SF Giants Minor Lines 8/12/15

Skyler Ewing finally hit his 1st HR of the year last night, although it came in unexpected, and frankly alarming circumstances.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rough scene. Ewing lines one to RF wall. Hagerstown&#39;s Carey runs hard into wall and stays down. Ewing circles for 2-run inside park HR.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631618102342647808">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Ewing hit 8 HRs in just 51 games last year in Salem-Keizer. His power outage this year has been one of 2015's great mysteries/disappointments. Also,

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carey finally gets up and walks off on his own power, so that&#39;s good. His contact with the wall was loud.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631618223738388480">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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HIGHLIGHTS: Darren Ford homered for third consecutive day. CJ Hinojosa had his third consecutive multi-XBH game with a HR. Sandro Fabian had a 4 hit day and threw out a runner.

* * *

Sacramento won at Tacoma (Mariners), 6-2

Darren Ford is crazy on fire! The veteran CF homered for his third consecutive game yesterday, extending his career high HR total to 11.

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Career highs in HRs are a big thing in the Giants organization this year. Brandon Crawford has of course set a new career mark this year. The next HR for both Matt Duffy and Joe Panik will set new marks (including minor league careers). Brandon Belt has some work to do to set a new professional high, though he has tied his major league high.  Jarrett Parker is one away from tying his career high, and down in SJ Christian Arroyo's power surge the last week has set a new high for him. I welcome this trend!

A bigger HR in yesterday's game came from old and new friend Nick Noonan, who celebrated his return to the Giants org by hitting a two-run HR in the 2nd to put the RiverCats on the board (this was Noonan's second game with Sacramento, so obviously a delayed celebration). Noonan reached base three times, as did Mac Williamson, who had his best game in a couple of weeks.  In all Sacramento banged out 12 hits, including four XBH, plus three walks in account for their runs.

All of which made a winner out of Ty Blach, who danced through danger for five innings, allowing just two runs on nine hits. Blach had at least two runners on in four of the five innings he pitched, but all of the hits he allowed were singles and, as usual, he didn't give much away for free. He allowed one walk, and he got two double play grounders. There was talk in yesterday's comments about Blach's tendency to give up hits, which he most certainly does do. Since both his K rates and his BB rates are so low, virtually everything is put in play and Blach typically has a very normal BABIP (.314 this year). But it's worth considering that his WHIP is lower than Clayton Blackburn's this year at 1.34, and he typically survives as long as he can avoid the hard XB contact that he's run into a good bit this year (he's averaging about a HR per 9 innings).

Steven Okert's outing wasn't exactly clean, as he allowed two of the four batters he faced to reach base, but he ended up with his sixth consecutive scoreless outing thanks to two strikeouts, as well as to Mike Broadway coming in and finishing his inning. Broadway went four outs for the save.

Final note: for you northern California folks who were hella-jelly over Augusta's awesome MadBum bobblehead, no need! You can get your own:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Want one? First 2,500 fans get MadBum 2014 postseason MVP bobblehead at <a href="https://twitter.com/RiverCats">@RiverCats</a> game Friday the 21st. <a href="http://t.co/HgrTENhMut">pic.twitter.com/HgrTENhMut</a></p>&mdash; Jim Crandell (@JimCrandell) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimCrandell/status/631626242391867392">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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* * *

Richmond won at Bowie (Orioles), 9-1

Richmond got a much needed win on this roadtrip (now 2-4 on the trip), as they just overwhelmed the BaySox in this one. They out-hit Bowie 13-3 and had a total of 21 base runners in the game. Every Squirrel reached base at least once and everybody but Ricky Oropesa reached base multiple times. Five different starters had two hit games. And there needs to be a term for what Mitch Delfino did. The Platinum Sombrero? Nice bust out game for the bats, although off the field they took another hit

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So <a href="https://twitter.com/mattylu40">@mattylu40</a> making his first start coming back from shin contusion- was activated from DL today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hcole6">@hcole6</a> to the DL (groin) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash">#SFGiants</a> RVA</p>&mdash; Josh Mathews (@SquirrelsRVA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SquirrelsRVA/status/631624657003782145">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Final note: today's game will match Tyler Beede up for the first time against former teammate and friend Mike Yastrzemski:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="de" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VandyBoys?src=hash">#VandyBoys</a> reunion in Bowie <a href="https://twitter.com/tylerbeede">@tylerbeede</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeyaz18">@mikeyaz18</a> <a href="http://t.co/lVrkyDSzg9">pic.twitter.com/lVrkyDSzg9</a></p>&mdash; Dan (@VandyDanR) <a href="https://twitter.com/VandyDanR/status/631240322467667968">August 11, 2015</a></blockquote>

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* * *

San Jose lost to Visalia (Diamondbacks), 6-0

This afternoon will be San Jose's final game of the year vs. Visalia, and I'm sure everybody in the org will say a hearty "THANK GOD!" when it's over. The Giants have now gone a miserable 2-16 against the Rawhide this year. That's more than a quarter of their losses for the year. Toss in their inexplicable 1-7 against the woebegone Lake Elsinore Storm and you're at nearly 40% of the team's losses for the year.

San Jose started a lineup that included two ex-big leaguers, three AA vets, and a guy just back down from AAA and all told they managed two hits and three walks in this dis-spiriting shutout. The opposing starter, Markus Solbach, was making his Cal League debut, having just been called up from the Midwest League. It was the 8th time this year that SJ has been shut out and the second time in three games. They've now lost 6 of 7 games and the stretch has knocked them back down to three games below .500 with 25 to play. SJ hasn't had a losing season since 2003.

One of their hits was a bunt single from Daniel Carbonell, but he was removed from the game after that for unknown reasons.

Jordan Johnson made his second SJ start, and while it wasn't quite as strong as the first one, his 6:1 K:BB ratio suggested the same good solid fastball command as pitching coach Mike Couchee was mentioning in yesterday's pregame show. He was mostly done in by HRs as he gave up one of Mitch Haniger's two HRs on the game as well as Daniel Palka's 20th of the year.  Haniger, who the D'backs acquired for Gerardo Parra last year at the trade deadline, is an excellent hitting prospect who Arizona has recently dropped back down from AA to the Cal League, and he's simply been destroying the Cal, posting an OPS over 1.000 in 45 games. Haniger had been in the AA Southern League for a year and a half and wasn't exactly having a disastrous season there (.730 OPS) so their reasons for demoting him are unclear, but it's certainly had an effect on the Cal League as his presence at the top of Visalia's order has been one factor in their league best record.

San Jose goes into this afternoon's game 2 games behind Visalia and three games behind both Modesto and Stockton in the Wild Card race.

Anyway, let's get to some Susac stuff courtesy of Julie:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Susac behind the plate for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJGiants?src=hash">#SJGiants</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rehabstart?src=hash">#rehabstart</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sfgiants?src=hash">#sfgiants</a> <a href="http://t.co/uMbzUjp3Iu">pic.twitter.com/uMbzUjp3Iu</a></p>&mdash; Julie (@phibear35) <a href="https://twitter.com/phibear35/status/631650328887169024">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Damn, Susac just got hit hard in the head with a foul ball of the bat of Rawhide, Medrano. He&#39;s shaking his head a few time. Yikes </p>&mdash; Julie (@phibear35) <a href="https://twitter.com/phibear35/status/631665423973355521">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thankful he looks okay &amp; didn&#39;t have to leave the game. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontBreakSusac?src=hash">#DontBreakSusac</a> </p>&mdash; Julie (@phibear35) <a href="https://twitter.com/phibear35/status/631666113953140736">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At the end of the inning, as soon as Susac got into the dugout he was meet by the trainer. Susac immediately said &quot;I&#39;m alright.&quot; Whew!</p>&mdash; Julie (@phibear35) <a href="https://twitter.com/phibear35/status/631667081256132608">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here&#39;s some pics of Susac the last few innings. He says he&#39;s okay and I&#39;m hoping he is <a href="http://t.co/S1YiAKoBdm">pic.twitter.com/S1YiAKoBdm</a></p>&mdash; Julie (@phibear35) <a href="https://twitter.com/phibear35/status/631674234901778432">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Andrew should be back soon.

* * *

Augusta beat Hagerstown (Nats), 3-2

As noted at the top, Skyler Ewing hit a rocket to RF that ended up an inside the park HR when the RF collided with the wall. It was Ewing's first HR of the season. Rather remarkably, the 22 yr old 1b has just a .338 SLG and .097 Iso for the year in his full season debut.  That hit was, however, a big one as it put the Greenjackets on the board with a 2-0 lead vs. a tough Suns starter, Luis Reyes:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Luis Reyes: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, BB, 6 K, 7 ground balls, 6 fly balls, 2 line drives, 6 swinging strikes, 90-94, t95. Solid stuff and arm.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631658496975597569">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Augusta veteran starter Chris Johnson was able to make that lead stand up through the 6th, but in the 7th Hagerstown was able to scratch out the tying run thanks to the wildness of Eury Sanchez who walked the leadoff batter and then WP him to 2b. A Sac bunt and a Sac Fly later and the game was tied 2-2. Sanchez had WP a runner to 3b in the 6th inning as well, and that runner too had been brought in by a Sac Fly.

As has often been the case this year, the offensive catalyst of the game for Augusta would be leadoff man Johneshwy Fargas. Fargas reached base three times in the game, and stole his 58th base of the year (while also getting caught for the 18th time). Fargas would bat in both the 8th and 9th innings, and both times he would affect the game.

In the 8th he worked a leadoff walk.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fargas represents go-ahead run on first in 8th. 2 outs. 3-2 count. He breaks early but makes it. Gracious alive.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631640134849560576">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Fargas would get to 3b before the inning was over, but Skyler Ewing struck out to strand him there.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here we go again. Winning run on third with one out in the 9th for Augusta. Relaford is up.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631645071734087681">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Relaford pops out in foul territory on the first pitch. It&#39;s up to Fargas to prevent extra innings.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631645471400964096">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Augusta wins 3-2 on a walk-off RBI single by Johneshwy Fargas in the 9th. He rocked it to the left field wall.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/631645991255547904">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Walk-off magic, from Johneshwy!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Johneshwy Fargas hit a walk of RBI singe in the bottom of 9th to defeat the Suns 3-2 tonight!&#10;<a href="http://t.co/ikeAhJmBIU">http://t.co/ikeAhJmBIU</a> <a href="http://t.co/iPGm645950">pic.twitter.com/iPGm645950</a></p>&mdash; Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenJackets/status/631664552468418560">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

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The now 58-56 Greenjackets are still hanging around in the second half standings, 2.5 games back of 1st place. They are 25-20 in the second half.

* * *

Salem-Keizer beat Spokane Indians (Rangers), 6-1

Well if yesterday elicited a "Wow!" then today must be worthy of a Holy Moly! For the third consecutive game, C.J. Hinojosa recorded multiple extra-base hits including a HR. It was his fifth consecutive game with at least one XBH and the 4th time in those five games that he's had two.  Crazy! The total record of Hinojosa's last five games: 12 for 21, five doubles, one triple, three HRs. For the year the 11th rounder is now hitting .291/.321/.481.

A wee bit late, but the Volcanoes TV gang talks with Hinojosa in their wrapup of the series with Hillsboro that finished Tuesday:

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SK is tied for first with Hillsboro with 24 games left to play. Because Hillsboro also won the first half, SK could finish behind the Hops and still make the playoffs IF they have the second best overall record in the division for the season. Currently they have a four game lead over Everett in that category, so their position is currently looking pretty good (aside from the small detail that they'll have to find some way to beat Hillsboro in the post-season if they get there).

* * *

AZL Giants beat the AZL Angles, 2-1 in 12 inn

Scoring was hard to come by in this one, but the Giants managed some more walk off fun, when Jalen Miller lined a clean single to CF leading off the 12th, advanced to 2b on a balk, and came home on a Byron Murray single.  Miller's offensive stat line has been uneven this summer, so it's important to note that he's been getting lots of positive buzz from scouts who've watched him play. Not sure if everybody saw this from ESPn's Clint Longenhagen yesterday:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/giantsprospects">@giantsprospects</a> Miller looks fantastic, Edie is interesting. Mazza isn&#39;t for me.</p>&mdash; Eric Longenhagen (@longenhagen) <a href="https://twitter.com/longenhagen/status/631305138800463872">August 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Clint also shot lots of video of AZL Giants yesterday and has posted it on his You Tube page. There's in game shots of Miller, Edie, Dobson, and Murray, so be sure to check that out.  For a taste, here's some of Miller where you can see some nice bat speed:

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and a quick one of Mikey, cuz he's my fave:

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Deiyerbert Bolivar, making his third start, really came out of the shoots rusty in this game. He walked four batters in the first inning, which brought in the Angels first, and only, run of the game. But he got out of it without further damage and for the rest of his 5 inn. start he was fantastic, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 4.  The little (5'11", 155 lb) 19 year old LHP out of Valenzuela continues to be an intriguing pitcher for the Giants as he now has a 1.69 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for his career over 80 innings.

Randy Ortiz had, by far, his best effort since making the conversion to Pitcher, as he K'd 5 of the 7 batters he faced. Coming into the game he had just 8 Ks in 11 iP, so well done Randy! Heath Slatton, the Giants 18th round pick this year out of Middle Tennessee St, continues to toy with the AZL. He's allowed just 1 earned run in 17 IP while holding opponents to a .177 BA. He has a 19:3 K:BB ratio and an 0.82 WHIP and has been a pretty dominant force at the end of the AZL Giants games.

* * *

DSL Giants beat the DSL Mariners, 3-2

Huge game here for Sandro Fabian who had 4 of the team's 7 hits. He tripled and scored in the 1st inning and then knocked in the team's second run in the 3rd.  Over his last 7 games, Fabian is 11 for 24 with a triple and a HR. He also had his 9th OF assist of the season while manning CF. The winning run scored in the 8th when Manuel Geraldo doubled and with two outs came in on Robinson Madrano's ground single.

We're still about two weeks shy of Luis Amaya's 17th birthday and the little LHP (like Bolivar, he's Valenzuelan) continues to have a terrific season for someone who's the age of most HS sophomores. He's had some trouble finding the strike zone but he's had no trouble missing bats. He's at 40 IP now which is a lot for such a young arm but they've monitored his action well, using him every 3-5 days. He's also had a lot of extended relief appearances like this one, which make you wonder if they see a starter down the line when he's old enough to handle the workload. Like Bolivar, he's 5'11", so a late teens growth spurt wouldnt be the worst thing to happen to him to put some projectability onto his frame.

The DSL team has, I believe, a magic number for clinching the playoffs of 5. It's important, however, for them to win their division as the top two seeded teams in the DSL get a bye for the first series. Their magic number for the division is 8. They will have two more games against the Yankees, who trail them by 2 games, next Monday and Tuesday. Those two games should clarify things heading into the final few games.

* * *

Chris Stratton, Tyler Beede, and Andrew Suarez headline today's starters which also include Jason Forjet and Mark Reyes.