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At the end of a weekend of booming HRs in AT&T, here's one more from Raley field. More help for the offense is coming soon:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFz-jNPdRns" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
HIGHLIGHTS: A trio of SJ relievers K'd 8 of 9 batters. Travious Relaford keyed a comeback with three hits including two doubles. Phil Bickford struck out 7 in 2.1 innings of work.
Sacramento beat the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 3-2
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
C |
Andrew Susac |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.321 |
|
LF |
Mac Williamson |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
.248 |
|
1b |
Kevin Frandsen |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.284 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
Pitches |
Strikes |
|
Nik Turley |
7.0 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.69 |
109 |
70 |
|
Brett Bochy, W 5-0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.79 |
11 |
7 |
|
Michael Broadway, S 12 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.99 |
9 |
7 |
Hey you know what seems like a fun idea? Since we've already watched Andrew Susac destroy a ball, let's check out Michael Broadway striking out Joey Gallo:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/956w1lkewIU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Nik Turley went seven strong in this game, however, he allowed two runs in his final inning (with the assistance of a Nick Noonan error) to tie the score at 2-2. But Susac unloaded for the game winner in the bottom of the 8th to give Sacramento their 7th consecutive win.
When they go for #8 tonight they'll be facing an old teammate as Robert Coello, who opted out as a FA from Sacramento back in early June, finally secured a contract with the Rangers recently and will make his second start for Round Rock.
Take a good look Sacramento, your native son shouldnt be around much longer:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Susac! <a href="http://t.co/sLgu7wMsjr">pic.twitter.com/sLgu7wMsjr</a></p>— Kristin (@legaleagle88) <a href="https://twitter.com/legaleagle88/status/633066913006927872">August 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
* * *
Richmond lost to Altoona Curve (Pirates), 4-3
losing their three game series, 1-2
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
CF |
Engel Beltre |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.278 |
|
SS |
Rando Moreno |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.279 |
|
2b |
Austin Slater |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.302 |
|
1b |
Ricky Oropesa |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.249 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
Pitches |
Strikes |
|
Kelvin Marte L 9-5 |
6.0 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.48 |
101 |
65 |
|
Stephen Johnson |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3.30 |
20 |
15 |
|
Kyle Crick |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.91 |
12 |
9 |
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are underway in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RVA?src=hash">#RVA</a>. There is nothing like baseball to start your Sunday off right. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoSquirrels?src=hash">#GoSquirrels</a> <a href="http://t.co/ciRJogSwaT">pic.twitter.com/ciRJogSwaT</a></p>— Squirrels Baseball (@GoSquirrels) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoSquirrels/status/632969977092534272">August 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A 3-8 stretch has brought the Squirrels back to .500 on the year (60-60) for the first time since June 5, and dropped them into fourth place, 4.5 games out of the last playoff spot. As has been the case for much of the last month, the culprit was the offense. Engel Beltre was the only Richmond hitter to reach base twice, while Rando Moreno and Ricky Oropesa were the only ones to manage an XBH. All in all they had 7 hits and 1 walk. Beltre and Moreno had back to back RBI hits to give Richmond a 2-0 lead in the third. But the team imploded in the 6th, which started with back to back walks and went downhill from there as errors from Kelvin Marte, Jackson WIliams, and Rando Moreno led to three unearned runs which turned the game.
Working on one day's rest, Kyle Crick had another excellent outing. He's retired 9 of the 10 batters he's faced in his last three innings of work and in his last two games he's K'd 4 of the 6 batters he faced. He's also been reasonably efficient with his pitches, going through the last two innings on just 28 pitches with 9 strikes in 12 pitches in this game. Baby steps, Kyle. Keep it up!
* * *
San Jose beat Lancaster (Astros), 7-5
winning their three game series, 2-1
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
3b |
Skyler Stromsmoe |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.237 |
|
SS-1b |
Brandon Bednar |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.244 |
|
LF |
Daniel Carbonell |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.261 |
|
1b |
Angel Villalona |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.254 |
|
DH |
Brian Ragira |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.238 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
Pitches |
Strikes |
|
Martin Agosta |
3.0 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4.50 |
71 |
42 |
|
Jeff Soptic W 1-3 |
3.0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3.57 |
47 |
28 |
|
Ray Black |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.84 |
12 |
8 |
|
Ian Gardeck |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3.77 |
16 |
13 |
|
Jake Smith, S 10 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.48 |
12 |
9 |
Heading into the bottom of the 6th, SJ looked to be dead in the water, probably because they were trying to swing their bats through it rather than swim. But in the 6th they suddenly exploded for 5 runs on four of their 10 hits for the night including two doubles. It was a rally so unexpected it even included a Daniel Carbonell walk (his 14th of the year)! Angel Villalona's bases clearing double tied the game, and Aramis Garcia put the Giants ahead with a single. All of the scoring came with two outs in the inning. They would tack on an insurance run in the 8th, but as we'll see it wasn't really necessary.
Once the offense had given the team the lead, the bullpen took over with a dominating display of power. Ray Black, Ian Gardeck, and Jake Smith retired the final 9 batters in a row, the last 8 on strikeouts. They accomplished this throwing just 10 pitches out of the strike zone over three collective innings. Incredible! Black "only" managed to rev up 100-101 in this game, and Gardeck followed him up hitting 97-98 consistently. Smith's 95 must have seemed like a changeup but that didn't help the JetHawk batters hit it any. Let's watch them do their work, one by one.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1GKJkSe5sI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5tVy1scJuCg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2HSA4agEHzA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ray Black works a perfect inning tonight with 2 K's. FB 97-101. Since returning to the bullpen: 5 scoreless innings, 2 hits, 0 walks, 8 K's.</p>— Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeRitzo/status/633105820394196992">August 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jake Smith collects his 10th save of the season - all in second half. Now ninth in the league in K's (106 in 76 IP). 1.86 ERA since break.</p>— Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeRitzo/status/633124553510621184">August 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Parenthetically, Joe Ritzo really does tremendous work on the SJ broadcasts. He deserves to be working at a higher level.
SJ picked up a game on both Visalia and Modesto last night, and now sit 1 game out of 1st place, tied with Modesto. They head to Stockton tonight for three games before returning to the Muni on Thursday.
* * *
Augusta won at Asheville, 10-9
sweeping their three game series, 3-0
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
CF |
Johneshwy Fargas |
6 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.281 |
|
3b |
Jonah Arenado |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.271 |
|
DH |
Skyler Ewing |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.243 |
|
RF |
Dylan Davis |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
.258 |
|
1b |
Chase Compton |
4 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.229 |
|
C |
Matt Winn |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.375 |
|
SS |
Travious Relaford |
4 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.243 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
Pitches |
Strikes |
|
Samuel Coonrod |
3.0 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3.23 |
70 |
42 |
|
Connor Kaden |
3.0 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4.57 |
68 |
40 |
|
Tyler Cyr |
2.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.80 |
43 |
24 |
Augusta swept past Asheville in the season Wild Card race, by taking a wild back and forth game. The Greenjackets batted around in the 3rd inning pushing themselves out to a 7-2 lead. But Samuel Coonrod, after having his spot skipped the last time through the rotation, barely made it out of the third himself, piling up 70 pitches in his three innings of work. It feels a bit like Coonrod might be leaking oil a bit as we head down the stretch. Though with a 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 9 K9, he's certainly had a successful first year, as the scouting plaudits have shown.
After Coonrod left, Connor Kaden came in and the game suffered its first reversal of fortune. After giving up two runs in his first inning, Kaden and the defense lost the lead with an error and walk strewn 6th inning that left the score 9-7.
But Skyler Ewing hit his first honest-to-goodness, over the fence HR of the year to bring Augusta within one. And in the 8th, Travious Relaford and Johneshwy Fargas led off with back to back doubles to tie the game, and Jonah Arenado singled Fargas home with the go ahead. The Greenjackets piled up 15 hits, including 7 XBH, playing in one of the true offensive environments in the Sally. Relaford, with three hits and two doubles, led the way.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Savannah wins the 2nd half, it's basically a free-for-all for the wild card between Augusta, Asheville, Greenville. All separated by 0.5.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/632958522494423040">August 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
With the sweep, Augusta is now in a real scrum with three weeks to go. They're in third place, 3.5 games behind Savannah and a half game behind Asheville in the second half race. Savannah however, was also the first half winner, and by Sally rules if they win the second half, then the team with the second best overall record in the division takes the Wild Card, and in that race, Augusta has a one game lead over Asheville and 1.5 over Greenville (which just added another big bat to their star studded lineup with the promotion of this year's #7 overall pick, Andrew Benintendi).
Augusta now hosts 1st place Savannah for a big three game series.
* * *
Salem-Keizer lost to Spokane (Rangers), 4-3
losing their five game series, 2-3
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
RF |
Steven Duggar |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.282 |
|
3b |
Miguel Gomez |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.350 |
|
C |
Fernando Pujadas |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.315 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Andrew Leenhouts L 6-3 |
8.0 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2.47 |
Mein Gott! Unearned runs! How we hates them! Quit it! Two errors from C.J. Hinojosa plus Christopher Shaw's 7th fielding error in 29 games (which is a whopping bunch for a 1b) led to three more unearned runs and another very earned loss.
Andrew Leenhouts followed up a start where he didn't survive the first with an 8 inning complete game. He was really only hit hard twice, a triple in the middle of the error-strewn 2nd inning, and a solo HR in the 4th. But the SK offense could get nothing going, managing just five singles and four walks and going just 1 for 7 with RISP. Salem-Keizer leads the NWL in HRs and SLG, so the power outage in this game was pretty aberrational. It was their first game without an XBH since July 26.
Salem-Keizer now hosts 1st place Hillsboro, who they've struggled against so far this year and then the Eugene Emeralds who are the Volcanoes main competition for the 2nd playoff spot in their division. SK and Eugene are both just 1 game out of 1st for the second half while SK has a three game lead on Eugene for the WC spot. If Eugene were to pull off the second half title however, SK's WC lead will not avail them.
* * *
AZL Giants beat the AZL Brewers, 4-3
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
BA |
|
SS |
Jalen Miller |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.235 |
|
CF |
Mikey Edie |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
.260 |
|
1b |
Dillon Dobson |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.314 |
|
2b |
Tyler Brown |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.417 |
|
RF |
Jean Angomas |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.250 |
|
3b |
Nathanel Javier |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.190 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Phil Bickford |
2.1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.76 |
|
Dylan Brooks S 3 |
2.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.52 |
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Phil Bickford in action, via Jake Rashkow(<a href="https://twitter.com/Ja_kow">@Ja_kow</a>), who wrote up a report on Bickford here: <a href="http://t.co/KJmHupbN8K">http://t.co/KJmHupbN8K</a> <a href="http://t.co/Vwc9jZO0vZ">pic.twitter.com/Vwc9jZO0vZ</a></p>— GiantsProspectTalk (@giantsprospects) <a href="https://twitter.com/giantsprospects/status/632958169950498816">August 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Dude abides! Phil Bickford recorded all 7 outs via the strike out in his 2.1 innings of work, easily setting a career high. His previous best was 4. He did allow all four of the hitters he didn't K to reach base on two walks and two hits, but the outing was impressively dominant noentheless. He also worked into the 3rd inning for the second straight outing, as the Giants begin to lengthen him out. Bickford now has 21 Ks vs 6 BBs in his 16.1 iP.
Bickford's former college roommate, Tyler Brown continues to blister rookie league pitching, with a 1.045 OPS. At 20, he's a bit on the old side for the AZL, but as a JC kid he's not terribly out of place in the complex league. Dillon Dobson, for instance, is a year and a half older, turning 22 this week.
Nathanael Javier had two RBI singles in this game, just his second multi-hit effort in the last month. However, he also had three errors (all fielding), giving him 11 for the year in just 29 games. It's safe to say his last two years have been disappointing ones for the former $500k bonus signee.
* * *
DSL Giants had their final off day of the season.
They travel to the Yankees complex for the first of two crucial matchups this morning.
* * *
Ty Blach, Luis Ysla, and Sandro Cabrera headline the starters for today. Pat Young takes the mound for Augusta and Nolan Riggs in Salem. I wonder if we'll be seeing Mac Marshall again this year?