minor lines, 5/27/13

Memorial Day highlights from the Giants' farm: Chris Stratton had 7.0 scoreless IP, and Shane Loux allowed just 1 ER in 9.0 IP. Also notable, the quartet of Adam Duvall, Chris Lofton, Jeff Arnold and Rafael Rodriguez each homered in a three-hit performance.

AAA: Fresno defeated Colorado Springs 8-1
(scoring multiple runs in the three of the first four innings)

Fresno: CF Gary Brown: 2 for 5, SO, SB
Fresno: RF Roger Kieschnick: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB
Fresno: C Jackon Williams: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 SO

Fresno: SP Shane Loux: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Three Grizzlies had two hits each., Kieschnick hits his 14th and 15th doubles, while also drawing a walk, improving his season line to .315/.383/.583 through 168 AB. He ranks 7th in the PCL with his .967 OPS. Williams has 6 of his 20 hits over his last three games, raising his AVG to .213 through 94 AB. Brown had a pair of 2-RBI singles.

Loux, who had not pitched in the 7th inning in any of his previous eight starts, had his most effective start of the year. He faced just three batters over the minimum in the nine-inning complete game. After a season-high 7 ER in his previous start, he got his ERA back down to 4.09.

AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 13-2
(scoring multiple runs in the three of the first four innings)

Richmond: 3B Adam Duvall: 3 for 6, HR, E
Richmond: 1B Mark Minicozzi: 4 for 6
Richmond: CF Ryan Lollis: 3 for 6, SH, PO

Richmond: SP Fabio Castillo: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K--1 BK
Richmond: RP Taylor Rogers: 2.2 IP, 1 K
Altoona: SP James McDonald: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 ER, 4 BB, 0 K--1 HR

The Flying Squirrels pounded out sixteen hits, including ten by the trio in the heart of the order--Duvall, who as the third batter of the game hit a three-run HR; Minicozzi, who raised his team-leading AVG to .347; and Lollis, who has hit .365 in May after hitting just .209 in April.

Making his second start, Castillo struck out nearly two batters per innings but allowed more than two baserunners per inning. Rogers, who was making his fourth start relief appearance after beginning the year in the rotation, had 2.1 perfect IP. The Pirates' McDonald retired just one of his seven batters in his first rehab appearance. He threw just 14 of 33 pitches for strikes.

A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 11-9 (14 innings)

San Jose: CF Chris Lofton: 3 for 5, HR, 3BB, SO
San Jose: C Jeff Arnold: 3 for 6, HR, BB, SO, GiDP, PB

San Jose: SP Ty Blach: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB

With three hits each, Lofton and Arnold had nearly half of the Giants' fourteen hits. Both have AVGs close to .285. Lofton hit his 1st HR while reaching base six times, and Arnold hit his 9th HR, closing within one for the team lead.

After allowing more than 2 ER in just one of his previous eight starts, Blach allowed a season-high 6 ER today. Still, his ERA remains below 3.00. Blach and five relievers allowed 21 hits, and only two of the Blaze's nine hitters did not have a multi-hit game.

A-: Augusta defeated Hickory 4-0

Augusta: LF Rafael Rodriguez: 3 for 4, HR

Augusta: SP Chris Stratton: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K--1 HB
Augusta: RP Steven Okert: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 5 K

With his 3rd HR and two singles, Rodriguez improved his season rate stats to .221/.291/.365 through 104 AB.

Stratton had the most effective start of his pro career, allowing just one hit in 7.0 scoreless IP. After nine starts, his components stats are 41 H, 20 BB and 57 K in 54.2 IP. Okert struck out five of his seven batters, although his K/IP remains shy of 1.00.