minor lines, 5/2/13

Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Jackson Williams homered twice, and Juan Perez also homered while reaching base three times.

AAA: Fresno defeated Sacramento 11-5

Fresno: RF Juan Perez: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO
Fresno: C Jackson Williams: 3 for 4, 2 HR, 3B

Fresno: SP Shane Loux: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K--1 HR, 1 WP

What's more surprising--a catcher hitting a triple, or a catcher hitting 2 HRs? Perhaps even more surprising is when a catcher does both, which in this case Williams did. After just 3 XBH in his first fifteen games, he has 4 XBH in his last two games. Williams and Perez, who also reached base three times, went back-to-back in the 4th inning, and Williams homered again leading off the 8th inning.

From a statistical viewpoint, Loux did not have a great start, but it was good enough for the win. He combined with two relievers to issue 6 BB but record no strikeouts.

AA: Richmond lost to Bowie 7-2

Richmond: RF Jarrett Parker: 2 for 4, 2B, CS
Richmond: DH Brett Krill: 3 for 4

Richmond: SP Ryan Bradley: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K--1 HB
Richmond: RP Tom Vessella: 1.1 IP, 2 K

Parker and Krill combined for five of the Flying Squirrels' nine hits, including Parker's 4th double. They raised their respective AVGs to .210 and .277.

Bradley issued free passes to better than a quarter (6 of 23) of his batters and fell short of making it through the 4th inning. He left with the bases loaded, and two of those runners subsequently scored when Vessella's first batter reached on an error. Otherwise, Vessella was perfect in relief, lowering his ERA to 1.00.

A+: San Jose defeated Bakersfield 4-2
(scoring three runs in the 6th inning)

San Jose: LF Shawn Payne: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
San Jose: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, 2B, SO

San Jose: SP Ty Blach: 5.1 IP, 11 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K--1 WP

Payne and Villalona each had two of the Giants' eight hits, raising their AVGs to .290 and .223.

Blach pounded the strike zone with over three quarters of his pitches (69 of 88) going for strikes. He yielded a season-high 11 H but just a couple runs. Each side used three pitchers, and none of them issued a walk.

A-: Augusta lost to Hagerstown 3-2
(allowing all three runs in the 2nd innings)

Augusta: 2B Trevor Brown: 2 for 4
Augusta: C Eric Sim: 1 for 3, HR, BB, PB
Hagerstown: 2B Tony Renda: 3 for 4, BB, SB

Augusta: SP Chris Stratton: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K

Sim hit his 1st HR, matching his total from last year. Brown was the lone GreenJacket with two hits. Renda, whom the Nationals drafted in the second round last year out Cal, reached base four times, raising his OPS above .700 through 104 AB.

Making his fifth start, Stratton gave up 3 ER in the 2nd inning but game back with four scoreless innings to finish with a (so-called) quality start. He struck out nearly a third (8 of 25) of his batters. He still has twice as many strikeouts as hits (36 K and 18 H in 28.2 IP).