Monday highlights from the Giants' farm: Joaquin Arias homered twice, and Justin Christian and Chris Dominguez both homered as part of four-hit games. Also notable, both Adam Duvall and Kelby Tomlinson each had three hits, including an XBH, plus a walk.
AAA: Fresno defeated Las Vegas 9-3
(taking a decisive lead with five runs in the 5th inning)
Fresno: LF Justin Christian: 4 for 5, HR
Fresno: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4, HBP
Fresno: SS Joaquin Arias: 3 for 4, 2 HR, E
Fresno: SP Yusmeiro Petit: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Fresno: RP Shane Loux: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Arias had a big game with a grand slam in the 5th inning and another home run to lead off the 8th inning, finishing with 6 RBIs. Christian also homered in the 8th inning, which capped his four-hit performance. Culberson also had three hits. Arias, Christian, and Culberson all have AVGs above .400.
The 27-year-old Petit, who is beginning his sixth at least partial season in the PCL, had a quality start in his debut with the Giants organization. He threw 59 of 91 pitches for strikes. Loux, the second of three Grizzlies relievers, worked a perfect 8th inning.
AA: Richmond defeated Bowie 5-4
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 0 for 5
Richmond: LF Chris Dominguez: 4 for 4, HR, 2B, SB
Richmond: C Johnny Monell: 2 for 3, 2B, SF, SO, SB
Bowie: SS Manny Machado: 2 for 5, HR, 2 SO
Richmond: SP Mike Kickham: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K--1 E
Dominguez had a huge night with his 1st HR, 4th double, and two singles. Monell, one of three other Flying Squirrels with two hits, had the Squirrels' only other XBH. Top prospect Brown had an oh-fer, but his AVG is still .333. The Orioles' Machado, who is arguably one of the top ten prospects in the minors, had his 2nd HR.
Kickham, whom the Giants gave a promotion skipping high-A, struggled to throw enough strikes in his upper minors debut. He threw just 40 of 71 pitches for strikes but yielded just one hit and one unearned run.
A+: San Jose lost to High Desert 6-5
San Jose: SS Joe Panik: 1 for 4, 2B, BB, SO
San Jose: DH Adam Duvall: 3 for 4, 2B, HBP
San Jose: SP Jack Snodgrass: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 PO
After just one hit in his first four games, Duvall had three hits, raising his AVG to an even .200. One of four other Giants to reach base twice, Panik had his 3rd double.
Making his full-season debut, Snodgrass allowed hits to 10 of his 23 batters.
A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 7-4
(after scoring four runs in the 1st inning)
Augusta: SS Kelby Tomlinson: 3 for 4, 3B, BB, SB
Augusta: CF Charles Jones: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Augusta: RF Brett Krill: 2 for 4, 2B
Charleston: C Gary Sanchez: 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB
Augusta: SP Joseph Biagini: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
Augusta: RP Demondre Arnold: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Augusta: RP Cody Hall: 1.0 IP, 1 K
After two hits in his first four games, Tomlinson broke out with three hits in his fifth game, raising his AVG to .238. Krill had the GreenJackets' other multi-hit performance. Jones got his second hit of the year with a solo HR in the 3rd inning. The Yankees' Sanchez, considered one of the top 100 prospects in the minors although he is repeating the Sally League, reached base three times.
Biagini and Arnold, the first of four relievers for the GreenJackets, struggled to throw strikes as they walked one third (9 of 27) of their hitters. Biagini threw just half his pitches (28 of 56) for strikes, while Arnold had an even lower ratio with 32 of his 67 pitches for strikes. Hall worked a perfect 9th inning for his 1st save.