Minor Lines, April 16, 2015

The San Jose Giants finally got to have their home opener, and used it to change their fortunes after a four-game losing streak, but they'd have to do it without their young star Christian Arroyo.  But extra-base hits ruled the roost on the west coast, with homers and doubles and runs, while Augusta had itself a pitching duel in their own home opener.  Richmond, meanwhile, took the day off.

HIGHLIGHTS: Ryder Jones got on base all five times he came to the plate, including his first home run of the season.  Nathaniel Santiago pitched brilliantly in his first start of the year.  But perhaps most upliftingly, Bryan Stow walked onto the infield in San Jose, and threw out the first pitch for their home opener.

Las Vegas defeated Sacramento, 7-4

It wasn't the cleanest game in Sacramento, and that would help cost Ty Blach the game.  A missed catch on a pickoff play and a throwing error by Adam Duvall at first led to two unearned runs, and a fielding error by Travis Ishikawa preceded a three-run homer that Blach gave up.  Otherwise, Blach pitched fairly well, nearly going 7 innings for the second time in a row to star this season.  Blach, however, helped himself by going 1-for-2 with a double at the plate, and picking up an amazing double play defensively.

Offensively, the River Cats had five extra-base hits, including Adam Duvall's third home run of the year, and doubles by former San Francisco players Ishikawa, Susac and Ford.  However, Ronny Cedeno and Ehire Adrianza combined to go 0-for-10 at the top of the lineup, giving a lack of runners to drive in for the rest of the lineup.

San Jose defeated Bakersfield, 10-5

The Giants pounded out 17 hits against Bakersfield to win their home opener and end a four-game losing streak.  They took advantage of sloppy play by Bakersfield early, scoring three runs in the first thanks partially to a throwing error and pop fly that dropped in.  However, San Jose never let the pressure up, and didn't need any errors to help Ryder Jones and John Polonius to each hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to seal the game.

Jones in particular had an amazing game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a walk and his second home run of the season.  He's batting .462 on the 7-game old season.  However, he airmailed a throw from third and booted another ball in the field, so it wasn't a perfect day.  Rafael Rodriguez also continued his hot hitting with three hits, including pulling a double down the line.  It was his third three-hit game of the season, and he's batting .458 on the season.  Austin Slater also had a 3-hit game.

On the injury front, Christian Arroyo was placed on the DL with a strained oblique muscle.  Tyler Horan, who started the game in right field, was removed from the game after the third inning, with no obvious reason.  I will keep my eyes open for a reason.  Finally, Erik Cordier pitched the first inning on a rehab assignment.  Cordier was in Fresno most of last season, and also appeared in seven games for the SF Giants.

One final note: outfielder Brennan Metzler, on the DL, participated in the mid-inning "Smash For Cash" promo, in which players try to break the headlights on an old truck.  On his second of two throws, he missed the truck entirely, throwing underneath it.  I thought that should be noted, because, come on man.

Augusta defeated Rome, 1-0

Nathanael Santiago was the star of this game for the GreenJackets in their home opener.  The 25-year old pitcher from Mexico is in his first season in affiliated baseball, and he made his first start, limited the Braves to just one hit and one walk.  He now has 11 strikeouts over nine innings of work, and set the tone for the rest of the game.  Connor Kaden stretched out to his longest appearance of three in the season, while Ramon Del Or be made his debut in the Giants' system.  Del Orbe was a Triple-A Rule 5 selection away from the Marlines.

As you would expect in a pitching duel, the offensive side had few exciting points.  Only DH John Riley got on base twice (with a single and the only walk by the GreenJackets).  The team's only two extra-base hits were a double by Hunter Cole to get on base, and then a double by Skyler Ewing to bring him in.  Meanwhile, the Johneshwy Fargas hit parade continued, albeit with just a single hit.