SF Giants Minor Lines 8/15/18

HIGHLIGHTS: Aramis Garcia had first three AAA hits; Matt Winn had three hits including two doubles; Israel Cruz struck out 8 over 4 shutout innings.

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Sacramento won at Reno Aces (Diamondbacks), 8-5 in 11 inn
winning their series, 2-1

Miguel Gomez’ bases loaded hit brought in all three runs (with the help of a Reno error) in the top of the 11th, pushing the RiverCats to their seventh series win of the year. The game was a back and forth affair, with Sacramento starter Dan Camarena and Tyler Rogers combining to blow a 3 run lead in the 6th, but the Cats coming back to tie it in the 8th on a Peter Bourjos pinch hit Sac Fly.

Aramis Garcia has had trouble settling in since coming to AAA, no doubt because his bags have been packed for traveling back and forth to SF. Garcia had gone 0 for 12 with Sacramento before last night’s game. But he busted out with his first three AAA hits including a double, and added a crucial Sac Fly in the top of the 10th.

Roberto Gomez struck out 2 in the bottom of the 11th to close out the victory.

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Richmond lost at Bowie Bay Sox (Orioles), 10-4

The BaySox have been lighting up Squirrels’ pitching this series, scoring 25 runs in the first three games — two of them shortened ones. Yesterday it was starter Jake McCasland on the business end of a battering ram, giving up 7 runs (5 earned) in just 5 innings. McCasland allowed doubles to Orioles #3 prospect Ryan Mountcastle in each of Mountcastle’s first two At Bats, keying crooked number rallies both times.

Richmond came up with the only two long balls of the evening, Ryan Howard’s 4th HR of the year and Caleb Gindl’s 3rd, but both were solo shots that came long after the game was out of hand.

It was a good day for recently promoted Catchers, as Matt Winn also had a three hit day, complete with two doubles. Unlike Garcia, Winn’s been swinging a hot bat since arriving back in Richmond, going 9 for 20 over his first week. This is the third different season in which Winn has had a stint in his hometown, though in both of the previous cases, his stay was short (no more than 15 games). This time we can expect he’ll make Richmond his home for the rest of the year and likely start out there in 2019 as well.

Apparently, Bowie wasn’t the only Eastern League location where Squirrels were making an appearance last night:

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San Jose lost at Inland Empire 66ers (Angels), 5-3
losing their series, 1-2

John Gavin had his first taste of success in the Cal League — albeit a short taste. Gavin went 4 innings and allowed just 1 run, and for the first time with San Jose, surrendered no homers. However, his erstwhile Augusta teammate Joey Marciano continues to have a rough go of it in High A. Marciano’s little over an inning of work made the difference as the 66ers took the game and the series on the strength of a 3-run 6th.

Sandro Fabian reached base four times, matching a two hit night with — amazingly — a two walk night! After an abysmal July, Fabian is showing signs of life in August. In 11 games this month he’s hit .289/.391/.605 including his first three HRs since May and now five walks. That matches his walk totals from all of June and July combined. He hast hits in 9 of his last 11 games played.

Johneshwy Fargas picked up his 39th SB of the year in his 76th game played. Next up...40!

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Augusta lost at Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox), 7-6 in 10 inn

Tough loss for the Greenjackets who broke a 3-3 tie with 3 runs in the top of the 9th, but would ultimately fall in extra innings. Olbis Parra had a miserable relief outing, first blowing the 6-3 lead in the bottom of the 9th and then allowing a game losing double to the first batter he faced in the 10th. In all Parra allowed hits to 5 of the 8 batters he faced.

Augusta had a great deal of help in launching their 9th inning rally, as the first run came in on a Wild Pitch and the third on a bases loaded HBP. They couldn’t land the knockout blow though as Heliot Ramos was called out on strikes with the bases loaded. That was part of a 3 for 12 night for the team with runners in scoring position.

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Salem-Keizer won at Boise Jet Hawks (Rockies), 6-3

After homering 9 times in his first 18 games as a Volcano, Joey Bart has now gone 13 games without a longball. Horrors! He did, however, pick up another two hits last night and has an OPS of 1.031 in the NWL, second best in the league.

Bart was joined in the two-hit club last night by Aaron Bond, Kyle McPherson and Dalton Combs (in a rare start). Bond hit a run-scoring triple, keeping his extra base bombardment going.

Sean Hjelle threw a brief two inning start, allowing a run on a solo HR — the third he’s allowed in Salem-Keizer. Hjelle’s given up 11 runs in his last 5 starts, none longer than 2 innings. He does have a 10 to 1 K/BB ratio in that time though.

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AZL Giants Orange lost to AZL Angels, 4-3

AZL Giants Black lost to AZL Athletics 3-2 in 10 inn

Alexander Canario hit a clutch game-tying HR in the bottom of the 9th for the Black team. However, they would go down in extra innings when they failed to score in the bottom of the 10th.

That game was marked by some power pitching. Israel Cruz, who the Giants obtained from Texas in the Matt Moore deal struck out 8 in 4 shutout innings. The power-armed 21 year old is second in the AZL with 56 Ks in 48 IP.

Sam Coonrod struck out 2 of the 4 batters he faced — he’s K’d 10 batters in his last 2.2 IP in the AZL and seems about ready to return to duty higher up.

Over on the Orange staff, Logan Harasta is making a powerful return from TJ as well. Harasta struck out 5 in 2 IP, giving his 22 strikeouts in just 14.1 IP this year. He has just 4 walks allowed and 9 hits.

Ronnie Jebavy played in his second rehab game with the Orange team — his first game action since June 27.

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DSL Giants lost to DSL Colorado, 3-2

Look at Ghordy Santos vaulting over the Mendoza Line! It’s taken a hella-hot August to do it after two ice-cold months to start the year. On July 31, Santos slash line sat at .157/.364/.204. But 16 hits in 44 August At Bats — including three homers and two doubles — have shot that batting average up to .217 and the OPS to .730, which is a long way from .568! Nice job finishing with a kick Ghordy! The twitchy athlete also has 17 SB in 20 attempts this season. That K rate could still come down some though.

Juan Sanchez is drifting a little the opposite way. The All Star had two excellent months before reaching the dog days, but the 17 year old might be hitting a wall. He’s allowed 13 earned runs in 10.2 IP this month. After ending August with a 1.79 ERA, it’s jumped up more than a run and a half in just three starts. Still, with 63 Ks and just 13 BBs in 61.2 IP in his debut season, the lefty has shown plenty of promise to build on next year.

With the loss, the Giants are eliminated from post-season consideration.

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Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento: Jordan Johnson vs. TBD
Richmond: Chase Johnson vs Dean Kremer
San Jose: OFF
Augusta: Garrett Cave vs. Zach Lewis
Salem-Keizer: TBD
AZL: TBD
DSL: Freddery Paulino

Lots of Johnson at the top of the system. Garrett Cave keeps searching for the missing key, while Salem-Keizer faces their first turn of the rotation without Gregory Santos. Look for Miguel Figueroa to take his turn.

Almost the weekend!