minor lines, 8/10/13

Saturday most notables from the Giants' farm: Eric Surkamp allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP, and Mac Williamson homered and walked.

AAA: Fresno lost to Iowa 3-0

Fresno: 3B Chris Dominguez: 1 for 3, BB

Fresno: SP Eric Surkamp: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Iowa: SP Brooks Raley: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Dominguez had one of the Grizzlies' two hits (both singles) and one of their four walks.

Since making his MLB debut, Surkamp has had three straight starts with 1 ER in 7.0 IP.  He was particularly efficient with his pitch count as he pounded the strike zone with 57 of 79 pitches for strikes.  The Cubs' Raley, who made five MLB starts last year and has one MLB relief appearance this year, shut down the Grizzlies in 8.0 scoreless IP.  He had a 15/3 GO/FO line.

AA: Richmond defeated New Hampshire 7-2 (13 innings)
(scoring one run in the 12th inning and then five runs in the 13th inning)

Richmond: CF Ryan Lollis: 2 for 5, BB, SH, SO
Richmond: 2B Joe Panik: 3 for 5, BB, SH
Richmond: LF Javier Herrera: 2 for 7, HR, 3 SO

Richmond: SP Taylor Rogers: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Richmond: RP Edwin Quirarte: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Batting in the first two spots in the order, Lollis and Panik combined to reach base seven times.  Batting one spot lower, Herrera hit his 14th HR--a grand slam in the 13th inning.

Returning to the rotation after a couple relief appearances (during Ryan Vogelsong's rehab starts), Rogers allowed just 1 R in 5.0 IP.  Quirarte pitched a perfect 6th inning.  With a 2.67 ERA, this has been perhaps his best pro season since being drafted in the fourth round five years ago.

A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 3-2

San Jose: RF Mac Williamson: 1 for 3, HR, BB
San Jose: 3B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 4, 2B, SO

San Jose: SP Kelvin Marte: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K--2 HR
San Jose: RP Jeff Soptic: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Bakersfield: SP Robert Stephenson: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

After 7 HRs in July, Williamson hit his first HR in August--his 20th HR this year.   He and Cavan both reached base twice.

Marte made his longest start of the year.  He allowed a solo HR in the 1st inning and a two-run HR in the 4th inning.  Soptic pitched a perfect 9th inning, getting his ERA below 6.50.  The Reds' Stephenson, who is perhaps among the top 50 prospects in the minors, faced just two batters over the minimum in 6.0 scoreless IP, striking out nearly half (9 of 20) his batters.  This was his fourth Cal League start after posting a 2.57 ERA in fourteen Midwestern League starts.  He was drafted 27th overall two years out of Alhambra High School in Martinez, California.

A-: Augusta at Greensboro postponed by rain
(A makeup doubleheader is scheduled for tomorrow.)

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Everett 4-2

Salem-Keizer: C Leonardo Rojas: 2 for 2, 2B, HBP, PB

Salem-Keizer: SP ChrisSSS Johnson: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Among four Volcanoes with two hits each, Rojas reached base in all three plate appearances in his second NWL game.

Johnson has pitched six full innings in nine of his eleven starts.  With just 4 ER over his last four starts, he has improved his ERA to 2.24.  In his last nine starts, he has a nearly unbelievable 59 K against just 2 BB.

R: Giants defeated Mariners 14-5
(completing game suspended in 7th inning on July 6)

Scottsdale: RF Hector Mercedes: 4 for 6, HR, 2B, SO
Scottsdale: RP Dusten Knight: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Mercedes finished the game with his four of the rookie Giants' seventeen hits, including what will count as his 1st HR but is really his 2nd HR.  Knight struck out five of his ten batters for his 1st save, although it's really his 2nd save after another save earlier this week.

R: Giants defeated Mariners 5-3
(in today's regularly scheduled game)

Scottsdale: C John Riley: 3 for 5, 3B, 2B, 2 SO
Scottsdale: 3B Will Callaway: 2 for 3, BB

Scottsdale: SP Keury Mella: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Riley hit his 2nd triple, 2nd double and a single, raising his AVG to .235.  Callaway also reached base three times, raising his OBP above .400.

Mella made his first appearance in over two weeks.  He faced the minimum six batters in 2.0 scoreless IP.

DSL: Gigantes defeated White Sox 3-1

Dominican: 3B Nathaniel Javier: 2 for 4
Dominican: SP Jonathan Loaisiga: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Javier (17.10 y.o.) was the lone Gigante with two hits.  With just one hit in his previous five games, his AVG has fallen below .220.  Loaisiga (18.9 y.o.) had perhaps his best pro start, facing just two batters over the minimum in 7.0 IP.