Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Andrew Kown, Craig Westcott, and Ryan Bradley each allowed just one run in their starts; and Justin Christian and Alex Burg homered as part of multi-hit efforts.
AAA: Fresno defeated Colorado Springs 3-1
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 2 for 3, HR, BB, SB
Fresno: RF Francisco Peguero: 2 for 4, 3B
Fresno: SP Andrew Kown: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K--1 HB
Fresno: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP
After going hitless the previous game for one of the rare occassions this year, Christian bounced back with a HR to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning and reached base twice more after that. Peguero also had two of the Grizzlies' seven hits, including his 3rd triple. Peguero is hitting just .215 so far, while Christian's AVG remains above .400.
Kown had his longest start of the season. Allowing just 1 ER for the third time in five starts, he lowered his ERA to 2.54. Hembree pitched a perfect 9th inning. His strikeout rate is down this year after his K/IP of nearly 1.50 last year. After 4 K in his first three appearances this year, he has just 1 K over his last five appearances. On the other hand, his walk rate is also down so far this year.
AA: Richmond defeated New Britain 5-3
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 5, 2 SB
Richmond: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 4, BB, SB
Richmond: SS Ehire Adrianza: 2 for 3, BB
Richmond: Daniel Mayora: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SO
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 5.0+ IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 WP
Mayora and Adrianza both reached base three times in four plate appearances, with Mayora's 4th double being the Flying Squirrels' only XBH. Cavan also reached base three times. Brown was a fourth Squirrel with two hits. He also had his 5th and 6th SB.
Although it was his second shortest start of the year in five starts, Westcott may have his best start so far. He began with five scoreless frames before not retiring the lone batter he faced in the 6th inning. He had allowed at least 3 ER in each of his previous starts.
A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 3-2
(allowing two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning)
San Jose: 2B Alex Burg: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
San Jose: SP Ryan Bradley: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
San Jose: RP Stephen Harrold: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Visalia: SP Andrew Chafin: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K--1 WP
With his 2nd HR and 2nd double, Burg was the lone Giant to reach base twice.
For the third time in five starts, Bradley had 1 ER or less in 6.0 IP. His ERA is just below 2.00. Harrold may have begun the season considered among the Giants' top thirty prospects, but he has allowed 2 R in four of his eight appearances. Chafin, whom the Diamondbacks drafted 43rd overall last year (six picks before the Giants selected Kyle Crick), had a dominant start, striking out nearly half of his 26 batters. In his first five starts, he has a very impressive 45 K and just 6 BB in 27.2 IP.
A-: Augusta lost to Hagerstown 6-1
Augusta: LF Shawn Payne: 2 for 3, BB, 2 SB
Augusta: SP Bryce Bandilla: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Payne continues to swing a hot bat. He had two of the GreenJackets' three hits, lifting his AVG to .370. He also had his 7th and 8th SB.
Making his second start in four appearances, Bandilla pitched four full innings but also allowed 5 H and 3 R, more than doubling his season totals in those two categories.