Highlights from the Giants' farm: Jackson Williams doubled twice, Jarrett Parker homered while reaching base three times, and Luke Anders homered and doubled.
AAA: Fresno lost to Tucson 4-3
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 2 for 3, BB, SB
Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 2 for 4, 2 2B, PB
Tucson: C Yasmani Grandal: 2 for 4, 2B, SO, PB
Fresno: SP Brian Burres: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Tucson: SP Casey Kelly: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Christian, who entered the game defensively in the bottom of the 1st inning, and Williams each had two of the Grizzlies' ten hits. Christian reached base three times, while Jackson doubled twice. A year ago Jackson had just 4 XBH in his 125 AB in the PCL. Grandal, one of the Padres' top ten prospects after they acquired him from the Reds as part of the Mat Latos trade, had two of Padres' five hits, including their lone XBH.
Making his first start in the Giants organization since the 2005 season, Burres pitched effectively, starting with five scoreless frames before allowing a couple runs in the 6th inning, one of which scored after he left the game. Kelly, one of the Padres' top ten prospects whom they acquired from the Red Sox as part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade, had a quality start in his PCL debut. I saw him in a spring training game on March 14. In that game, his fastball was consistently 92-95 mph. What caught my attention was that on that day on the same gun, that matched Aroldis Chapman's fastball velocity, which was 92-96 mph.
AA: Richmond lost to New Britain 6-2 (7 innings) in game 1
Richmond: LF Chris Dominugez: 2 for 3, 2 2B
Richmond: SP Jason Stevenson: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K--1 HR, 1 IBB
With his 2nd and 3rd doubles of the season, Dominguez had two of the Flying Squirrels' five hits.
Stevenson, who made three starts for the Giants late last year, had his least effective start in his brief time in the organization. Most of the damage came with four runs in the 5th inning.
AA: Richmond lost to New Britain 4-1 (7 innings) in game 2
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 3 for 3
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
After an oh-fer in the first game of the doubleheader, Brown singled in each plate appearance in the second game. The rest of the team had just a single and a walk.
After allowing just one run through the first four innings, Westcott was touched for a couple more runs in the 5th inning, although both of those runs came after he had left the game.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 15-3
(breaking the game open with eight runs in the 5th inning)
San Jose: C Andrew Susac: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 SO
San Jose: SS Joe Panik: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
San Jose: DH Luke Anders: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, SO
San Jose: LF Jarrett Parker: 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB
San Jose: SP Taylor Rogers: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HB, 2 WP
San Jose: RP Josh Osich: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Repeating the Cal League in his second pro season, Parker has homered in each of his first two games. Anders homered and doubled. He, along with top prospects Susak and Panik, was one of five Giants with two hits each.
Rogers pitched well enough for the win in his Cal League debut. I wonder how close he may have been to not being allowed to pitch the bottom of the 5th inning after what must have been a very lengthy top of the 5th inning. Osich, the Giants' 6th rounder last year, pitched a perfect 6th inning in his pro debut.
A-: Augusta defeated Savannah 6-5
(rallying for three runs in the 9th inning)
Augusta: 1B Ben Thomas: 2 for 4, 2B, HBP
Augusta: CF Charles Jones: 0 for 5, 4 SO
Augusta: LF Shawn Payne: 2 for 3, HBP, SB
Augusta: SP Chris Marlowe: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Thomas and Payne each reached base three times for the GreenJackets. Jones followed up his hat trick with a sombrero, making his stat line 0 for 9 with 7 SO. Let's hope he avoids the Olympic rings in his next start.
Marlowe, the Giants' 5th rounder last year, did not allow an earned run in his first pro start.