Tuesday highlights from the Giants' farm: Ben Thomas homered twice, and Roger Kieschnick homered and singled.
AAA: Fresno defeated Omaha 6-4
(allowing two runs in the top of the 8th inning but scoring two runs in the bottom half)
Fresno: SS Nick Noonan: 2 for 4, 2 2B, SH, SO, SB
Fresno: LF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 2 for 3, 2B, BB
Fresno: SP Yusmeiro Petit: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Fresno: RP Jean Machi: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Omaha: SP Mike Montgomery: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Kieschnick had his 9th HR, and Noonan had his 7th and 8th doubles. Noonan is hitting .314/.369/.398 through his first 118 AB this year. Whiteside was one of two Grizzlies to reach base three times.
Petit has yet to pitch into the 7th inning this year, but he has pitched six full frames in four of eight starts. In three of those starts, he has allowed 2 ER or less. Machi pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 1st save. The Royals' Montgomery has scuffled since reaching the PCL. With 3+ ER in five of his eight starts, he has a 4.37 ERA this year after a 5.32 ERA last year.
AA: Richmond lost to Harrisburg 4-2
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 1 for 4, SO, SB
Richmond: SS Ehire Adrianza: 1 for 3, 2B
Richmond: SP Craig Westcott: 7.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 IBB
Richmond: RP Jake Dunning: 1.2 IP, 2 K
Adrianza's third double was one of just three hits for the Flying Squirrels. Top prospect Brown singled and had his 10th SB.
Westcott had his second straight start with a new season high in terms of IP, pitching into the 8th inning for the first time this year. After allowing a couple runs in the 2nd inning, he allowed a couple more runs in the 8th inning to take the loss. Dunning had 1.2 perfect IP to finish the game.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 4-3
San Jose: SS Joe Panik: 2 for 4, BB
San Jose: 3B Adam Duvall: 3 for 4, 2B, BB, E
San Jose: SP Justin Schumer: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K--2 HR, 1 WP
San Jose: RP Jose Valdez: 1.1 IP, 2 K
San Jose: RP Chris Wilson: 1.0 IP, 1 K
San Jose: RP Seth Rosin: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Panik and Duvall, the Giants' two left-side infielders, had multi-hit games, raising their respective AVGs to .246 and .224. Panik had an OPS not much above .600 in April but has an OPS above .700 so far in May. He has not shown much power with just 9 XBH and 0 HR in 148 AB this year.
Schumer came up shy of a quality start. With no strikeouts in a start for the first time this year, his K/IP fell even further below 0.50. His low strikeout rate and GO/AO ratio of 1.20 this year is not a good combination, but he does have a WHIP of just 1.11. Valdez, Wilson and Rosin combined for 3.2 near perfect IP, allowing only one baserunner on an error, while getting half of their outs by strikeout.
A-: Augusta lost to Rome 5-3
Augusta: 1B Ben Thomas: 4 for 4, 2 HR
Augusta: SP Edwin Escobar: 5.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Augusta: RP Adalberto Mejia: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Thomas drove in all three of the GreenJackets' runs with his first two HRs of the year--a two-run shot in the 6th inning and a solo shot to lead off the 8th inning. He had 7 HRs last summer, and yesterday's performance raised his SLG this year to an even .400.
Escobar matched a season high with 7 K but allowed a season-high 11 H, pushing his BAA above .250. His ERA remains below 3.00 through six starts. Mejia pitched two perfect innings in his second straight strong relief appearance.