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SF Giants Minor Lines, 8/25

Ru-uns. We get Ru-uns. We get lots and lots of Ru-uns. RU-UUUNNNNNS!

By Roger

Does it get old watching these Austin Slater HR highlights every day?

Not particularly! How 'bout that!

HIGHLIGHTS: Austin Slater homered for the 6th time in 6 games; Dylan Davis homered for the 9th time in 14 games; Bryan Reynolds had two doubles among four hits.

* * *

Sacramento beat the Fresno Grizzlies (Astros), 12-10

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Ali Castillo

3B

6

1

2

0

0

0

1

0

1

.317

.353

.352

Mac Williamson

LF

5

3

2

0

0

1

2

0

1

.273

.311

.495

Austin Slater

CF

4

1

2

0

0

1

2

1

1

.299

.384

.513

Travis Ishikawa

DH

3

0

2

1

0

0

4

0

0

.260

.344

.464

Ruben Tejada

SS

5

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.269

.304

.375

Tony Sanchez

C

3

1

2

1

0

0

1

2

0

.258

.351

.387

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Joan Gregorio (W, 5-8)

6.0

7

4

4

2

4

3

5.51

Vin Mazzaro

2.0

2

1

1

2

1

0

3.06

Jean Machi

0.2

2

5

1

2

0

1

3.83

Tyler Rogers (S, 1)

0.1

0

0

0

0

0

0

4.37

No, they didn't drive back up to Reno to play this game, it just looks like it in the box score. It was a slugfest to set the tone for a day of slugfests.This game featured a combined 26 hits and six HRs, two for the RiverCats. Ironically, Sacramento busted out of the gates with a big 5-run rally in the 2nd that featured more Fresno mistakes than Sacramento hits (with a HBP, walk, and an error lending a hand). But there was still plenty of hard contact mixed in to their 15 hits. Including this shot from rehabbing Mac Williamson:

In all, 8 of the 9 starters reached base at least twice (Grant Green being the exception), led by Tony Sanchez' four trips to base. Austin Slater's sizzling bat has reached the point of ultimate respect: In the first inning with men on 2b and 3b, Fresno intentionally walked Slater to load the bases. THE FIRST INNING! The strategy immediately backfired when Travis Ishikawa was HBP to drive in the first of his four runs on the day. Slater would end the day with two hits. His first was a dribbler to first, but he made up for that with the howitzer seen above, the screaming liner out to CF.  Man, Austin! Goodbye, Stanford Swing!

Jean Machi tried very hard to blow a 12-5 lead in the 9th inning, but Tyler Rogers came in to end it with just two pitches. Rogers hasn't had quite the same success in the PCL as he had in the EL (but again, who does?) but after a slight disappointment in 2015 that saw him get a quick demotion back down to A ball, he's got to feel good with what he's accomplished this year.

* * *

Richmond won at Akron Rubber Ducks (Indians), 7-4

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Christian Arroyo

3B

5

1

2

1

0

0

1

0

1

.273

.315

.366

C.J Hinojosa

SS

5

2

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

.245

.301

.324

Tyler Horan

LF

4

1

2

1

0

1

2

0

0

.250

.317

.440

Brandon Bednar

2B

3

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.293

.313

.393

Jeff Arnold

C

4

1

2

1

0

0

2

0

0

.229

.298

.361

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Matt Gage (W, 9-7)

6.2

3

0

0

4

5

0

3.56

Tyler Mizenko

0.1

3

4

4

1

0

0

4.38

Jose Casilla

1.0

2

0

0

0

1

0

3.14

Joe Nathan (S, 2)

1.0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0.00

Unlike Slater, Christian Arroyo has shown no increased proclivity for the home run ball, but he sure does keep banging out doubles.

That's 34 on the season now for Arroyo, who has pretty consistently been second in the EL in doubles behind Reading's Dylan Cozens (of course, Cozens has 37 HRs to go with his 36 doubles, which ups the impress-o-meter somewhat). Following a hot July, Arroyo's been scuffling down the stretch, hitting just .221/.292/.267 in August. Though Arroyo shows consistently that he can barrel up fastball's, at some point you'd like to see him show some improvement in either his OBP or his power numbers as he develops.

The Squirrels recorded 13 hits and 7 runs for the second game in a row, but this time they managed to get a win as well, breaking a three game losing streak. Sir Meatball himself, Tyler Horan pushed the Squirrels out to the big cushion that ended up being necessary, when he somehow muscled this ball out of the park for his 10th HR of the year.

Matt Gage threw 6.2 scoreless innings. And after Tyler Mizenko ran into all kinds of trouble trying to hold onto a 7-0 lead, Jose Casilla and Joe Nathan put the game to bed. For Nathan, it was his third appearance for Richmond. He's allowed just 1 hit and 0 runs while striking out 3. I wonder if the Giants will try to find a place for Joe on the September roster somehow. It would be nice to get that bad taste of October, 2003, out of the memory banks.

* * *

San Jose lost at Bakersfield Blaze (Mariners), 13-6
losing their three game series, 1-2

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Rando Moreno

SS

4

1

4

0

0

0

0

1

0

.236

.289

.281

Dylan Davis

LF

5

1

1

0

0

1

2

0

2

.304

.362

.603

Miguel Gomez

3B

4

1

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

.241

.271

.466

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Dan Slania (L, 2-2)

4.0

9

8

7

0

5

2

5.25

Austin Fleet

2.0

3

0

0

0

3

0

5.32

Pat Young

1.0

3

4

4

2

0

1

4.02

Tyler Cyr

1.0

1

1

1

0

0

1

2.37

Say this for San Jose, they're doing an admirable job making sure that Modesto or Stockton doesn't sneak past Bakersfield for the second half title (thus ensuring the Giants' Wild Card position). Bakersfield isn't the easiest park in the world to pitch in, for sure, but 35 runs allowed over a three game series may fall beyond the pale of home environment excuses.

Dan Slania got pummeled over the course of his four innings, allowing four runs in the 2nd inning on a Grand Slam and then two more in each of the following two innings. Slania clearly has no love for Sam Lynn Ballpark. His terrific season has really come to halt in Bakersfield. Slania's now thrown two consecutive road starts against the Blaze and he's surrendered 13 ER in just 10 IP in those two outings. Ouch!

San Jose mounted a spirited comeback thanks to a home run barrage. TJ Bennett homered for the second consecutive day (9) in the 6th and then Dan Carbonell led off the 7th with his 3rd HR. Finally, Dylan Davis went deep yet again to bring the game to within reach at 8-6. For Davis that's HRs in three consecutive games for the second time in two weeks. He's now at 18 in the Cal League in just 54 games. He's at 26 for the season and if he keeps up this onslaught he's got a chance to have the first 30 HR season for the organization since Adam Duvall hit a San Jose record 30 in 2012.

Sadly, that was as close as they'd get as Pat Young would allow the second Grand Slam of the game in the bottom of that same inning to Austin Slater's former (better regarded!) teammate Austin Wilson. Wilson hit two HRs in the game, part of the Blaze' four HRs overall. Wilson was Seattle's 2nd round pick in 2013 out of Stanford, but his former OF-mate (and Austin-mate) Slater has zoomed by him in the intervening years, prospect-wise.

And a roster move note, which you may have picked up from the lines:

* * *

Augusta beat the Greenville Drive (Red Sox), 7-1
winning their three game series, 2-1

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Jalen Miller

SS

5

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

.231

.279

.336

Bryan Reynolds

CF

5

1

4

2

0

0

2

0

1

.423

.444

.692

Skyler Ewing

1B

3

1

2

1

0

0

0

1

0

.245

.324

.406

John Polonius

3B

4

1

3

1

0

0

1

0

0

.212

.280

.259

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Jake McCasland (W, 7-5)

7.0

1

1

0

3

6

0

1.57

Ryan Halstead

1.0

1

0

0

0

1

0

4.14

Ryan Koziol

1.0

0

0

0

0

1

0

2.78

Good job, Jake! See guys, when you don't immediately give up 7 runs within the first two innings, the offense can relax and play a nice easy game. Getting solid performances from your starting pitcher is definitely the building block for a victory.

Bryan Reynolds had a monster game with four hits including his third and fourth doubles since joining Augusta just six games ago. Five of Reynolds 11 hits in the Sally have gone for extra bases, as he's wasted no time adjusting to the new level. Great playoff push addition for the Augusta lineup, which also got a big 2-run HR from minor league vet Junior Arias and the rare three-hit game from John Polonius to help salt this game away.

Worth noting, Jalen Miller started at SS for the second time this week. The org has been cautious to shift Miller over to SS full-time after nearly a full season of getting reps on the other side of 2b, but I'm curious to see if they move him back over next year, now that Fox' trade has reduced their stock of young SS.

The victory unfortunately didn't improve their position in the standings, as the torrid Rome Braves picked up their 8th consecutive victory with an extra innings walkoff. Now starts the real drama.  Augusta makes the short trip over to Rome tonight to begin a huge three game series. And then after three more games in Lexington, the Greenjackets return home to finish the year with four more games against Rome. Separated in the standings by 1.5 games and going head to head 7 times in the final 10. That's some good drama. Go win some games, guys!

Augusta will send Michael Connolly out in the opener tonight, and then follow that with Raffi Vizcaino's Sally debut on Saturday. Dom Mazza takes the bump on Sunday.

* * *

Salem-Keizer had a scheduled off day

Their final off day of the year. With the Volcanoes nearing elimination, it might make sense for the Giants to send a couple more of their better players to bolster Augusta and  San Jose's chances. Heath Quinn would really help Augusta.

* * *

AZL Giants beat the AZL Padres, 12-8

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Brandon Van Horn

SS

4

2

2

1

0

0

1

1

2

.242

.339

.309

Jacob Heyward

DH

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

.333

.478

.586

Sandro Fabian

RF

5

2

2

0

0

0

2

0

0

.329

.358

.503

Jose Layer

LF

5

2

2

0

0

0

2

0

1

.289

.347

.356

Michael Bernal

2B

4

2

1

1

0

0

0

1

1

.254

.335

.449

Kelvin Beltre

3B

5

1

3

1

1

0

2

0

1

.294

.333

.588

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Nick Deeg

3.0

3

1

1

2

3

0

4.12

Julio Benitez

1.0

1

1

1

0

1

0

3.89

Chris Falwell (W, 3-1)

2.0

5

3

1

1

1

0

2.90

Reagan Bazar

1.0

4

1

1

0

1

0

4.91

Wilson Santos

2.0

2

0

0

1

1

0

2.70

The AZL team took care of business in this one. Bostered by the return of Jacob Heyward to the lineup and a big night from the rehabbing Kelvin Beltre, the Giants bashed out 13 hits including four doubles and a triple, and added four walks in the rout. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 5th, the offensive salted the game away with a huge 8-run rally during which nine consecutive batters reached base via hit or walk. That stretch included doubles from Hill and Bernal and Beltre's triple. Sandro Fabian picked up two more hits as did Jose Layer, whose settling into his debut season well.

The Giants also got some of the help they were looking for, when both the Angels and Athletics lost their contests, moving the Giants into 2nd place ahead of the A's and half a game behind the Angels. The Giants have a rain makeup DH tonight against the AZL's best team, the Reds, who just clinched their spot in the playoffs, so this will be a tough night to get through.

* * *

DSL Giants were rained out.

Their season concludes tomorrow.

* * *

Today's Matchups:
Sacramento: Ty Blach vs. David Paulino
Richmond: Kyle Crick vs. Julian Merryweather
San Jose: Conner Menez vs. Alex Young
Augusta: Michael Connolly vs. Kolby Allard (#4 prospect in Braves' system, and their 2015 1st round pick)
SK, AZL, DSL: TBD

Today's Quiz: Bryan Reynolds' four hit game isn't the best we've seen this year. There have been four players who have had five hit games this year in the Giants' system. Who were they? If anybody actually gets all four of these guys I will give them something really nice, because this one is crazy hard.

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