SF Giants Minor Lines 6/7/19: We got RUNS!

More All Stars! Wow, how long’s it been since a Giants’ prospect was “headlining” a roster? (Not a rhetorical question — probably a headline hasn’t been seen like this since Posey was on the Cal League All Star team.)

And, of course, this sets up Gore v. Ramos Part Deux!

HIGHLIGHTS: Chris Shaw hit his first AAA HR of year; Jacob Heyward doubled, homered and drove in 4; Jose Marte struck out 6 in return to action.

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Sacramento won at New Orleans Babycakes (Marlins), 10-0

Sacramento began their final series ever in New Orleans (as the Babycakes head to Wichita starting in 2020) with a bang, dominating the Pastries from the very first pitch:

Two batters later it was Chris Shaw’s turn, barely sneaking one out to dead center for his first HR since his promotion to Sacramento and 8th this year.

That would be all the offense the RiverCats pitching would need on this night — though they’d pile on a bunch more in the late innings turning the game into a rout. The team would ultimately hit four HRs with Catcher Ronnie Freeman and 2b Levi Michael joining in the party.

But for much of the night it stayed a 3-0 as Yoanys Quiala kept the Babycakes in check. His lone dicey inning came in the 5th bailed him out with a somewhat amazing back-foot throw from LF:

That is quite the “all arm” throw! (Though I believe the New Orleans announcers were correct that Michael missed the tag). Freeman would extend the lead the very next inning, and Michael turned it into a runaway with a three-run shot in the 8th.

I shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to note that Abiatal Avelino made a pinch hit appearance last night, flying out in his one plate appearance. Why is that notable? Because it broke a rather amazing streak of 7 consecutive multi-hit games for Avelino. If he gets two more hits in his next start we’ll just forget this PH thing ever happened.

The power was confined to the bats though. In the late innings the Sacramento bullpen would bring the heat. Ray Black, Sam Coonrod, and Williams Jerez smothered New Orleans allowing just one baserunner over the final three frames.

With three consecutive road wins the RiverCats are back over .500 and surprisingly sitting in 1st place in the Pacific Northern division. Keep rolling Cats!

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Richmond won at New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays), 14-5

In 2018, the Fisher Cats, buoyed by the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Bo Bichette, and the Giants own Travis Bergen were the champs of the Eastern League (with Bergen on the mound to celebrate the final out of the championship series). But the 2019 version is a pale imitation, and last night Richmond handed them a humiliating pounding on their home field.

Richmond got huge production from the 4-7 spots in their order with Jacob Heyward in the cleanup slot leading the way. Heyward delivered the big hit in a 4-run rally in the 3rd, doubling in two runs.

Zach Houchins would then drive Heyward in to push the lead out to 4-0. The pair would return would even more thunder in a 5-run 6th that really turned things into a laugher:

In all the team would bash out seven extra base hits as the train kept a moving all night long. Ex-Pirate Houchins has been on fire on the current road trip going 13 for 34 with four home runs and three doubles in nine games.

But the big night belonged to Heyward who reached base twice and drove in 4 with his two extra base hits. Heyward has five hits over his last three games, four of which have gone for extra bases. But he has also had two hat tricks in his last four games. He continues to show his strong Three True Outcomes tendencies as he now has a 31% K rate, 17% walk rate, and an Iso of .193. An amazing 101 of his 197 plate appearances this year have involved a walk, K, or HR (mostly the first two).

Jalen Miller continues to plunge — the 2b has been ice-cold since the beginning of May. With Miller and Johneshwy Fargas hitting 2-3 in the lineup last night, it’s interesting to note that they are now posting extremely similar batting lines on the year now, with Miller at .230/.301/.364 and Fargas hitting .234/.316/.323. I’m sure nobody was predicting that back in April. Both of the pair contributed an RBI single to the effort last night. And Fargas showed off one of his other virtues as well:

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San Jose lost at Stockton Ports (A’s), 8-3

The good news is the gang’s all getting back together! Jose Marte, who had been out since his second start of the year (and who memorably became Johnny Cueto’s workout partner in the interim) appeared in his first game since April 9 for the Giants last night.

The less good news is that there’s a little rust for everybody to shake off still as they get back into game action. Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos went just 1 for 9 with three strikeouts, and Marte had a bit of trouble finding the strike zone with his stuff, throwing just 38 of 62 pitches for strikes. When he did find the zone, however, he was highly dangerous!

The A’s #6 prospect Lazarito Armenteros got to Marte for a three-run homer in the 1st, and his command was obviously not fine, but the electric stuff was on display. The Giants appear to be marshalling the elements for a big second half (depending, of course, on how long all those elements stay in the Cal League).

Courtney Hawkins is enjoying slumming it in the Cal League. He provided nearly all the Giants’ offense with two home runs and now has five dingers in his last six games. He’s only been with the team for 15 games and he’s nearing the team lead!

Travis Bergen began his rehab assignment. The Giants need to have him on their active roster for 55 more days before September in order to secure his rights going forward, but I imagine they’ll make use of the entire 30 days that a pitching rehab assignment can last before recalling him.

We can’t leave before congratulating ALL the San Jose All Stars — it’s not just Heliot getting the love. Congrats also to starter Aaron Phillips and closer Frank Rubio, who has allowed just a single earned run this year in 27 IP.

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Before the deluge started, Seth Corry was having another wild child moment walking 4 of the 11 batters he faced. The one hit he gave up was a solo home run, just the second homer he’s allowed this year. Augusta will pick up the game tonight in the bottom of the 2nd, trailing 1-0.

Big double-header tonight — with just eight days left in the first half the Greenjackets sit in 3rd place, 2.5 games back. The push for a title needs to start now!

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DSL Giants lost to DSL Pirates2, 12-3

Rough day for the pitching staff, which gave up 12 hits and 12 runs, walked 8 while striking out just 4. Starter Willians Suarez was pounded for 5 runs in the 2nd inning to start things off. The 21 year old RHP is in his fourth DSL season and has a career 5.90 ERA.

Middle Infielder Jose Peralta followed up his three-hit game on Thursday by going 1 for 3 with a walk. His one hit was a triple — his first extra base hit of the year.

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Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento (Ty Blach) @ New Orleans (Elieser Hernandez)
Richmond (Caleb Baragar) @ New Hampshire (Zach Logue)
San Jose (Jake Wong) @ Stockton (TBD)
Augusta (Keith Weisenberg) vs. Kannapolis (Jason Bilous) following suspended game
DSL Giants (Jorge Garcia) vs. DSL Mariners (TBD)

We’re getting nearer to our full compliment of clubs. This time next week you’ll be reading about the season opener in Salem-Keizer which could assemble a very exciting collection of talent headlined by Hunter Bishop (once he signs) and potentially Alexander Canario.

But this year the Volcanoes young talent won’t be confined to the field! To get you ready for some NWL action, enjoy this piece on the phenom who will surely be the youngest member of the Volcanoes organization this year.