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SF Giants Minor Lines, 6/26

Gustavo Cabrera busts out a big stick as the Volcanoes keep erupting.

By Roger

Stop! The! Presses!

I have found the ultimate highlight. We'll up to shutter up Minor Lines and close it down from now on because there's no possible way we'll ever top the sight of Jean Machi stealing a base as a PR.

I'll resist the urge to speculate on what manner of propulsion Machi might have used to get down the basepath.

I'll grant you that the "stick a camcorder at the top of the stadium and hit record" approach that the 51s take to their (MiLB mandated) video feed doesn't entirely give the feel of the moment, but you really need to rewatch that to check out the brilliance of Machi's slide.... er... "slide."

HIGHLIGHTS: Gustavo Cabrera went 4 for 4 with two doubles.

Sacramento won at Las Vegas 51s (Mets), 6-4

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

CF

Gorkys Hernandez

5

0

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

.292

.366

.392

LF-1b

Travis Ishikawa

5

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

2

.210

.300

.323

1b

Juan Ciriaco

3

1

2

0

0

0

0

1

1

.265

.315

.381

2b

Rando Moreno

5

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

3

.254

.286

.288

LF

Robbie Garvey

2

0

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

1.000

1.000

2.000

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Chris Heston

1.0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3.77

Austin Fleet

2.1

3

3

3

2

0

1

1

0

4.91

Steven Okert

2.0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

3.38

Mike Broadway S 4

1.0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

4.08

Chris Heston's day ended early after tweaking something during his first At Bat. That AB was a crucial moment in the RiverCats 3-run second inning, as Heston reached on a two-out error by shortshop Gavin Cecchini which led to two unearned runs, as well as Jean Machi's SB seen above.

Sacramento had a 15-hit attack on this day, all but one of which were singles. They also had 13 strikeouts! Among all the hits were a few notable ones: Myles Schroder had his first AAA hit, Robbie Garvey (who was transferred to Sacramento to cover Austin Slater's move to the DL) had his second and third PCL hits, keeping his AAA line perfect. And Travis Ishikawa hit his 1st HR since joining the RiverCats. And since it's always a good time to watch an Ishikawa HR:

Ok, the horrible Las Vegas video feed didn't really give us the flavor of that. Let's see if anybody in the crowd happened to be recording the moment. Oh yeah, this is probably it.

Steven Okert threw a terrific two innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced. Okert hasn't allowed an earned run since June 3. He fanned his four batters yesterday consecutively, with the streak starting when he made October hero Michael Conforto look silly on three straight pitches. I'd attach the video, but, well, Vegas.

And then Mike Broadway, who's pitching much better of late, put an end to it.

There was, by the way, one other HR in this game and it came from old friend Johnny Monell, who hit his 11th of the year. Bring him up, Mets! Who the heck are you playing at 1b anyway? /checks... James Loney! For god's sake bring Monell up!

Final note, from LHP Matt Lujan:

* * *

Richmond lost at Binghamton Mets, 7-2
getting swept in their three game series, 0-3

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

SS

Ali Castillo

3

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.324

.366

.394

3b

Ryder Jones

4

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

.245

.270

.394

C

Eliezer Zambrano

3

1

1

0

1

0

0

0

1

.185

.224

.222

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Andrew Suarez L 2-5

2.0

8

7

4

1

2

0

0

0

6.53

Tyler Rogers

1.0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0.77

Ray Black

1.0

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

5.96

Andrew Suarez' AA adventure is getting worse and worse. For the fifth time in his last seven starts, Suarez gave up at least four runs, and this time it came in just 2+ innings of work and there were three more unearned runs that went with them. With Christian Arroyo getting a day of rest, Ali Castillo was moved over to SS where his arm is a bit stretched, and on the opening play of the game Castillo committed a throwing error that opened the door for three unearned runs in the inning on three hits. In the second inning, Suarez walked the leadoff batter and then surrendered three more hits including a two-run triple to put the Squirrels in a 6-0 hole. And then two more hits leading off the third, a double and a run scoring single, ended Suarez' day.

After striking out 34 (vs. 5 walks) in 29.2 IP in San Jose, Suarez' K rate has been cut in half in AA and his walk rate has risen as he's found that AA hitters are a bit more dangerous within the zone. AA is hard!

The Richmond offense managed just six hits and two walks in the game, with doubles from Zambrano and Tyler Horan their only XBH. With the loss, Richmond was swept for the fifth time this year and now have the league's worst record.

On the bright side,

* * *

San Jose lost at Stockton Ports (Athletics), 7-4
losing their four game series, 1-3

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

SS

CJ Hinojosa

5

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

.298

.381

.448

DH

Jonah Arenado

4

1

2

1

2

0

0

0

0

.262

.290

.408

1b

Chris Shaw

3

0

1

2

1

0

0

0

1

.284

.360

.545

3b

Jose Vizcaino Jr

3

1

1

1

0

0

1

1

1

.231

.311

.324

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Jordan Johnson L 5-6

5.0

11

5

5

3

3

0

0

0

4.50

Sergio Romo

1.0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0.00

Dusten Knight

2.0

2

2

2

0

3

1

0

0

5.71

Following a two-hit night with his 15th HR, Chris Shaw produced a run-scoring double and a Sac Fly as he's gotten off to a nice start to his second half. Shaw had two doubles, a HR and three walks over the last three games. I do wonder if he'll get a chance to make a run at Duvall's club record this year or if he'll eventually move up. With Richmond stuck firmly in last place, I wouldn't be surprised to see Shaw stay in San Jose where he'll get a chance at post-season play, but you never know.

The Giants also got big hits from Jonah Arenado who had two doubles, and Jose Vizcaino, Jr. who hit his 4th HR of the year in this losing effort. After posting the best record in the Cal League in a travel-heavy May, San Jose is just 9-13 in June.

Jordan Johnson hasn't had quite the sleeper bust out year that was predicted/hoped for. His ERA has now climbed to 4.50, and after K'ing 71 batters in 591 IP last year over three levels (including 33 in 31 IP in SJ), his K rate has dropped precipitously this year, with just 52 Ks in 66 IP thus far.

With Sacramento off to Las Vegas on Saturday, the Giants chose to keep Sergio Romo's rehab work local. And once again he had little trouble with the Cal League, where he has now struck out 6 of the 12 batters he's faced in three appearances.

Dusten Knight has also been very effective at K'ing Cal League hitters with a 28.3 K% and 11.30 K/9 this year. But when he's not striking them out he's giving up some major damage. He's had a particular issue giving up the long ball, with 6 HRs on the year for a 1.38 HR/9 ratio. Which is a lot! And for the most part he can't blame the HR issues on Cal league hijinx, since none of them have come in the homer havens of Bakersfield, Lancaster, or High Desert.

* * *

Augusta won at Columbia Fireflies (Mets), 4-2
sweeping their four game series, 4-0

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

LF

Sharon Dunston Jr

4

1

2

0

1

0

0

1

0

.368

.419

.553

3b

Miguel Gomez

5

1

2

1

0

0

1

0

1

.353

.386

.527

CF

Johneshwy Fargas

4

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.259

.348

.333

2b

Jalen Miller

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

.229

.265

.332

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Matt Solter

5.0

4

2

2

4

5

1

0

0

7.11

Connor Kaden W 5-2

3.0

0

0

0

2

3

0

0

0

3.86

Carlos Alvarado S 1

1.0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0.00

Sizzling is probably an understatement for what Gomez is up to, as the 23-year old has gone full-on Beast Mode with multi-hit efforts in 8 of his last 11 games. He's gone 20 for 45 over that stretch with three HRs and two doubles. He's old for his level, he's pretty small, and he doesn't really have a position but Batters' Box, but he does some serious damage when he's playing that one.

Let me just tell you, Columbia, that high fastball isn't working. You're not going to get above his hand so you might want to take that one out of the scouting report.

Also, allow me to suggest some walk up music for Miguel. Not what the kids are listening to these days, but apropos! Gomez is so hot, even hit outs are productive! Gomez "knocked in" the winning runs in this game on a two-out bases loaded error on the SS in the 7th inning.

Carlos Alvarado, the 26-year old LHP who was throwing in the mid-90s two years ago in Richmond, has made just three appearances this year, all in the last week. Having gotten in a couple of games in Salem-Keizer, he's now back in  Augsta where he spent much of the last two seasons.

The Greenjackets have come out of the All Star break with four consecutive wins and are playing their best ball lately, ensconced with early pole position. Keep it up, kids!

This is actually from Saturday night, but it's never a bad time to check in on a manager tantrum, is it?

* * *

Salem-Keizer beat Tri City Dust Devils (Padres), 4-3

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

3b

Manuel Geraldo

3

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

2

.349

.396

.419

SS

Ryan Howard

5

0

2

3

1

0

0

0

0

.308

.357

.462

CF

Ashford Fulmer

3

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

2

.400

.531

.560

LF

Gustavo Cabrera

4

2

4

0

2

0

0

0

0

.324

.343

.529

2b

Kevin Rivera

3

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.405

.421

.459

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

Mac Marshall

4.2

4

2

2

6

2

0

0

2

4.66

Kendra Melo

3.0

0

1

1

1

4

0

3

0

1.23

Jeff Burke BS 1 W 1-0

1.1

3

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0.00

Gustavo Cabrera had a monster game with four hits and two doubles and was in the middle of every scoring rally the Volcanoes had in the game. Batting in the 8th spot of the order, Gustavo was part of a trend wherein the 7-8-9 batters (Fulmer, Gustavo, and Rivera) set 'em up, and the 1 and 2 hitters (Geraldo and Howard) brought 'em in. Cabrera's 1st AB he doubles into the corner but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. But in each of his next two at bats, he singled in the middled of run scoring rallies. In the first of those, Ryan Howard doubled in Cabrera and Ashford Fulmer to put SK on the board. And in the next Manuel Geraldo hit a Sac Fly following singles from Fulmer and Cabrera.

That setup some 9th inning excitement. With one out in a tie game in the bottom of the 9th, Cabrera doubled off the wall to the RF power alley. A soft Kevin Rivera single sent Gustavo to 3b and Tri City then chose to walk Manuel Geraldo to load the bases and set up the force out at home. Ryan Howard hit a high chopper to SS and Gustavo got a great jump to force an awkward throw that got away from the Catcher and allowed Cabrera to score the winner. You can see the winning play (many times over!) as well as hear from Ryan Howard in the Volcanoes inaugural post-game video recap below:

The Volcanoes continue to set a torrid pace offensively, with several .400 hitters in the lineup (and on the bench). Through 10 games they lead the NWL in Avg, OBP, and SLG (despite having just 1 HR), as well as runs, doubles, and hits (in which they're lapping the field, 20 hits in front of the next best team).

On the mound, the stories been a little different as the young Volcanoes pitchers struggle to get traction in the league. Mac Marhsall's control issues continue as he issued 6 walks last night and threw two WP. He also balked in a run. Amazingly, through all that traffic he allowed just two runs through the 5th before giving way to Kendry Melo. Marshall now has 26 walks and 20 Ks in 25.2 IP this year between Augusta and SK. Of the six starts he's made this year, this was the third time in which he'd gone less than 5 IP and issued 5 or more walks.

All the hard contact during Melo's time on the mound was initiated by Kendry himself, as he allowed no hits against him but did hit three batters, leading to his one run allowed. That was the first run Melo's allowed this year in 7.1 IP, while striking out 10 and walking just 3. He has an 0.95 WHIP as he continues to be stingy with base runners as well as contact.

* * *

AZL Giants lost to AZL Indians, 7-3

Name

AB

R

H

RBI

2B

3B

HR

BB

SO

BA

Other

LF

Christoph Bono

3

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

2

.125

SB (2)

CF

Mikey Edie

5

2

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

.316

DH

Chris Denorfia

5

0

3

1

1

0

0

0

0

.333

SS

Brandon Van Horn

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

1

.188

E (2)

Name

IP

H

R

ER

BB

K

HR

HB

WP

ERA

DJ Myers L 0-1

2.1

9

4

4

1

3

0

0

0

9.64

Julio Benitez

3.2

2

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

2.84

Patrick Ruotolo

1.0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0.00

DJ Myers, the Giants 15th round pick out of UNLV, had a rough first start, allowing 10 base runners while accumulating just 7 outs. Julio Benitez in his second game (this time coming in relief) did much better as he picked up three Ks over 3.2 scoreless innings. RHP Patrick Ruotolo had a perfect inning, striking out all three batters he faced. The 27th round pick out of Connecticut has 5 Ks over 3 IP to start his pro career.

The team's offense came almost entirely from the first three spots in the lineup, as Bono, Edie, and Chris Denorfia (who seems highly likely to be a Giant in the not too distant future) represented 8 of the team's 13 baserunners, scored all their runs, had all their RBIs and both of their XBH.

Just a reminder, Conner Penfold put HD video up on his site of many of these players, including Edie, Myers, Benitez and others from his recent trip. Small subscriber fee for great content:

http://www.sfgiantpotential.net/home/2016/6/24/highlights-from-arizona-the-newest-stateside-giants-minor-leaguers

* * *

DSL Giants had their traditional Sunday off

* * *

Happy Bickford Day! Finally!

Today's Pitching Matchups:
Sacramento: Ty Blach vs. Duane Below
Richmond: Dan Slania vs. Shawn Morimando
San Jose: Phil Bickford vs. Tyler Herb
Augusta: Luis Pino vs. Peter Lambert
SK: Victor Concepcion vs. Emmanuel Ramirez
AZL and DSL: TBD

And in conclusion, allow me to say that Matt Pare is awesome, both for this:

and for this:

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