SF Giants Minor Lines 4/16/19: Ryan Kirby HRs twice

And now we face a Bart-less world for the spring as yesterday’s news turned bitter.

While we contemplate what the next couple months of Minor Lines will be missing, have a listen to Kyle Haines discussing Joey’s path and looking for some positives to come out of the missed time, as well as other early season standouts, in a very timely interview with Joe Ritzo:

HIGHLIGHTS: Tyler Beede struck out 9 over 5 IP; Jalen Miller singled and homered; Ryan Kirby homered twice; Blake Rivera struck out 5 in 5 hitless innings.

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Sacramento lost to Las Vegas Aviators (A’s), 8-4

Tyler Beede continued to blow PCL batters away with another strong start, striking out 9 over 5 innings against Las Vegas, giving him 22 strikeouts now in 12.2 IP this year. Beede stumbled in the second inning, when he walked the leadoff batter and ultimately gave up a three-run homer. But he shook the frame off in a big way, coming back to strike out six of the next seven batters between the 3rd and 5th innings and retiring the final 11 batters he faced. Just an overpowering stretch to finish off the night.

Let’s take the extended look.

Sacramento would come back to take the lead, tying the game on a strange double play on which neither the batter, Mike Gerber, nor the base runner Breyvic Valera seemed to be aware that call on the field was No Catch.

Can’t tell from the video feed how definitive the base umpire was on his call, but confusion surely reigned supreme on the play.

Ultimately Sacramento would take a 5-4 lead into the 9th thanks to a Mac Williamson Sac Fly. But the league’s best offense couldn’t be held down the entire night, and they unleashed their might on the heretofore spotless record of Sam Coonrod in the top of the 9th. Six consecutive batters reached base in a four-run 9th inning that pushed the high-flying Aviators’ record to 11-2.

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Richmond lost at Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies), 13-3

Chris Shaw’s two-out, bases-loaded error opened the doors to a huge 6-run 2nd inning and the Yard Goats would pummel reliever Ryan Halstead in the late innings to coast to the easy win.

Within the wipeout there were still things to enjoy about the Squirrels performances, starting with the continuing heat flowing off Jalen Miller’s bat.

Wait, hang on, wrong clip....

There we go, that’s Jalen. There is no hotter swinger in the organization than that man. Two more hits pushes Miller’s early season batting line up to .375. His OBP is ALSO .375 which is a wee bit concerning, but he’s struck out just 3 times in his first 32 PA in AA. With two HRs and a double over his last four games the 2b is also now sporting an Iso over .200. Pretty good April the man is having! Miller has a long history of hot starts in his career — and not all of them have been sustained. But here’s hoping he’s turned the corner in his development and will continue to see AA success in 2019!

Chris Shaw and Jonah Arenado also continue to swing strong RBI bats on the road trip.

On the mound, Kieran Lovegrove continued his excellent opening month with another 2.1 scoreless innings. Lovegrove has appeared in just three games, but he’s thrown at least 2 innings each time and allowed just three baserunners on the years. In 6.1 IP he’s K’d 6 batters and walked none (though with one HB). Looking good for one of the more intriguing arms the Giants picked up on the cheap this winter.

The Squirrels still get a chance to win their short road trip with a morning get away game today. (Starting right about the time this post goes live).

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San Jose beat Stockton Ports (A’s), 8-4

OH MY GOD! WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU ABOUT THAT!!! STOP IT!!

Ok, but still. NO more!

The Giants got some huge swings of the bat from 1b Ryan Kirby, who helped them break a four game skid with a 2 HR, 4 RBI night just when they needed it most.

With that swing Kirby produced the same amount of runs the Giants had managed to score in their previous three games combined. And then in the 6th inning, they’d match the total of the previous four games combined.

It was a true gusher for an offense that has tended to copy the big league club’s offensive fortunes a little too closely the past few days! Heliot Ramos had another excellent game, as he walked, singled, and doubled, pushing his line up to .250/.426/.625. He now has a perfectly symmetrical 11 BBs and 11 Ks on the young season. The 19 year old seems to be growing in front of our eyes in the early going of this challenging assignment!

But it was Kirby’s night last night, as the big left-hander matched Ramos for the team — and the Cal League (along with a few others) — lead in HRs.

Maybe this game will help shake a few of the cobwebs out of the bats.

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Augusta beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates), 3-1

2018 4th rounder Blake Rivera’s first start of the year was over a lot earlier than he’d hoped as he surrendered 4 walks, 4 hits, and 4 earned runs without escaping the 2nd inning. But Rivera bounced back in a big way in his second start, throwing near perfect innings, striking out 5 and allowing nary a hit. Rivera scuffled a bit with his control, walking two and throwing 25 of his 58 pitches out of the zone. But he was impossible to hit when he was in it.

Will Cheney by the way, is the new Augusta Chronicle reporter on the Greenjackets beat — should be a must follow for everybody on Twitter.

Rivera’s dominance helped set the tone for a low-scoring night. Wander Franco’s solo HR was the only run either team scored over the first 6 innings. After Greensboro tied it up off Norwith Gudino in the 7th, the Greenjackets would reclaim the lead when Frankie Tostado picked up one of his two hits on the night and came around to score the eventual winning run on a Wild Pitch. The 21 year old Tostado has reached base safely in all but one of his 10 games played this year and has his line up to .359/.432/.569 on the year.

Augusta tries for their first series sweep of the year with some morning ball today.

More bummer health news with Santos headed to the IL though if you listen to the interview with Kyle Haines he says that Santos should be alright in a few weeks so it sounds like for now, at least, rest is the prescription for what ails him.

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TODAY’S SCHEDULED STARTERS:
Sacramento (Ty Blach) vs. Las Vegas (Tyler Alexander)
Richmond (Logan Webb) @ Hartford (Ty Culbreth)
San Jose (Garrett Cave) vs. Stockton (TBD)
Augusta (Matt Frisbee) vs. Greensboro (TBD)

Well folks, the Joey Bart news has hit me hard, so I’m going to need some time away to reflect on this blow. But Kevin will take care of you while I’m gone and I promise to return before Joey does!

Have a great time at the ballyard!