second of three GreenJackets' relievers, pitched quite effectively, striking out half of his ten batters in 2.2 scoreless IP. Campos, whom the Yankees acquired from the Mariners as part of the trade that featured Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero, had a fine start. The GreenJackets arguably did quite well against him considering he had allowed just 1 H and 0 ER over his previous two starts.