minor lines, 6/29/14

Sunday highlights from the Giants' farm: Gary Brown homered while reaching base four times, and Joe Kurrasch and Chase Johnson each allowed just 1 R in their starts.

AAA: Fresno lost to Salt Lake 9-3 (10 innings)

Fresno: CF Gary Brown: 3 for 4, HR, HBP, SB
Fresno: 1B Brandon Belt: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SO
Fresno: RF-1B Travis Ishikawa: 3 for 5, 2B
Fresno: 3B Chris Dominguez: 3 for 5, 2B, GiDP

Fresno: SP Edwin Escobar: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HB

Brown led off the game with his 6th HR and reached base in three of four subsequent plate appearances.  Ishikawa and Dominguez joined Brown with three hits each, while all the other Grizzlies managed just three hits combined, one of which was Belt's 3rd inning big fly.

Pitching on four days rest, instead of being given five days with the Grizzlies' off-day earlier this week, Escobar pitched his second straight quality start.  With this start, he presumably will not pitch in the four-game series in Sacramento beginning tomorrow evening.

AA: Richmond defeated Bowie 4-3
(scoring three runs in the 4th inning)

Richmond: SS Matt Duffy: 2 for 2, 2B, 2 BB
Richmond: C Tyler LaTorre: 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB

Richmond: SP Ty Blach: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Richmond: RP Hunter Strickland: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Duffy hit his 15th double while reaching base in all four plate appearances.  His outstanding season continues as he has hit .337/.403/.434 through 279 AB.  LaTorre doubled twice today after just 2 XBH in his previous 28 games this year.

After a season-high 9 K in his last start, Blach managed just 2 K today.  Still, he had his fourth straight start with 2 R or less.  Strickland pitched a perfect 7th inning.

A+: San Jose defeated Visalia 2-1

San Jose: 2B Alberto Robles: 2 for 3, 2B, E

San Jose: SP Joe Kurrarasch: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 PO

Robles' 3rd double and single were two of just four hits for the Giants.

Kurrasch delivered another strong start.  Although his K/IP is barely above 0.50, he has been as effective as any pitcher in the organization this year with a 1.76 ERA in 56.1 IP.

A-: Augusta lost to Lexington 3-2
(allowing two runs in the 9th inning)

Augusta: LF Rarafel Rodriguez: 2 for 4, SO
Augusta: C Ty Ross: 1 for 3, 2B, BB

Augusta: SP Chase Johnson: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Rodriguez's recent hot streak has raised his AVG to .262.  Ross also reached base twice, with his 10th double being the GreenJackets' lone XBH.

Making his thirteenth start, Johnson had a season-high 6.1 IP and just his second quality start this year.

ssA: Salem-Keizer lost to Vancouver 5-3

Salem-Keizer: CF Tyler Hollick: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, CS
Salem-Keizer: LF Craig Massoni: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SO

Salem-Keizer: SP JoseEEE Reyes: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Salem-Keizer: RP Cameron McVey: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Hollick and Massoni each doubled and walked.

Making his 35th career pro start (over five seasons), Reyes had a career-high 7.0 IP.  He allowed 2 ER in both the 1st and 3rd innings and the final earned run in the 7th inning.  McVey pitched a perfect 8th inning.

R: Giants lost to Cubs 5-4

Scottsdale: 2B Kevin Rivera: 2 for 5

Scottsdale: SP Clayton Blackburn: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 HB

Rivera had two of the rookie Giants' six hits (all singles).  He also had both their RBIs.

Making his second rehab start, Blackburn pitched three scoreless IP.  After the leadoff batter reached on an error, he struck out half of his remaining ten batters and allowed only one batter to reach base.

DSL: Gigantes had their usual Sunday off-day