Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: Justin Fitzgerald had 7.0 scoreless IP, and both Juan Perez and Jose Cuevas homered as part of two-hit games.
AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 6-0
Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 2 for 3
Colorado Springs: 3B Brendan Harris: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, 2 BB, SB
Fresno: SP Brian Burres: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Colorado Springs: SP Tyler Chatwood: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Whiteside had two of the Grizzlies' four hits. Harris, the 31-year-old journeyman now with the Rockies, homered while reaching base four times.
Perhaps disappointed not to be getting a start in the majors, Burres had one of his two worst starts of the year (among five starts). Chatwood, whom the Rockies acquired from the Angels and who began the season in the Rockies' bullpen, made his second start since being optioned back to the minors.
AA: Richmond defeated New Britain 5-4 (13 innings)
(outscoring the Rock Cats 3-2 in the 13th inning)
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 5, SH, SB
Richmond: RF Juan Perez: 2 for 6, HR
Richmond: SS Ehire Adrianza: 3 for 4, BB, PO
Richmond: 2B Ryan Cavan: 3 for 5, 2B
New Britain: CF Aaron Hicks: 2 for 6, HR
Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Richmond: RP Austin Fleet: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Perez had a two-run, one-out, walk-off HR--his 2nd HR this year. The two middle infielders, Adrianza and Cavan, each had three hits, raising their respective AVGs to .214 and .310. Top prospect Brown reached base just once in the extra inning game. Hicks, whom the Twins drafted 14th overall four years ago, had his 4th HR.
Fitzgerald had his longest and perhaps best start of the year. The 7.0 scoreless IP lowered his ERA to 3.76. Pitching in extra inning, the fourth of five Flying Squirrels relievers, Fleet struck out five of his nine batters.
A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 7-1
San Jose: C Andrew Susac: 1 for 4, HR, SO, E
San Jose: 1B Ricky Oropesa: 2 for 4, 2 SO
San Jose: SP Taylor Rogers: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 WP
Visalia: SP David Holmberg: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K--1 HR
Susac, the Giants' second rounder last year, led off the 6th inning with his 1st pro HR, scoring the Giants' only run. Oropesa, the Giants' third rounder last year, had two of the Giants' six hits.
Rogers had a season-high 7 K and his second quality start but took the loss. Holmberg, one of the Diamondbacks' top ten prospects after acquiring him from the White Sox along with Daniel Hudson for Edwin Jackson, had one of his better starts of the year. He improved his W-L record to 2-3 despite having allowed more than two runs only once in five starts.
A-: Augusta lost to Kannapolis 9-5
(allowing six runs over the 8th and 9th innings)
Augusta: LF Shawn Payne: 3 for 4, 2B, BB, SO
Augusta: 2B Jose Cuevas: 2 for 4, HR, BB
Augusta: SP Chris Marlowe: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 2 WP
Augusta: RP Keith Bilodeau: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--2 HR
With three of the GreenJackets' ten hits, Payne raised his AVG to .349. Cuevas had his 4th HR.
Marlowe has pitched four full innings in all four his starts but just once has completed the 5th inning. Bilodeau saw his ERA balloon to nearly 8.50 with 6 ER over the game's final two innings.