minor lines, 4/17/14

Thursday highlights from the Giants' farm: Clayton Blackburn had 6.1 scoreless IP, Elliott Blair homered twice, and both Andrew Susac and Mac Williamson, as well as Devin Harris, homered while reaching base three times.

AAA: Fresno defeated Sacramento 7-3
(scoring five runs over the 3rd and 4th innings)

Fresno: 2B Joe Panik: 3 for 4, 2B, SF
Fresno: C Andrew Susac: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, HBP

Fresno: SP Chris Heston: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 HB, 1 WP

Susac connected for his 2nd HR and 3rd double while reaching base three times.  Panik's three hits, including his 1st double, paced the Grizzlies' 13-hit attack.

Heston came up one out shy of a quality start.  Last year he had a .301 BAA over 19 starts, and this year he has a similar .300 BAA as he has allowed 18 H in 15.2 IP.

AA: Richmond defeated Altoona 2-1
(scoring both runs in the 3rd inning)

Richmond: 1B Angel Villalona: 1 for 2, BB, SF

Richmond: SP Clayton Blackburn: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Altoona: SP Nick Kingham: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

With one of the Flying Squirrels' six hits (all singles) and one of their three walks, Villalona was the lone Squirrel to reach base twice.

Blackburn delivered 6.1 scoreless IP, improving his ERA to 1.76 after three starts.  Today's start included a 10/3 GO/FO line.  He threw 88 pitches (47 strikes).  The Pirates' Kingham, one of the top 100 prospects in the minors, did not allow an earned run but took the loss.  With just 1 ER in his three starts this year, he has 0.53 ERA.

A+: San Jose defeated Bakersfield 9-2

San Jose: LF Elliott Blair: 2 for 5, 2 HR, SO
San Jose: DH Mac Williamson: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, HBP

San Jose: SP Martin Agosta: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K--1 E
San Jose: RP Jeff Soptic: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

The Giants' big offensive night was led by Blair, who hit his 2nd and 3rd HRs, both two-run shots in the 5th and 7th innings.  In the 7th inning, Williamson followed Blair with his 1st HR as the two sluggers went back-to-back.

In his second start this year, Agosta walked three batters in the 2nd inning and was subsequently pulled from the game.  Soptic provided long relief, stranding all three inherited runners and adding 3.0 scoreless IP thereafter.

A-: Augusta lost to Lexington 5-4
(scoring three runs in the top of the 9th inning to tie but allowing the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning)

Augusta: LF Devin Harris: 2 for 3, HR, BB, GiDP
Augusta: RP Tyler Horan: 2 for 4, HR

Augusta: SP Keury Mella: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K--1 HB

The GreenJackets' corner outfielders both went deep for the first time this year--Harris leading off the 2nd inning with a solo shot and Horan in the 9th inning with a two-run blast.

Mella allowed more than 1 R for the first time this year but also had a season-high 6.0 IP.