minor lines, 4/22/14

Tuesday's highlights from the Giants' farm: Jarrett Parker had 4 XBH, and Chase Johnson had 5.0 scoreless IP.

AAA: Fresno lost to Reno 4-3
(allowing three runs in the 3rd inning)

Fresno: 2B Joe Panik: 2 for 3, SF

Fresno: SP Chris Heston: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 WP

Panik had two of the Grizzlies' six hits, raising his AVG to .304.

The box score suggests that overall Heston pitched well, but he gave up one big key hit with the three-run HR in the 3rd inning.  His fourth start included new season highs with 7.0 IP and 5 K.

AA: Richmond defeated Reading 11-5
(scoring eight runs over the 8th and 9th innings)

Richmond: 2B Skyler Stromsmoe: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB
Richmond: CF Jarrett Parker: 4 for 6, 3B, 3 2B, 2 SO
Reading: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4, HR

Richmond: SP Ty Blach: 1.0 IP
Richmond: RP Phil McCormick: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Richmond: RP Bryce Bandilla: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Parker had the big game with 4 XBH, doubling his season total after just 4 XBH in his first 16 games.  His season line is now .299/.356/.463 through 67 AB.  Batting leadoff, Stromsmoe also reached base four times.   The Phillies' Joseph homered for the second straight day facing his former team.

Blach's fourth start was cut short after a 92-minute rain delay in the 2nd inning.  McCormick provided long relief.  With at least 1 ER in each of his last five appearances, he has an ERA above 5.00.  Bandilla, making his first appearance in two weeks, pitched a perfect 8th inning.

A+: San Jose lost to Visalia 4-2
(allowing all four runs in the 5th inning)

San Jose: CF Jesus Galindo: 4 for 4, SB
San Jose: C Trevor Brown: 1 for 3, HR

San Jose: SP Kendry Flores: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K--1 HR

Batting leadoff, Galindo singled in all four plate appearances, raising his AVG to .351.  He also had his 6th SB.  Brown's two-run HR in the 8th inning, his 1st HR this year, scored the Giants' only two runs.

Through four starts, Flores has alternated very good starts and relatively poor starts.  In his first and third starts, he allowed 1 ER in 13.0 IP.  In his second and fourth starts, he allowed 9 ER in 9.1 IP.

A-: Augusta lost to Hagerstown 4-3
(allowing two runs in the 9th inning)

Augusta: 2B Christian Arroyo: 2 for 4, 2B, SO

Augusta: SP Chase Johnson: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Hagerstown: SP Lucas Giolito: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K--1 HB

With his 3rd double and a single, Arroyo had two of the GreenJackets' five hits.  His four-game hitting streak has improved his season line to .231/.271/.308 after 65 AB.

Johnson had his most effective start this year with 5.0 scoreless IP.  He outpitched the Nationals' Giolito, who is perhaps among the top 25 prospects in the minors.  Giolito had delivered 5.0 scoreless IP in each of his last two starts.