minor lines, 4/23/13

Tuesday highlights from the Giants' farm: Martin Agosta allowed just 1 R in 6.1 IP, Brett Pill homered among three hits, and Justin Fitzgerald had 10 K in 5.0 scoreless IP.

AAA: Fresno defeated Tucson 4-2

Fresno: Kesuke Tanaka: 3 for 4, PO
Fresno: 1B Brett Pill: 3 for 4, HR, 2B

Fresno: SP Boof Bonser: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 WP
Fresno: RP Heath Hembree: 1.0 IP, 1 K--1 HB

Pill had his 4th HR, 5th double and a single, improving his season line to .367/.403/.683 through 60 AB. Tanaka had had three hits, raising his AVG above .350.

Bonser's fourth start was his most effective of the season, allowing just a single run. His walk rate remains high with 15 BB (against 10 K) in 19.1 IP. Hembree pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 5th save.

AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 3-0

Richmond: 1B Ricky Oropesa: 2 for 4, SO
Richmond: 3B Mark Minicozzi: 2 for 4, SO, E

Richmond: SP Justin Fitzgerald: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K--1 HB
Altoona: SP Charlie Morton: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

With two hits each, Oropesa and Minicozzi accounted for half of the Flying Squirrels' eight hits (all singles). They drove in all three of the game's runs.

Fitzgerald struck out 10 of his 23 batters in 5.0 scoreless IP as he combined with three relievers for the shutout. With the 10 K, he had a relatively high pitch count, reaching 94 pitches (63 strikes) in 5.0 IP. The Pirates' Morton had 4.0 scoreless IP in his second rehab start. He threw 69 pitches (40 strikes).

A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 6-5 (13 innings)

San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
San Jose: C Jeff Arnold: 2 for 5, BB, 2 SO

San Jose: SP Clayton Blackburn: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 WP
San Jose: RP Jeff Soptic: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

The Giants had four hitters with two hits each, including Villalona, whose 4th double was their lone XBH. Arnold was one of four Giants to reach base three times.

From a statistical standpoint, Blackburn's fourth start was his least effective this year as 5 H and 2 R were new season highs and 4 K a new season low. Still, his ERA remains just 1.64. Sopitc was the only one of six Giants pitchers not to allow a run.

A-: Augusta defeated Hagerstown 3-1

Augusta: SS Matthew Duffy: 2 for 3, HBP, CS
Augusta: RF Chuckie Jones: 1 for 2, 2 BB

Augusta: SP Martin Agosta: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K--1 HR

Duffy and Jones both reached base three times for the GreenJackets, raising their OBPs to .407 and .269.

Agosta allowed only a solo HR to lead off the 4th inning--his first pro HR allowed. He scattered four other hits while striking out 9 of his 24 batters. The 9 K matched his season high, and he now has 27 K in 21.0 IP through four starts.