minor lines, 4/11/14

Friday highlights from the Giants' farm: Jason Berken and Keury Mella each allowed just 1 R in their starts.  Also notable, Ryder Jones doubled twice among three hits.

AAA: Fresno defeated Las Vegas 5-1
(scoring four runs in the 6th inning)

Fresno: RF Tyler Colvin: 2 for 4, 2B

Fresno: SP Jason Berken: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HB, 1 WP
Fresno: RP Dan Runzler: 1.0 IP, 2 K

Colvin was one of three Grizzlies with two hits each, and his 3rd double was the lone XBH for the Grizzlies.  He has had a slow start to the 2014 season, hitting just .194/.265/.290 through his first 31 AB.

Berken delivered a quality start, allowing just 1 R.  He threw just 79 pitches (50 strikes).  Runzler had 2 K in a perfect 8th inning.

AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 5-4
(scoring four runs in the 9th inning after allowing three runs in the 8th inning)

Richmond: CF Tyler Graham: 2 for 5, 3B, 2B
Richmond: SS Matt Duffy: 2 for 4, 2B, HBP, SO
Richmond: 2B Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 3, BB, GiDP

Richmond: SP Adalberto Mejia: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Richmond: RP Austin Fleet: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Richmond: RP Derek Law: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Altoona: SP Nick Kingham: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--2 WP

Middle infielders Duffy and Stromsmoe both reached base three times to pace the Flying Squirrels' offense.  Stromsmoe currently leads the Squirrels with a .467 OBP, while Duffy's OBP is .351.  Graham added his 1st triple and 3rd double.

In the 1st inning, Mejia was struck by a comebacker that richoted into left field.  He finished the inning, throwing just 17 pitches (14 strikes), but did not return for the 2nd inning.  Fleet provided 4.1 scoreless IP in long relief.  Law had 2 K in 1.1 perfect IP.  The Pirates' Kingham, one of the top 100 prospects in the minors, had a quality start against the Squirrels.

A+: San Jose lost to Bakersfield 5-2
(allowing two runs in both the 1st and 5th innings)

San Jose: LF Elliott Blair: 2 for 4, SO

San Jose: SP Martin Agosta: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Blair was the lone Giant with two hits.  With two hits in three of his first seven games, he has a .348 AVG in 23 AB.

Agosta made his first start of the year. He threw less than half his pitches for strikes (28 of 57) and went just 3.0 IP.

A-: Augusta defeated Charleston 8-1
(adding five insurance runs over the 8th and 9th innings)

Augusta: 1B Brandon Bednar: 2 for 5, 2B, CS, E
Augusta: SS Ryder Jones: 3 for 5, 2 2B, E

Augusta: SP Keury Mella: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K--2 WP

Bednar and Jones combined for five of the GreenJackets' nine hits and all three of their XBH.  After going hitless in his last four games and having just three hits through his first seven games, Jones got his AVG above the Mendoza line.  He has committed 3 errors already.

Mella issued 4 BB but allowed just 1 H in 5.0 IP.  He threw 75 pitches (42 strikes).  FWIW, this start is statistically unlike his last start, also against Charleston, in which he allowed 7 H but issued no walks.