Saturday highlight from the Giants' farm: Michael Kickham had a shortened complete game shutout. Also notable, Skyler Stromsmoe homered and singled, and Juan Perez had five hits over a doubleheader.
AAA: Fresno lost to Salt Lake 7-1
(allowing all seven runs over the last three innings)
Fresno: CF Justin Christian: 2 for 2, 2B, 2 BB
Fresno: SS Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 3, HR, PO
Fresno: SP Brian Burres: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Fresno: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Christian, who reached base in all four plate appearances, and Stromsmoe, whose solo HR in the 5th inning scored the Grizzlies' only run, had four of the Grizzlies' five hits.
Burres had his first quality start in his last eight starts, getting his ERA back below 6.00. With an ERA now over 5.00, is Hembree still among the Giants' top five prospects?
AA: Richmond lost to Erie 3-2 in game 1
(finishing the previous day's suspended game)
Richmond: C Johnny Monell: 1 for 3, 2B, SO
Richmond: SP Chris Heston: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Richmond: RP Chris Gloor: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Monell, who had his 10th double, was one of three Flying Squirrels with two hits. Following yesterday's doubleheader, he has hit .230/.335/.393 through 135 AB this year.
After Heston began the game with 2.0 scoreless IP, Heston resumed the game the next day, following with 4.0 scoreless IP. Gloor lowered his ERA below 3.00.
AA: Richmond defeated Erie 5-0 (7 innings) in game 2
Richmond: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 2, 2B, BB
Richmond: RF Juan Perez: 3 for 3, SB
Richmond: SP Michael Kickham: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Both Joseph and Perez reached base in all three plate appearances. They raised their respective AVGs to .281 and .286.
Kickham had probably the best start of his pro career. He had a season-high, if not career-high, 8 K and faced just three batters over the minimum in a complete game effort. The performance got his K/BB ratio above 1.50, and his ERA is now 3.31 after eleven starts.
A+: San Jose lost to Stockton 5-3
San Jose: CF Ryan Lollis: 2 for 5
San Jose: 3B Adam Duvall: 2 for 3, BB, SO
San Jose: SP Taylor Rogers: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HB
San Jose: RP Stephen Harrold: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 4 K
Lollis and Duvall each had two of the Giants' four hits. Their AVGs now stand at .307 and .280.
Rogers has had more hits than IP in each of his last eight starts. With 59 H in 43.1 IP over those eight starts, his BAA for the season is now above .300. Harrold had a surprisingly rough first two months in the Cal League, but yesterday he struck out four of his seven batters in 2.0 scoreless IP.
A-: Augusta lost to Asheville 12-10
(with both teams having an early seven-run half inning)
Augusta: CF Jesus Galindo: 2 for 4, 2B, SF, SO
Augusta: LF Shawn Payne: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 SO
Augusta: 3B Jose Flores: 3 for 5, 2B, E
Augusta: SP Edwin Escobar: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR, 1 WP, 1 BK
Augusta: RP Adlaberto Mejia: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 K--1 HR
Flores, Galindo and Payne each had a double as part of a multi-hit game. For Galindo, it was just his 2nd XBH in 50 AB.
Escobar's 8 R in his ninth start double his previous season-high. He matched his shortest start of the year with 2.1 IP as his ERA rose to nearly 4.00. In long relief, Mejia allowed three unearned runs but had a season-high 4 K.
DSL: Giants lost to Yankees1 8-4
Dominican: C Fernando Pujadas: 2 for 4, HR, SO
Dominican: SP Keury Mella: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 WP
Pujadas (20.5 y.o.) homered in the season opener of his third DSL campaign. Mella (18.10 y.o.) had a fairly unremarkable line in his pro debut.