Sunday highlights from the Giants' farm: Michael Kickham had 6.0 shutout IP, Gary Brown had four hits, and Nick Noonan homered while reaching base five times. Also notable, Brett Pill, Todd Linden, and Ryan Lollis homered as part of multi-hit games.
AAA: Fresno defeated Tacoma 12-3
Fresno: SS Nick Noonan: 2 for 3, HR, 3 BB (1 IBB)
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, SO
Fresno: RF Todd Linden: 2 for 4, HR, BB
Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 3 for 5, 2B
Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 HR
Fresno: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Among six Grizzlies with multi-hit games, Linden had his 7th HR, and Noonan and Pill each had their 3rd HRs. Whiteside was the lone Grizzly with as many as three hits, raising his AVG to .225.
Making his ninth start, Yourkin had his most effective start of the year. Still, with another HR today, he overly prone to the long ball with 15 HR in 46.0 IP. Hembree, who had had just 5 K over his previous nine appearances, struck out all three of his batters.
AA: Richmond defeated Akron 6-0
Richmond: CF Gary Brown: 4 for 5, 2B, CS
Richmond: RF Juan Perez: 2 for 3, 2 BB, SB, CS
Richmond: SP Michael Kickham: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K--1 BK
Brown had four hits, including his 15th double, raising his AVG to .267. Was this his first four-hit game of the season after how many such performances a year ago? Perez also reached base four times. He now has a 10/9 SB/CS line.
From a statistical perspective, this was Kickham's second best start over his last nine starts. Today, he kept the walk rate in check after 11 BB over his previous two starts and lowered his season ERA through sixteen starts to 2.81.
A+: San Jose defeated Stockton 10-3
(adding five insurance runs in the 9th inning)
San Jose: RF Ryan Lollis: 2 for 6, HR, 2B, SO
San Jose: 3B Adam Duvall: 3 for 5
San Jose: 2B Carter Jurica: 3 for 5, 3B, 2B, E
San Jose: SP Taylor Rogers: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K--1 HR
San Jose: RP Edwin Concepcsion: 1.0 IP, 2 K
Jurica, playing his second game after nearly four weeks on the DL, had his 2nd triple, 6th double and a single. Duvall also had three hits. Lollis had his 5th HR and 18th double.
Rogers had his fourth straight quality start. The 9 K were perhaps a season high. Concepcion, who has had a rough year with a BB/IP above 1.00, pitched a perfect 9th inning with 2 K.
A-: Augusta hosting Savannah postponed by rain
(A makeup doubleheader is scheduled for tomorrow.)
ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Vancouver 5-1
Salem-Keizer: SS Matthew Duffy: 3 for 4, HBP, 3 SB
Salem-Keizer: C Dashenko Ricardo: 3 for 4
Salem-Keizer: SP Joan Gregorio: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HB, 1 WP
With three hits each, Duffy and Ricardo accounted for over half of the Volcanoes' ten hits, raising their respective AVGs to .271 and .389. Duffy stole second base three times, giving him 5 SB through 15 games.
Making his fourth start, Gregorio bounced back from his previous start (6 ER in 3.2 IP) allowing a season-best 1 R.
R: Giants defeated Mariners 8-1
Scottsdale: 2B Cristian Otero: 2 for 2, 2 BB
Scottsdale: SP Luis Angeles: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 K
Otero reached base in all four plate appearances. He raised his OBP to .333 after having had just three singles and a walk in his first five games.
Angeles, who was followed by six relievers pitching one inning each, scattered five hits over 3.0 scoreless IP.
DSL: The Gigantes had their usual Sunday off-day