Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: neither Michael Kickham nor Taylor Rogers allowed an earned run in their starts. Also notable, Tommy Joseph, Juan Perez, Daniel Mayora, and Nick Noonan homered as part of multi-hit performances.
AAA: Fresno lost to Tucson 6-5
(allowing a run in the bottom of the 9th inning after both teams scored four runs in the 1st inning)
Fresno: 3B Brock Bond: 2 for 3, 2B, BB, HBP, GiDP
Fresno: SS Nick Noonan: 2 for 5, HR, 2 SO
Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 3 for 4, SO
Padres: 3B Jedd Gyorko: 2 for 5, HR
Fresno: SP Andrew Kown: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--2 HR
Fresno: RP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Williams had three hits, raising his AVG to .280. When is the last time he had a .280 AVG more than a couple weeks into the season? Bond reached base four times. Noonan led off the 5th inning with his 6th HR, scoring the Grizzlies' only run after their four-run 1st inning. Gyorko, who seems close to making his MLB debut for the Padres, had his 14th HR in just 50 PCL games. He entered the game with an OPS barely under 1.000 through his first 210 PCL AB.
Pitching at hitter-friendly Tucson with the wind blowing out to RF, Kown allowed 5 ER, which was still an improvement on his previous three starts in which he allowed 19 ER over 7.2 IP. Runzler pitched a perfect 7th inning.
AA: Richmond defeated Harrisburg 12-3
(after scoring seven runs in the 2nd inning)
Richmond: C Tommy Josesph: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, SO
Richmond: RF Juan Perez: 3 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Richmond: 3B Daniel Mayora: 3 for 5, HR, SO
Richmond: SP Michael Kickham: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
The Flying Squirrels' offense featured three big flies that scored nine of their twelve runs. In the 2nd inning, Perez had his 7th HR to score two runs, and Joseph later added his 6th HR to score four runs. In the 9th inning, Mayora had his 2nd HR to score three runs.
Kickham had one of his best starts of the season, beginning with 7.0 scoreless IP before allowing an unearned run in the 8th inning. In possibly his longest start of the year, he threw 108 pitches (69 strikes). With a 2.72 ERA, he is within a half run of Chris Heston for the team lead.
A+: San Jose defeated Modesto 4-0
(after scoring three runs in the 1st inning)
San Jose: 2B Carter Jurica: 2 for 5, 3B, 2B, SO
San Jose: SP Taylor Rogers: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
With his 3rd triple and 9th double, Jurica had the Giants' lone multi-hit line and raised his OPS above .700.
Rogers had his best start in some time, facing just three batters over the minimum in 7.0 shutout IP. He had allowed an earned run in each of his previous nine starts and multiple earned runs in all but one of those.
A-: Augusta hosting Greenville postponed by rain
(A makeup doubleheader will be held in August.)
ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Yakima 8-5
Salem-Keizer: SS Matthew Duffy: 2 for 4, BB, SO
Salem-Keizer: 1B Joseph Rapp: 2 for 3, BB, HBP
Salem-Keizer: SP Joan Gregorio: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Duffy and Rapp each had two singles and a walk.
Gregorio's sixth start was his second shortest start, and he allowed more than 3 R for just the second time.
R: Giants defeated Cubs 7-2
Scottssdale: C Drew Stiner: 2 for 2
Scottsdale: SP Kelvin Marte: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Playing his second game of the year, Stiner singled in both plate appearances.
Marte made his longest appearance of the year, beginning with three scoreless frames before allowing 2 ER in the 4th inning.
DSL: Giants defeated Pirates2 12-3
Dominican: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, BB
Dominican: SP Alejandro Flores: 6.0 IP 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K--1 WP
Villalona (21.10 y.o.) had the Gigantes' lone multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .322. Flores (18.9 y.o.) had a season-high 9 K in 6.0 scoreless IP that brough his ERA below 2.50 after seven starts.