SF Giants Minor Lines 6/14/17: Matt Krook steps it up

So possibly some bad news to start the day with. Las Vegas video setup is, as usual, subpar, but here was the scene in the 3rd inning yesterday:

No official news about Arroyo from the club after the game but he was removed at that point. Hopefully nothing big and a day or two to let the soreness dissipate is all that’s required. But HBP in the wrist/hand area are always scary for hitters. Be well, Christian.

HIGHLIGHTS: Matt Krook struck out 8 in 5.1 IP;

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Sacramento won at Las Vegas 51s (Mets), 5-4

With two outs and nobody on in the 6th inning, Sacramento exploded for four runs to break open a scoreless game. And, despite some shaky moments in the 8th and 9th, they rode that big inning to the victory. The eruption started with Ryder Jones who blasted a solo HR to break a 0-0 tie. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, we present the Las Vegas video feed:

It was Jones only hit of the game but he made it count. Ryder continues a solid AAA campaign. His .901 OPS is 13th in the PCL and he’s posting career bests by far in both walk rate (12%) and Iso (.237). Defense is still a question mark for the big lefty, but the strides he’s made over the last year are encouraging to say the least.

Following Jones, Mac Williamson and Chris Shaw both singled and then Justin Ruggiano came up with the big blast, a 3-run HR. It was the second consecutive game with a HR for Ruggiano. Mac Williamson also added a double in the game. They’d tack on a run in the 7th on a Juniel Querecuto RBI double and that proved crucial when Chris Stratton tired in the 8th and allowed a 3-run rally on a triple, two singles, and a double. Kyle Crick came on to get a crucial double play and Steven Okert finished off the inning to escape a bigger comeback. Okert allowed yet another Kevin Plawlecki HR in the 9th but was able to close out the save.

Prior to the 8th, Chris Stratton had put together an fantastic night. His finest moment came in the bottom of the 5th. After allowing a leadoff triple to Desmond Jennings, Stratton stranded Jennings at third by striking out the next three 51s. Those were three of Stratton’s four Ks on the night. Good to know he can pitch for the strikeout when he has to.

We’ll look for more word on Arroyo’s status.

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Richmond’s game against New Hampshire was postponed (rain)

They’ll play a makeup double header tonight

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San Jose won at Modesto Nuts (Mariners), 4-2
sweeping their three game series, 3-0

Matt Krook’s another Giant prospect whose trend line has been pointing upwards. Krook started the year allowing 7 or more runs in two of his first three starts and walking at least four batters in each of his first six starts. But since going to a sinking fastball heavy approach and ditching the rest of his repertoire for awhile the results have improved dramatically. Last night he started mixing a slider in with the sinker and got some of the best results of his career. But enough of me. Our good friends Jen Mac Ramos and Conner Penfold were both at the park, so let’s check in with our field correspondents!

Krook matched a season high 95 pitches, throwing 54 of them for strikes (which is actually his best ratio of the year). Over his last three starts he’s had 22 Ks and 7 BBs in 16 IP while picking up 26 groundouts to just 2 flyouts. Keep the ball on the ground; strike out a bunch of people. That’s a pretty decent recipe for pitching success. Keep making strikes, Matt!

Both Conner and Jen got video last night, so I’d definitely recommend keeping an eye on their twitter and/or You Tube accounts today so see Krook in action.

The hitters got to spend the first four innings of last night’s game chasing the befuddling low 80s repertoire of rehabbing Hisashi Iwakuma. They did not have much success with the big leaguer, who allowed just 1 hit while striking out 4.

But they found Pablo Lopez much more to their liking and touched him up for 6 hits and 4 runs in 3.2 IP of relief. That included the 8th HR in 26 games for Heath Quinn. Quinn had himself a perfect Three True Outcomes game: he came to the plate four times, he HRd, he walked, he struck out twice. Quinn’s just 2 for his last 12 ABs but both of those hits have left the yard.

The rest of the OF provided most of the offense with Bryan Reynolds and Ronnie Jebavy both picking up two hits including a double. Reynolds’ two run double in the 6th gave San Jose the lead, and he added an RBI infield single in the 8th.

San Jose is going to end the first half in last place, but they’re slowly climbing their way back to respectability at 30-36, and they did some serious damage to Modesto’s first half title hopes this week. Modesto is locked in a first place tie with four games to go and they’ve now lost four in a row.

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Augusta lost at Rome Braves, 4-2

For a second straight day, Rome attacked in the first inning against a rough Augusta team. Garrett Williams struggled with his fastball command, walking two in the first while struggling through a 34 pitch inning. I was actually a little surprised to see him come out for the 2nd. Ultimately, Williams threw 4 innings, and while he improved his pitch efficiency after the 1st, he ended up running his pitch count to 90 in those 4 innings.

Williams started out his season showing much improved control, going four straight starts without allowing more than 2 walks, including a terrific start two weeks ago where he piled up 9 Ks while walking 0 and throwing 6.1 shutout innings. But he’s backtracked in his last two starts, walking 4 in each of them, while lasting 4 innings or less both times. In this game he combined the high walk total with a lack of swing and misses, resulting in a season (and career) low 1 strikeout.

For the second straight day in Rome, the Greenjackets’ offense was mostly a no show, managing 5 walks and 5 singles. Michael Bernal led the attack, singling in their first run, and scoring their second. Kelvin Beltre drew two walks, and C Adam Sonabend had two walks and a single.

Overall, the play in this series pretty clearly shows which team is playing out the string and waiting for the All star break to arrive, and which is going down to the final game trying to win a first half crown. While the Greenjackets didn’t kick the ball around quite the same as they had on Tuesday night, the defense was on the rugged side again and plays that should have been made were left on the table.

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DSL Giants beat the DSL Orioles, 15-4

The DSL Giants got quite a day from the top of their order as Anyesber Sivira and Franklin Labour teamed up for 7 hits, 6 RBIs, and 5 Runs scored. Sivira jumped his batting average .100 points with his four hit day, and also picked up his first XBH of the season. And since standing around on base all day is boring, he also swiped 3 bases (5 for the year).

Labour, meanwhile, picked up three hits plus a walk including his third and fourth doubles of the year, to drive in four of the team’s fifteen runs.

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Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento: Joan Gregorio vs. Tyler Pill
Richmond: Cory Taylor vs. Conner Green; Matt Gage vs. Francisco Rios
San Jose: Grant Watson vs. Bo Takahashi
Augusta: Dom Mazza vs. Alan Rangel
SK: Stetson Woods vs. Emmaneul Ramirez
DSL: Luis Moreno

Getting closer and closer to the full seven-team slate as the Volcanoes begin their 2017 season tonight. Stetson Woods gets the opening night start, so we can all just go ahead and start confusing the two Woods SP now. Joan Gregorio goes up against Brett Pill’s little brother. Bo Takahashi was born in Brazil (just thought I’d throw that tidbit in there).

So more prospects hit the field for the first time tonight. And soon we should have 2017 draftees joining in to add to the mix. And then the trade deadline craziness begins. Thus time is measured.