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SF Giants Minor Lines, 8/15

A short slate but a perfect one! Six wins in six tries.

By Roger

Krukow would be so pleased

HIGHLIGHTS: Gorkys Hernandez reached base 4x; Jonah Arenado homered in his 3rd consecutive game; Manuel Geraldo had his 7th multi-hit effort in last eight games.

Sacramento beat the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 6-5
winning their four game series, 3-1

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Gorkys Hernandez

CF

3

2

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

.305

.384

.421

Ruben Tejada

SS

4

1

2

1

0

0

1

0

1

.250

.295

.361

Tony Sanchez

C

4

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

1

.125

.118

.313

Kelby Tomlinson

3B

4

1

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

.282

.375

.331

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Joan Gregorio (W, 4-7)

6.1

7

4

3

1

6

1

5.59

Steven Okert (H, 6)

0.2

0

0

0

0

1

0

4.58

Josh Osich (H, 1)

1.0

2

1

1

1

1

0

9.00

Jean Machi (S, 11)

1.0

0

0

0

0

2

0

3.57

The RiverCats are making a hard late dash at respectability, and maybe even a .500 season. They've now won three of their last four series, and split the other one (all four game series), posting a 10-4 record thus far in August.

This game was a real team effort. Six different members of the starting lineup recorded a single RBI, and every member of the lineup other than Ramiro Pena reached base at least once. The production started, once again, at the top of the order, where Gorkys Hernandez gave the team another great game at the lead off spot with three hits including a double (he also reached via HBP), and two runs scored. That gave them some great "wrap-around" production for the order, since Kelby Tomlinson in the 9 spot, picked up two hits and stole his 7th base.

The eventual winning run came via a new source to the team, as Tony Sanchez, once upon a time the 4th overall pick of the 1st round of the 2009 draft (something of a signability pick for Pittsburgh in a draft strategy that went awry), picked up his first HR since joining the RiverCats.

Though Sanchez' career hasn't gone the way he'd hoped thus far, the fact that he's a Boston College grad instantly makes him my second favorite player in the system!**

On the mound, Joan Gregorio gave Sacramento it's fifth consecutive Quality Start, which is not, I surmise, coincidental to their sudden winning ways.  Gregorio mostly only had trouble with one Storm hitter, leadoff man Dusty Coleman who touched him for a solo HR and an RBI triple. Otherwise, he was dominant, particularly in the early going. He tired in the late going, allowing three runs over his final two innings, and leaving the game with two runners on board in the 7th, though Steven Okert bailed him out of the jam with his best outing since returning from the DL. Coming into a two-on, one-out situation, Okert got Reymund Fuentes to strike out (for the 4th time in the game) and then induced a pop up to end the threat. Josh Osich allowed a run in his inning, but he was consistently in the strike zone in this outing, which was good to see.

Lastly, there was some roster news for the RiverCats yesterday, as the Giants let Chris Denorfia look for other MLB opportunities.:

**ok, not factually correct.

* * *

Richmond had their final scheduled off day of the year

Now comes a rough slog for the team as they play their final 22 games of the season over the next 21 days.

* * *

San Jose won at Bakersfield Blaze (Mariners) 6-5

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Ronnie Jebavy

CF

5

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

3

.257

.317

.397

Rando Moreno

SS

4

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

.222

.246

.278

Dylan Davis

DH

5

0

2

0

0

0

2

0

2

.294

.354

.554

Jonah Arenado

1B

5

1

1

0

0

1

2

0

2

.266

.297

.441

T.J. Bennett

2B

3

1

3

1

0

0

1

0

0

.296

.362

.472

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Jordan Johnson

3.1

9

4

4

2

7

2

5.58

Hengerber Medina (W, 1-0)

2.2

0

0

0

2

4

0

0.00

D.J. Snelten (H, 8)

2.0

1

0

0

0

0

0

4.11

Reyes Moronta (S, 11)

1.0

2

1

1

0

3

0

2.45

Jordan Johnson's maddening season continued, with something of a vintage 2012-13 Tim Lincecum performance: lots of Ks mixed with lots of hard contact. Johson allowed 9 hits including two HRs (one from the lesser Seager brother!) in just over 3 innings of work.

That meant a long night for the bullpen. I believe I can sum up some of San Jose's difficulty just covering innings lately in two simple transactions:

Yep, it's turning into that kind of year in San JOse. But every player's misfortune is somebody else's opportunity, and this case the opportunity went to the one-time light hitting DSL SS turned power armed reliever, Hengerber Medina:

Medina seized his opportunity, coming into a 4-3 game in the 4th and instilling some sanity, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings. Medina combined with DJ Snelten to shut the Blaze down from the 4th through the 8th innings, allowing the Giants to seize a 6-4 lead that Reyes Moronta, despite some difficulty, held onto for the win. Medina wasn't terribly effective as a starter for the Volcanoes this summer, but since being moved back to the bullpen his power arm has been playing up.  As a reliever, Hengerber's thrown 14.1 innings, allowed just 1 ER, and recorded 18 Ks against 5 walks and 6 hits.  The ER, and 3 of the hits came in his first relief appearance (during which he also had just 1 K) but something certainly seems to have clicked after that for him. Medina's actually Rule 5 eligible this year and if he shows well in the Cal league this final month he could conceivably be an arm that some organization is willing to take a shot at.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Giants used 12 hits to roll up their 6 runs. Three of those came from TJ Bennett, who is really making a home for himself in SJ after his peripatetic ways in the early part of the season.

Another hot hitter lately is Jonah Arenado who kept two different streaks going:

With a two-run HR in the top of the 1st inning, Arenado extended both of those streaks, becoming the second SJ hitter in a week to homer in three consecutive games (following Dylan Davis).  The HR was Arenado's 15th of the year, which is a career high by a lot.

Joe Ritzo's pre-game show guest yesterday was Aramis Garcia, who talked about his injury, rehab and return. Listen here:

* * *

Augusta had a scheduled off day

* * *

Salem-Keizer beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 7-0

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Manuel Geraldo

3B

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

.299

.329

.370

Bryan Reynolds

CF

4

0

1

1

0

0

4

0

3

.306

.366

.507

Heath Quinn

RF

4

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

1

.329

.411

.522

Kevin Rivera

2B

4

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

.315

.359

.429

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Victor Concepcion (W, 4-5)

7.0

4

0

0

1

4

0

5.29

Matt Pope (S, 1)

2.0

1

0

0

1

0

0

6.85

The Volcanoes used the best start of Victor Concepcion's season and a balanced offensive attack to roll to the easy shutout win. Concepcion, who was recently moved out of the rotation for a few games, has apparently moved back in again. His return to the rotation last Tuesday was a rough outing, but this was more like the Concepcion who tore through the DSL the last couple of years. For the first time this year, Concepcion allowed no runs while also delivering his longest outing of the year. In fact, it was only the second time in his career that he's pitched 7 innings and only the fourth time that he's thrown into the 7th.  One thing that definitely hasn't survived the jump in levels is Concepcion's bat missing capabilities. In two season in the DSL Victor struck out 120 in 108 IP, with just 22 BBs. So far this year, he has 35 Ks and 21 BBs in 47.2 IP.

The game was actually much closer than the final score indicates, as a 4-run 9th inning created the large margin of victory. But the Volcanoes kept the pressure on throughout the game, with 11 hits, a walk and a HB. Once again they were led by Geraldo in the leadoff spot, who now has 7 multi-hit games in his last 8 contests.  It's been a singles barrage for Geraldo, who hasn't had an XBH mixed in anywhere since August 7th -- 17 hits ago! Geraldo also reached on a HBP and he stole his 10th base with SK (19th overall).

And once again, Kevin Rivera also had a multi-hit game, keeping alive his 11 game hitting streak. Every other member of the lineup had one hit. Bryan Reynolds had a career high 4 RBIs on a Sac Fly and a bases clearing double. He did also have a hat trick in his other PA, the second time in his last five games. Reynolds has 9 Ks in his last 22 ABs as he's showing some of the swing and miss that is definitely part of his game.

Heath Quinn picked up a double and a walk. Quinn has reached base in 28 of his last 29 games as he continues his sensational debut. Quinn is 3rd in the league in hitting, 6th in OBP, and 1st in SLG and OPS. He also leads the league in OF assists. And for a power bat, his 36 K 20 BB ratio is excellent.  It's really pretty difficult to imagine the Samford slugger having a more impressive pro debut.

* * *

AZL Giants beat the AZL Cubs, 9-1 in Gm 1 (7 inn)

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

Mikey Edie

CF

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

.217

Nick Hill

DH

2

2

2

0

0

0

1

1

0

.304

Michael Bernal

2B

3

0

2

0

1

0

2

0

0

.228

Jose Layer

LF

3

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

1

.227

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Stephen Woods

4.0

5

1

0

1

3

0

2.67

Julio Benitez (W, 3-2)

3.0

1

0

0

1

1

0

4.09

AZL Giants beat the AZL Cubs, 4-3 in Gm 2 (8 inn)

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

A.J. Ramirez

1B

3

1

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

.167

Michael Bernal

SS

3

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.231

Malique Ziegler

CF

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

.262

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Nick Deeg

4.0

3

0

0

2

5

0

2.57

Sandro Cabrera

3.0

4

3

3

1

3

1

3.24

Reagan Bazar (W, 2-1)

1.0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4.11

The AZL Giants were the beneficiaries of 9 unearned runs as the result of eight Cubs errors over the course of this double header sweep.  That included the dramatic run that gave them an extra-innings walk off in the nightcap. Nick Hill led off the 8th with a grounder to 3b that was thrown away. And on the following play, the pitcher threw away an attempted Sac Bunt from Mikey Edie to end it. Hill, the 26th round OF/IF out of tiny Eckerd College had three hits over the course of the DH to lift his average over .300, and also stole his team leading 15th base (one of four SB they had in the night cap).

The Giants got solid starts from two of their small-school college picks in this year's draft: Stephen Woods out of SUNY-Albany (8th round) and Nick Deeg from Central Michigan U Chippewahs (30th round).

The first game marked the end of Sandro Fabian's streak of seven consecutive games with an XBH.

* * *

DSL Giants beat the DSL D-backs, 6-3

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Ismael Munguia

LF

3

1

2

0

0

0

0

2

0

.282

.366

.374

Angeddy Almanzar

1B

4

0

1

1

0

0

2

0

2

.304

.381

.456

Francisco Medina

3B

5

1

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

.292

.394

.361

Diego Rincones

RF

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

.251

.345

.363

Jose Patino

CF

3

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

.290

.353

.339

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Johan Herrera (W, 3-4)

5.2

5

3

1

2

6

0

2.33

Oliver Pinto (H, 3)

2.1

0

0

0

0

2

0

1.77

Jesus Reyes (S, 3)

1.0

1

0

0

0

1

0

1.13

Francisco Medina didn't hit a HR, but he continued hitting. Medina picked up two more hits, giving him nine hits over his last three games, as well as an eight-game hitting streak. During that streak, Medina has lifted his average by 42 points and his SLG by 63.  He still has his excellent peripheral balance of 31 BBs to 33 Ks. And for the cherry on top he also stole his 3rd base of the year in the win. His one negative in the game was committing his 26th error of the year.

That error did put a slight kink in Johan Herrera's line, but the 17 year old RHP shook it off to deliver what's become pretty much a signature performance.  Herrera's delivered between 5 and 6.2 innings in 11 of his 13 starts this year, never surrendering more than 3 Runs in any game. This was the 9th time he's allowed 1 or fewer ER in his 13 starts. And he also equalled his best swing and miss night of the season with 6 Ks. He has 43 Ks to 18 BBs in 69.2 innings this year. And once again he induced loads of grounders, picking up eight ground outs in the start. Quite a year for the youngster.

Jesus Reyes kept blowing hitters away for his 3rd save. He has 42 Ks in 32 IP, with 12 BBs, an 0.97 WHIP and a .165 BAA.

* * *

A matchup of 1st place teams starts in Augusta tonight, while Ty Blach looks to continue his tremendous roll.

Today's Matchups:
Sacramento: Ty Blach vs. Jake Buchanan 
Richmond: Sam Coonrod vs. Tom Eshelman (Eshelman was the #17 prospect in the Astros system in the last Prospect Handbook prior to going to Phillies in the Ken Giles trade; he's an extreme command guy)

San Jose: Jose Reyes vs. Osmer Morales
Augusta: Dom Mazza vs. Erik Swanson 
SK: Mac Marshall vs. Tim Viehoff
AZL, DSL: TBD

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