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SF Giants Minor Lines 4/19

Three thrilling one-run games highlighted last night's games, while Sacramento got to vent some frustration.

By Roger

Ray Black had himself a bit of a struggle last night, scuffling to command his ungodly stuff and it appeared, his emotions. He has stuff so intense that you can almost see the fuzz flying off it on even through the video screen. He ended up the losing pitcher after a long 30 pitch inning that included a couple of walks and a WP. But it's probably worth noting that the pitch that really did him in, the pitch that set up the game losing run, was just an absolute sight to behold:

It was a long, rough night for Black. But I can't bring myself to feel too bad about a guy who lost because his stuff was too good for the Catcher as well as the batter.

HIGHLIGHTS: Juan Ciriaco had 4 hits; Grant Green reached base 4 times with double, HR; CJ Hinojosa reached base 3 times with double, 3 RBI

Sacramento beat the Las Vegas 51s (Mets), 12-1

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

CF

Gorkys Hernandez

6

2

3

1

0

0

0

0

1

.204

.316

.204

RF

Ryan Lollis

5

1

2

2

0

1

0

0

0

.303

.324

.455

2b

Grant Green

3

2

2

3

1

0

1

2

1

.289

.347

.400

SS

Juan Ciriaco

5

1

4

0

1

0

0

0

1

.333

.370

.375

3b

Hak-Ju Lee

5

1

3

2

0

0

1

0

1

.295

.340

.568

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Pitches

Strikes

Chris Stratton W, 1-2

5.1

4

1

1

2

2

0

0

0

7.16

89

53

Ok, so it turns out that getting Salt Lake City out of town really did cure what ailed Sacramento, for one day at least. The RiverCats pounded relentlessly on Vegas starter Seth Lugo, knocking him out of the game after surrendering 10 hits and 9 runs in less than three innings. And they didn't let up on a parade of relievers either. In the end, they collected 21 hits including 6 XBH, in an offensive explosion that had to release a lot of pent up frustration. Every member of the starting lineup had at least one hit and 7 of the starting 9 had multiple hits. If you want to collect the pitcher's spot in the order into a collective you can make that 8 of the starting 9 since both starter Chris Stratton and reliever Phil McCormick recorded hits in the 9th spot. Somewhat amazingly, this was not lefty reliever McCormick's first professional hit.  In fact, over 11 professional PA, he's sporting a nifty .364/.364/.364 slash line!

The infield in particular had a hit parade as 2b Grant Green, SS Juan Ciraco, and 3b Hak-Ju Lee (the first time this year he's played elsewhere besides SS. A sign?) collectively accounted for 9 of the team's hits, 4 of it's 6 XBH, both HRs, and both walks (courtesy of Green).

So, who's your choice in the great backup MI debate? Is it this guy:

or this guy?

For what it's worth, Green also scored from 2b on a strikeout!

Sacramento tries to keep the good times rolling against the 51s (who they're 3-2 against on the year!) tonight at Raley Field. Should be a perfect place to spend the night:

* * *

Richmond lost to the Reading Fightin' Phils, 5-4

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

LF

Carlos Moncrief

3

1

2

0

1

0

0

1

0

.353

.421

.412

SS

Christian Arroyo

5

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

1

.306

.340

.367

RF

Hunter Cole

3

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

.195

.298

.220

2b

Rando Moreno

4

0

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

.342

.405

.421

3b

Ryder Jones

4

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

1

.286

.286

.429

PH

Tyler Horan

1

1

1

1

0

0

1

0

0

.231

.231

.462

LF

Austin Slater

5

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.239

.340

.391

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Pitches

Strikes

Tyler Beede

5.0

4

2

2

3

6

0

0

1

4.20

88

52

Ray Black, L 0-2

1.0

0

1

1

1

2

3

0

1

9.64

33

16

Tyler Beede has gone 5 innings now, in each of his first three starts, and this one was probably the best of the three. His command wasn't quite as on point as it has been, as he allowed a season high 3 walks (including one to his opposing pitcher) and had his lowest Strike/Pitch ratio of the year. But he allowed a season low 4 hits, and just 2 runs to a powerful offensive Reading club. He also got his pitch count up to almost 90 pitches. Best of all, he unleashed some gorgeous swing and miss specialty pitches in accruing a season high 6 Ks. Like this 3-2 breaking pitch to Roman Quinn to end the 2nd:

And this changeup to Aaron Brown to end the 3rd.

Though Beede hasn't looked dominating yet, and has been giving up a good amount of hits, he's been solid in every start to start the year and is showing a lot more swing and miss than he did in his first pro year. He now has 16 Ks vs just 4 BB in 15 IP.

The game was lost in the 9th when Black allowed a leadoff walk to JP Crawford, who stole 2b, went to 3rd on the strikeout/WP of Dylan Cozens, and then came home on a Sac Fly. Black struggled to harnass his stuff throughout the inning, and exceeded 30 pitches in the arduous frame. Rhys Hoskins Sac Fly was the only ball put in play off him in the inning, and might well have been the only pitch that was made contact with at all.

The offense twice came back from 2 run deficits in this game, only to fall in the 9th inning.  They scattered 10 hits including 4 XBH across the order, and added 3 walks. Like the big league club, the strength of the Richmond lineup is making contact, as they don't show a great amount of power through the lineup, and are not at all a patient squad.  Their 9 Ks vs 3 BB in this game is the continuation of a season long trend, as their 98/27 BB/K ratio is easily the worst in the EL.  Not only have they drawn the fewest walks in the EL, but only one other team has fewer than 40, and meanwhile only two clubs have more strikeouts. That said, their .254 team BA is behind only Reading in the league.

Tyler Horan has become something of a forgotten man in the system this year, limited almost exclusively to PH appearances.  His future in the system is coming into some doubt off a poor 2015, but it's worth remembering: dude has strength:

And a solid beard game:

* * *

San Jose won at Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), 5-4

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

LF

Johneshwy Fargas

4

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.216

.310

.378

CF

Ronnie Jebavy

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

.154

.233

.154

SS

CJ Hinojosa

4

1

2

3

1

0

0

1

0

.344

.447

.438

1b

Chris Shaw

4

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

.297

.350

.378

RF

Steven Duggar

5

1

2

0

0

1

0

0

2

.350

.409

.750

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Pitches

Strikes

Mark Reyes

4.1

5

4

4

4

1

1

0

0

11.37

79

40

Reyes Moronta

1.0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

3.60

33

16

Rodolfo Martinez, S, 4

1.0

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0.00

11

9

The San Jose lineup has some real Jekyll and Hyde stuff going, as the top of the order in Fargas and Jebavy are struggling mightily, but the middle of the order is thriving with Hinojosa, Shaw, and Duggar.  Those three collected half the team's hits and both XBH in this game in helping the Giants even up this road series.

Hinojosa gave SJ an early lead with a two-run single, and later provided the game winner when he doubled in Jonah Areando to break a 4-4 tie.  He also collected one of the team's two walks, which gives him now 6 bb to 4 Ks on the season. He's reached base safely in all 9 games he's played and is settling in nicely in the middle of the Giants' order. Chris Shaw behind him picked up another two-hit game, as we all patiently await his HR power to start showing up in the Cal League. Steven Duggar, meanwhile, continues to show his power in an early season beast mode display.

Johneshwy Fargas may be scuffling on the offensive side of the game, but he hasn't let that affect his defensive prowess any. With the Giants clinging to a one-run lead in the 9th inning and a Storm runner at 2nd, Fargas provided a fantastic finish for the Giants:

Ooh man, why isn't there mandatory video in all minor league parks?!?! That's  5 OF assists on the year for Fargas now, in just 10 games played. Tools play, man. Tools play.

Fargas' dramatic assist helped keep Rodolfo Martinez' ERA perfect on the year. Though he has allowed 7 baserunners in his 5 innings, he's worked out of trouble. He sports a 0.00 ERA and is a perfect 4 for 4 in save chances.

* * *

Augusta beat the Rome Braves, 3-2

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

SS

Lucius Fox

3

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

.207

.324

.345

1b

Dillon Dobson

4

1

2

0

1

0

0

0

1

.319

.393

.702

RF

Dylan Davis

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

.256

.365

.488

3b

Kelvin Beltre

3

0

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

.220

.304

.341

LF

Gustavo Cabrera

4

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

.375

.375

.500

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Pitches

Strikes

Michael Santos

6.1

4

2

1

0

4

0

0

0

3.68

81

59

Connor Kaden W 2-0

2.1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3.38

7

7

Hey a little local news coverage! (though apparently the cameraman had to leave on deadline before he could capture the fantastic finish:

David Lee raved over the stuff of Rome Braves' starter Patrick Weigle (of course, our dear friend David is a Braves' fan! not that that would in any way affect his professional judgement), and Weigle gave the Augusta lineup all they could handle through his 7 innings. Still they were able to battle him for 2 runs.  Lucius Fox opened the game with a walk and immediately came all the way around to score when Seth Harrison lined a ball off the SS' glove for a deflected double.  Later Dillon Dobson doubled and came in to score on a Kelvin Beltre bloop.

Thanks to Michael Santos strong start, that set up a walk off opportunity in the bottom of the 9th. Gustavo Cabrera, who had been 0 for 3 with 2 Ks vs. Weigle, came to the plate with 2 outs and men on 1st and 2nd and he lined a game winning single on the first pitch to end the game.

Other notes from David during the game:

You can read fuller scouting reports for Lee on Santos, Lucius Fox, Kelvin Beltre and Ryan Halstead here. Though, of course, this is what he really wanted to talk about:

Pfftt! Braves' fan.

* * *

Lots of early morning action today as both Richmond and Augusta have 10:30 am starts (Education Day!).  The Augusta game features possibly the premier pitching matchup in the minors today.

Pitching Matchups:
Sacramento: Matt Lujan vs TBD
Richmond: Adalberto Mejia vs Ricardo Pinto
San Jose: Jason Forjet vs Martires Arias
Augusta: Phil Bickford vs Max Fried
(ps, Bickford's already struck out the side in the top of the 1st)


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