Monday highlight from the Giants' farm: Kevin Couture had 5.0 scoreless IP.
AAA: Fresno lost to Omaha 8-5
(allowing five runs in the top of the 9th inning)
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 2 for 4, SH
Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 2 for 4, SO
Fresno: SP Andrew Kown: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Heath Hembree: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB--1 HB
Omaha: SP Ryan Verdugo: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
With two hits each, Christian and Williams combined for nearly half of the Grizzlies' nine hits, raising their respective AVGs to .378 and .215.
Kown pitched seven full innings for the third time in his last four starts. With 3 ER or less allowed in each of his eight starts, he has a 2.61 ERA. Hembree threw just 11 of 27 pitches for strikes while retiring just one of his six batters. He suffered his second blown save as his ERA rose above 4.00. Verdugo, whom the Giants included along with Jonathan Sanchez when acquiring Melky Cabrera from the Royals this off-season, had not allowed more than 2 ER in his previous five starts, but he allowed 3 ER in this start. His peripheral stats through eight starts are 29 H, 22 BB and 38 K in 44.1 IP.
AA: Richmond had an off-day
(their third scheduled off-day this year, with their next scheduled off-day being June 4)
A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 5-3
San Jose: LF Ryan Lollis: 1 for 3, 2 BB, GiDP, SB
San Jose: SP Ryan Bradley: 5.0+ IP, 10 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K--2 HR
Reaching base three times and improving upon the .382 OBP with which he entered the day, Lollis had one of the Giants' five hits (all singles) and two of their six walks.
Bradley had allowed only 27 H over his first seven starts but allowed 10 H tonight. After beginning the year with 22 K and 7 BB over his first six starts, he has 8 BB and 0 K over his last two starts. Or perhaps it is just facing Modesto. In three starts against the Rockies' affiliate, his peripheral stats are 21 H, 9 BB and 1 K in 10.0 IP. In his other five starts, his peripheral stats are 16 H, 6 BB and 21 K in 25.1 IP.
A-: Augusta defeated Rome 1-0
(scoring the game's lone run in the 4th inning)
Augusta: SS Kelby Tomlinson: 2 for 4, SB
Augusta: CF Elliott Blair: 2 for 3
Augusta: SP Kevin Couture: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Augusta: RP Cody Hall: 1.0 IP, 3 K
With two hits each, Tomlinson and Blair combined for four of the GreenJackets' six hits. They raised their respective AVGs to .302 and .234. Tomlinson also had his 11th SB.
After eleven relief appearances, Couture made his first start of the year, scatting five hits over five innings and facing just three batters over the minimum. He lowered his season ERA to 1.50. Hall struck out all three of his batters for his 8th save. With 23 K in 16.1 IP, his K/IP is just shy of 1.50.