Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Roger Kieschnick and Conor Gillaspie both homered as part of multi-hit games, and Chris Heston had 5.0 scoreless IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Tucson 11-4
(after breaking the game open with five runs in the 5th inning)
Fresno: 3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Fresno: LF Roger Kieschnick: 4 for 5, HR
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Mitch Lively: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Kieschnick's hot start continued with four more hits, including his 1st HR. Gillaspie, one of five other Grizzlies with a multi-hit game, also homered.
Hacker, who had a 4.51 ERA in 29 starts two years ago for the Grizzlies, came up a bit short of a quality start in his return after last year in the International League. He threw 84 pitches (54 strikes). Lively struck out three of his eight batters to finish the game.
AA: Richmond defeated New Britain 3-1 (12 innings)
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 4, SF, SH, SO, CS
Richmond: SS Ehire Adrianza: 2 for 4, BB (IBB), SO
Richmond: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 4, BB
Richmond: SP Chris Heston: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Richmond: RP Daryl Maday: 1.0 IP, 1 K
New Britain: SP Jason Marquis: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Drawing the Flying Squirrels' only two walks, the two middle infielders Adrianza and Cavan both reached base three times. Top prospect Borwn was one of four other Squirrels with two hits each.
Although he had just 1 K, Heston had a 10/3 GO/FO line and 5.0 scoreless IP in his upper minors debut. Primarily a starter a year ago, Maday pitched a perfect 12th inning for the save. Marquis, whom the Twins somewhat surprisingly optioned to the minors to start this season after his ERA just below 4.50 in 23 starts in the majors last year, scattered seven hits while allowing just one run.
A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 4-2
San Jose: SS Joe Panik: 2 for 4, 2B
San Jose: SP Ryan Bradley: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Panik had two of the Giants' six hits, with his 2nd double of the season being their only XBH.
Bradley, who had 10 starts among 28 appearances a year in the Sally League, took the loss in his Cal League debut.
A-: Augusta lost to Savannah 7-1
Augusta: LF Shawn Payne: 1 for 3, BB
Augusta: 2B Jose Cuevas: 2 for 3, BB
Augusta: SP Adalberto Mejia: 2.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K--1 HR
Augusta: RP Kevin Couture: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Augusta: RP Derek Law: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Cuevas had two of the GreenJackets' six hits and one of their two walks. Payne also reached base twice.
Mejia's debut in the U.S. did not go well as he allowed hits to more than half his batters faced (9 of 16) and departed after allowing five runs in the 3rd inning. Couture allowed just one baserunner in long relief, and Law pitched a perfect 8th inning.