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Do we like pitcher HR's here at Minor Lines? Damn skippy we do!
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Another thing we like are funny baseball faces, and the Squirrels baseball card giveaway provides us with a couple of doozies. I can tell you from my marching band days that Kyle Crick has arranged himself into a perfect trombone-playing face here. And as Mac appears to be trying out his best Dizzy Gillespie imitation, I suppose he must be accompanying Kyle on trumpet:
GIVEAWAY! Must RT. and follow @mwilliamson7, @K_Crick49 and @SquirrelsRVA. Go! pic.twitter.com/y6VhihW4g9
— Josh Mathews (@SquirrelsRVA) May 22, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS: Rando Moreno and Hunter Cole both reached base four times. Cristian Paulino reached base 4 times, stole a base, and smacked a walk-off triple.
Sacramento lost to Memphis (Cardinals), 8-6
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
1b |
Adam Duvall |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.321 |
|
LF |
Travis Ishikawa |
5 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.302 |
|
C |
Hector Sanchez |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.400 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Kevin Correia |
6.0 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4.40 |
|
Juan Gutierrez |
1.2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4.57 |
|
Mike Broadway |
0.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.42 |
|
Cody Hall, L |
0.2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.57 |
The RiverCats went up against one of St. Louis' better starting pitching prospects in this game, LHP Tim Cooney, their #7 prospect on BA's list, and the Sacramento attack was well up to the challenge in this one. Cooney, by the way, was a college teammate of Mac Williamson's and was taken in the draft just two picks after Mac, a good 3rd round for Wake.
Adam Duvall has had almost exactly the same number of ABs home and away so far this year, and most of the away games have come at some of the more notorious launching pads of the PCL. But so far, it's the home field that revs up his HR swing and it did so again last night to start the scoring in the first inning. Of Duvall's 12 HRs on the year, this was his 8th at Raley Field.
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Sacramento scored in 5 different innings in this game, and posted a solid attack with 16 baserunners on 12 hits, and 4 XBH (including 3 HRs). The heart of the order of Duvall, Ishikawa, and Hector Sanchez (in his first AAA game this year) did most of the damage with 6 hits and 2 HRs.
The third HR, of course, came from SP Kevin Correia, and it was no doubt a big thrill for Kevin as that was his first professional HR in 12 years and about 400 PA. Indeed, it was his first XBH as a minor leaguer, though he does have 6 doubles in the majors. I'm going to assume that Correia's contract has an opt-out clause in it, as is typical of major leaguers on minor league contracts, and given the fill in performances the Giants have received from Vogie and Heston, and Peavy's possibly imminent return, I would not be too surprised to see Correia exercise that clause when it comes up. Early June seems to be a common time for that clock to strike in recent years.
Sacramento lost this game in, for them, highly unusual circumstances: a bullpen blowup. They had been 17-0 on the season when leading after 7 innings. Hunter Strickland, of course, was not available as he was on a flight to Denver, and Mike Broadway had to come in to bail Juan Gutierrez out of the 8th. That left the 9th to Cody Hall, and Cody had his toughest outing of the year. He doubled the amount of runs he'd allowed for the year and most unusually, he set it up with a bout of wildness, walking two of the first three batters he faced (around a Sac Bunt). Just one of those nights, and given how good the bullpen has been this year, hard to begrudge. However, the loss dropped Sacramento to .500 on the year.
Fans still seemed to enjoy the evening though:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great Sacramento night at the <a href="https://twitter.com/RiverCats">@RiverCats</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/NLDorso">@NLDorso</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RandyKoss916">@RandyKoss916</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AmyPayneCS">@AmyPayneCS</a>, and @cbensen8222 <a href="http://t.co/zIzZFgFt2j">pic.twitter.com/zIzZFgFt2j</a></p>— Jeffrey Dorso (@JeffreyDorso) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyDorso/status/601967567175974912">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Friday night out at the <a href="https://twitter.com/RiverCats">@RiverCats</a> game! ⚾️#ClawsUp <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SacramentoRiverCats?src=hash">#SacramentoRiverCats</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SacramentoProud?src=hash">#SacramentoProud</a> <a href="http://t.co/SoFBMqbqpV">pic.twitter.com/SoFBMqbqpV</a></p>— bailee baker (@bailee_baker) <a href="https://twitter.com/bailee_baker/status/601941436863356929">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Seriously, that's a beautiful place:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Front row seats to the Sacramento skyline, a beautiful sunset, and the Rivercats game with <a href="https://twitter.com/ASLA_CA_Sierra">@ASLA_CA_Sierra</a>! <a href="http://t.co/lQZtpW2ueH">pic.twitter.com/lQZtpW2ueH</a></p>— Danica Liongson (@DanicaLiongson) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanicaLiongson/status/601590940067700736">May 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Richmond beat Bowie (Orioles), 5-4
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
SS |
Rando Moreno |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.320 |
|
DH |
Devin Harris |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.283 |
|
1b |
Ricky Oropesa |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.268 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Kelvin Marte, W, 4-0 |
5.0 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3.31 |
|
Edwin Quirarte |
3.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.26 |
|
Josh Osich, S, 7 |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.96 |
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A perfect night at The Diamond. <a href="http://t.co/ej1rcGYaZD">pic.twitter.com/ej1rcGYaZD</a></p>— Squirrels Baseball (@GoSquirrels) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoSquirrels/status/601922564684918785">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Rando Moreno, who has now reached base in 11 consecutive games, had the big night with 3 hits and a walk, 2 Runs and an RBI.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rando Moreno had three hits and a walk tonight, has hit .372 over his last 11 games. Saw increased playing time after Miller injury.</p>— Josh Mathews (@SquirrelsRVA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SquirrelsRVA/status/601928356960018432">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Ricky Oropesa also had another big game, with two doubles and an RBI. In the month of May, Oropesa is hitting .352/.373/.577.
The Squirrels used four DP to help contain Bowie on a night when starter Kelvin Marte wasn't terribly sharp. The big moment came in the 5th, when Richmond squirmed out of a bases loaded one out situation, at a point in the game when Bowie had a 3-2 lead.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Squirrels a rare 3-2-3 double play to get out of the jam! Squirrels trail, 3-2.</p>— Squirrels Baseball (@GoSquirrels) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoSquirrels/status/601909316468252672">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Josh Osich worked through a two-on situation in the 9th to get the save. Osich's K rate is down pretty significantly this year, and despite the shiny ERA I have to wonder if the zip that was back in his velo in April has dwindled as the spring went on.
San Jose beat Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers), 6-5
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
RF |
Ryan Lollis |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
.337 |
|
LF |
Hunter Cole |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.337 |
|
DH |
Dylan Davis |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.219 |
|
C |
Ty Ross |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.214 |
|
SS |
Brandon Bednar |
3 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.202 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Jake Peavy |
3.1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Jake Smith |
0.2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2.45 |
|
Jeff Soptic |
3.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.72 |
|
Mason McVay, W 2-2 |
1.1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.79 |
|
Dan Slania, S 8 |
0.2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.41 |
Big night in SJ for the Giants' more-immediate-than-normal-future.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants">@SFGiants</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JakePeavy_44">@JakePeavy_44</a> in the bullpen warming up prior to tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJGiants?src=hash">#SJGiants</a> game! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GiantTogether?src=hash">#GiantTogether</a> <a href="http://t.co/Ar6iah0ywi">pic.twitter.com/Ar6iah0ywi</a></p>— San Jose Giants (@SJGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SJGiants/status/601928674753949697">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Love the high socks and stripes look Jake! Good news! Jake Peavy had an excellent rehab appearance, striking out 4 over 3.1 innings with one hit and one walk. His 3rd inning was particularly impressive, dispatching the side on 6 pitches.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Peavy done after 3 1/3 scoreless innings here in San Jose. 1 hit, 1 walk, 4 K's. Retired 10 of 12 hitters, 50 pitches/37 strikes. FB 87-90.</p>— Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeRitzo/status/601945469699391488">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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And, not insignificantly...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/JakePeavy_44">@JakePeavy_44</a> just struck out the beer batter and the crowd goes wild! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJGiants?src=hash">#SJGiants</a></p>— Julie (@phibear35) <a href="https://twitter.com/phibear35/status/601937633426550784">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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No word on whether or not Peavy freaked out any of his young teammates shouting at them from the mound.
This game was a somewhat sleepy 2-2 affair entering the bottom of the 8th, but 7 runs were scored in the final six outs. SJ struck first with a four run 8th inning, powered by 7 singles. The Giants batted around in the inning and it would have done Bochy's heart glad to see the way they kept the line moving.
Hunter Cole had three more hits in this game, while playing LF. The 26th round pick from last year is having a fantastic full season debut, now hitting .346/.423/.449 in the Cal league and .327/.408/.442 overall. The 22 year old isn't showing much in the way of power, so it's highly unlikely he can succeed as a corner OF profile. The key for him will be to beef up the super UT side of his game on the defensive side. This is likely true of Slater as well. What think you all of these two 2014 draftees at this point?
On the mound, I apparently cursed Jake Smith by singling him out for praise yesterday, as he had a tough outing in relief of Peavy, surrendering a two-run HR to Cody Bellinger (no relation to Clay I don't believe). But Jeff Soptic picked up the staff by throwing three scoreless to get the game to the late innings. And after a hairy 9th inning that involved four hits, three doubles and a WP, Dan Slania finally closed the door on the game. The SJ staff did have some bad news before the game as Ray Black was placed back on the DL after only 3 outings. UGH!
Joe Ritzo had a whole passel of tweets out yesterday afternoon based on his conversation with Farm Director Shane Turner. You can listen to the entire, wide-ranging conversation Ritzo had with Turner in his 2-part pre-game show interview. Part 1 (which covers Kyle Crick and Mac Williamson's seasons among other things) was last night and you can hear it here:
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Augusta beat Asheville (Rockies), 7-6 in 10 innings
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
CF |
Johneshwy Fargas |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.319 |
|
LF |
Cristian Paulino |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
.324 |
|
DH |
Steven Neff |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.158 |
|
SS |
Travious Relaford |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.258 |
|
RF |
Randy Ortiz |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.192 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Nicholas Gonzalez |
6.0 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5.73 |
|
Raymundo Montero |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.71 |
Before the game, Augusta OF Seth Harrison was promoted to SJ. With Fargas and Ortiz back and Neff now on the team, it would look like that trio plus Cristian Paulino will be manning the OF positions in Augusta for the time being. I also wonder if Harrison's promotion means that Jesus Galindo might finally be getting out of the Cal league.
In this one, Augusta hitters struggled vs. Asheville starter Ryan Castellani, the Rockies #11 prospect, who pounded them in on the hands with his two-seamer.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Castellani is throwing well for Asheville. Nearly everything is weak contact, most on the thumbs. Hard run/sink at 92-94.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601905881966608384">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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But when the 19 year old reached his pitch count after 4 innings, the Greenjackets were able to make a few things happen. Most of the damage would come from the bottom of the order, as the 6-9 hitters reached base safely 9 times. Paulino had the biggest night with 2 hits, a triple, a walk, a HBP and his 8th SB.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Augusta gets two back in the 5th after pulling Castellani on a double play and RBI single by Fargas. Ortiz triple set up second run. 3-2 Ash</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601909843759337472">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Augusta cuts the deficit to one in the 7th but leaves the tying run on third. 4-3 Asheville.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601918072056872961">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Augusta scores 2 in the 9th to tie it at 5 and we go to extra innings. Wild pitch scored one, Relaford RBI 2B scored other.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601928481501478912">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Better stuff from Augusta's Nick Gonzalez tonight. Allowed 3 1st-inning runs, settled in. 7 K, 12 swinging strikes, sharper breaking ball.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601914954300706817">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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In the end, it was a night of stirring comebacks for the Greenjackets. They put up two to tie it in the bottom of the 9th, and after surrendering a go ahead run in the top of the 10th, Augusta managed a comeback based on a K-WP, and a FC on which nobody was retired, setting up Cristian Paulino's 2-run triple to win it and send the Augusta faithful home happy. Photographic evidence!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Walk-off fun by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Augusta?src=hash">#Augusta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenJackets">@GreenJackets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/baseball?src=hash">#baseball</a> <a href="http://t.co/EZd7kdBpfQ">pic.twitter.com/EZd7kdBpfQ</a></p>— Andrew Everett (@AndrewUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewUpdates/status/601937830236057600">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Oh, and let's not forget this little gem:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight's Auggie gnome. Well done. <a href="http://t.co/ROxtWzefx4">pic.twitter.com/ROxtWzefx4</a></p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601836794796187648">May 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Lee's full scouting report for the night can be found here, focussing on Asheville starter Castellani, but there's also good info on Fargas:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Friday's Asheville-Augusta notes, including a full report on Rockies '14 2nd-rd RHP Ryan Castellani. <a href="http://t.co/hw3HZK0R7b">http://t.co/hw3HZK0R7b</a></p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/601969686054572032">May 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Lots of interesting arms going for the affiliates tonight as Austin Fleet, Chris Stratton, Tyler Beede, and Jose Reyes are scheduled to start.