Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: both Justin Christian and Eli Whiteside homered among three hits, and Eric Hacker allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP.
AAA: Fresno defeated Albuquerque 12-5
(after leading 8-0 entering the 6th inning)
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 3 for 4, HR, BB, CS
Fresno: SS Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB, E
Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 3 for 5, HR, SO
Albuquerque: C Tim Federowicz: 2 for 3, HR, HBP
Fresno: SP Eric Hacker: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K--1 HR
Christian and Whiteside each had three of the Grizzlies' fifteen hits, raising their respective AVGs to .366 and .235. They also had their 5th and 1st HRs. Reaching base four times, Stromsmoe improved his season line to .256/.374/.367. Federowicz, who might be the Dodgers' regular catcher by the end of the season, had his 4th HR while reaching base three times.
Making his third straight start with 1 R in 7.0 IP, Hacker improved his ERA to 3.09.
AA: Richmond lost to Bowie 6-5
(scoring one run to tie in the top of the 9th inning but allowing a run in the bottom of the 9th inning)
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 5, 2 SB
Richmond: 1B-2B Jose Flores: 3 for 3, SF, SB
Richmond: LF Wendell Fairley: 2 for 4, 2B, GiDP
Bowie: 2B Jonathan Schoop: 3 for 3
Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HR
Flores, Fairley, and Brown each had a multi-hit game, but none has an AVG higher than .255. Brown now has 14 SB. Schoop replaced the Orioles' rehabing Brian Roberts in the lineup and singled in all three plate appearances. He began the year considered a top 100 prospect, but has been off to a slow start as his AVG remains below .250.
After allowing more than 3 R just once in his first seven starts, Fitzgerald has allowed at least 4 R in each of his last three starts. His ERA is now above 4.50.
A+: San Jose tied with Bakersfield 3-3 (entering the 12th inning)
(still in progress at press time)
San Jose: SS Joe Panik: 2 for 5, 2B, BB, SO
San Jose: C Andrew Susac: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SO
San Jose: SP Justin Schumer: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K--2 HR, 1 HB
Through eleven innings, Panik had the Giants' only multi-hit line, and his 12th double was their lone XBH. Both he and Susac, the latter playing his first game after five days off, both reached base three times.
Schumer had a quality start, despite allowing a couple big flies. He has been susceptible to the long ball having allowed 9 HRs in 52.2 IP so far this year.
A-: Augusta defeated Savannah 3-2 (10 innings)
Augusta: CF Jesus Galindo: 2 for 4, 3B, HBP, SO
Augusta: SP Chris Marlowe: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP
Savannah: SP Tyler Pill: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 HB
Galindo reached base three times, while the rest of the GreenJackets' lineup combined for just four singles.
Marlowe had a fairly non-descript start. He has pitched exactly 4.0 IP in five of his eight starts. The Mets' Pill, younger brother of the Giants' Brett Pill, has made three of his eight starts against the GreenJackets and allowed a total of 3 ER in 19.1 IP over those three starts.