Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Garrett Buechele had 5 hits, and Kelby Tomlinson and Eric Sim both homered while also drawing a couple walks.
AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 10-8
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Fresno: LF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 4, 2B
Reno: 1B Randy Ruiz: 2 for 5, 2 HR, 2 SO
Fresno: SP Yusmeiro Petit: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HR
The hot-hitting Christian had just one hit, but it was his 2nd HR. While every hitter in the Grizzlies' lineup had a hit, only Kieschnick had two hits, raising his AVG a tad higher to .424. The 34-year-old Ruiz, now with the Diamondbacks, had a grand slam HR in the 5th inning and a three-run HR in the 9th inning.
Petit had four scoreless frames but was unable to get the final out in the 5th inning. After an error with two outs, he allowed the next five hitters to reach base and was charged with 5 unearned runs.
AA: Richmond lost to Altoona 4-3
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 5
Richmond: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4, HBP
Richmond: SP Michael Kickham: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Richmond: RP Jake Dunning: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Joseph was one of four Flying Squirrels with two hits each, raising his AVG to .231. Top prospect Brown had a single.
After not allowing an earned run over his first two starts, Kickham allowed 4 ER in his third start. His ERA at least remains below 3.00. In long relief, Dunning faced just one batter over the minimum in 3.0 scoreless IP, getting his ERA below 5.00.
A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 8-7
(issuing a walk-off bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 9th inning)
San Jose: LF Jarrett Parker: 0 for 4, 4 SO, SB
San Jose: DH Luke Anders: 3 for 4
San Jose: C Alex Burg: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Bakersfield: SS Billy Hamilton: 2 for 4, BB, 2 SO, SB, CS, E
San Jose: SP Justin Schumer: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 1 WP, 1 BK
Parker has had a strong start to the season with a fair number of XBH, but he has also had a lot of strikeouts. With the sombrero tonight, his SO/AB ratio is above 50%. Anders' three hits lifted his AVG to .311. Burg had his 1st HR. The Reds' Hamilton continues to reach base regularly against the Giants. His season AVG is now up to nearly .400.
Schumer had allowed just 3 R over his first two starts but allowed 6 ER in his third start, raising his ERA above 4.00.
A-: Augusta defeated Greenville 9-8
(outscoring the Drive 3-2 in the 9th inning)
Augusta: SS Kelby Tomlinson: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB, 2 SB
Augusta: C Eric Sim: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB
Augusta: DH Garrett Bueschele: 5 for 5
Greenville: 3B Garin Cecchini: 3 for 5, 2B, SB
Augusta: SP Chris Marlowe: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Adalberto Mejia: 1.0 IP, 1 H--1 WP
Playing in just his third game after starting the season on the DL, Buechele hit safely in all five plate appearances. Tomlinson and Sim each had their 1st HR, while both also drew a couple walks to reach base three times. Tomlinson now has 6 SB too. Cechchini, one of the Red Sox' top ten prospects, had three hits. His six-game hitting streak has raised his AVG to .260.
Marlowe had allowed just 3 H over his first two starts, but with 10 H in his third start, he allowed nearly half his batters (11 of 23) to reach base. After two starts with 5+ ER in each, Mejia made his first relief appearance, pitching a scoreless 8th inning for the win.