SF Giants Minor Lines 8/9/19: There will be RUNS!

Top prospects? Who needs them anyway?

HIGHLIGHTS: Manuel Geraldo, Courtney Hawkins, and Sandro Fabian all had four hits; Hunter Bishop reached base three times with a HR; Luis Toribio had four hits with a double; Connor Cannon hit his 13th HR in AZL.

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Sacramento lost to Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) 15-0
winning their series, 2-1

Incidentally, in a different PCL game last night, El Paso used a 10-run inning to come from behind and win on a walk off Grand Slam (breaking the PCL’s all time HR record with their 232nd long ball of the year). That kind of drama....did not happen here.

Melvin Adon is having a bumpy entry into AAA so far. In just 2.1 innings he’s allowed 6 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks, while striking out just 2. Time to find an adjustment Melvin! That’s why the different levels exist.

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Richmond lost to Bowie BaySox (Orioles), 4-1

Fans in attendance at the Diamond got to witness a little history last night — Heliot Ramos became the youngest player ever to appear in a game for the Squirrels (Tommy Joseph, who turned 21 in July of his year with Richmond was the previous youngster) and Joey Bart became the highest draft pick ever to appear in a game for the Squirrels (#14 pick Tyler Beede was the previous high).

But witnessing history was one of the few pleasures last night afforded. The pair went 0 for 7 in their debut as old friend Tyler Herb held Richmond to just 2 hits over 7 innings. Ramos did work Herb for a lead off walk to start the 1st AA stolen base.

Bart showed off some defensive skills, picking up his first CS at the new level. He also paird up with Ryan Howard on a nifty double play.

The lone offensive highlight for Richmond, however, came once again from Indy ball vet Zach Houchins, who boldly went where no man has traveled before — or at least not very often:

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San Jose beat the Modesto Nuts (Mariners), 20-5

San Jose, meanwhile, decided to make a statement that they were better off without those guys anyway! They, too, made history, scoring the most runs ever at home in yet another high scoring rout.

Three different members of the lineup — Manuel Geraldo, Courtney Hawkins, and Sandro Fabian — had four hit nights, with Hawkins finishing, yes, say it with me, a triple shy of a cycle. Indeed, he was a triple shy of the cycle by the end of the 3rd inning.

Hawkins and David Villar banged out their 10th HRs of the year back to back in the 1st inning. But that was just a teaser for what was to come. The Giants produced their highest scoring inning of the year when they plated 9 runs in the bottom of the 3rd.

With a 12-0 lead in his pocket, Jake Wong cruised to the easy win going 5 innings and allowing 4 runs. Wong’s 7 Ks matched a career high — he has an excellent 101 to 35 K:BB ratio on the year, as he’s consistently attacked hitters in the zone in both Augusta and San Jose.

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Augusta’s game at Rome was postponed due to wet grounds

They’ll play a crucial double header tonight starting at 5. Thanks to an Asheville loss, however, they maintained their 1st place position even without taking the field.

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Salem-Keizer beat Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 8-7

Prelander Berroa’s organizational debut wasn’t quite as impactful as his former Twins mate Jaylin Davis’. The live-armed 19 year old allowed 6 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in his first game as a Giants’ farmhand, putting the Volcanoes in a bit of an early hole.

But the Salem-Keizer bats came roaring back, as they got home runs from their top three prospects to help help propel the team to the win. Logan Wyatt — who had just hit his first professional HR the night before — went back to back with Alexander Canario to get the Volcanoes back into the game in the 3rd inning. For Canario, that was his 13th HR of the year in just 43 games. The 19 year old is Slugging .663 for the year overall, and .538 in the NWL.

And in the 4th, Hunter Bishop’s 3-run shot tied the game up at 6-6 apiece. Bishop would reach base three times on the night, including a walk to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th. That set up All Star Sean Roby with the chance to play the hero and Roby came through with a game-winning walk off single.

Good timing, as Marc Delucchi over at Around the Foghorn published an interview with Roby just yesterday.

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AZL Giants Orange beat AZL Royals 9-5

AZL Giants Black lost to AZL Athletics Green, 4-3

Johnny Cueto made his second rehab appearance in the desert. Not quite as sensational as the first — some contact was made — but Johnny got in solid work allowing two singles in two innings of work, including one to the #2 overall pick this year, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt, Jr. who grounded one up the middle. Cueto quickly got his revenge, however, picking Witt off 1b. Can’t wait to see Señor Shimmy back in a SF uni!

Connor Cannon blasted his 13th homer of the year for Team Orange. With 13 games remaining in the season, Cannon has an outside shot at making a run at Joey Gallo’s AZL record of 18, but he’ll need to heat up fast to make the assault.

Luis Toribio had a four hit night, pushing his average up to .324. He hasn’t shown quite the power this year he had in the DSL, as he’s Slugging just .486 with 11 doubles and 3 HRs.

Richgelon Juliana had a perfect night at the plate, walking twice, singling and doubling. He also stole his 3rd base of the year.

Marco Luciano had two singles — the 17 year old has slowed down a trifle as the season winds down, but he’s still hitting .322/.438/.616 in his pro debut.

LHP Sonny Vargas allowed 3 runs in his 4 inning stint, but he also struck out 4 more batters. He has 45 Ks against just 12 BBs in his 43 IP this year. That’s 8th best in the league, behind (among others) camp-mate Jesus Gomez and now departed teammate Jasier Herrera.

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DSL Giants beat DSL Tigers2, 14-1 in Gm 1 (7 inn)

DSL GIants lost to DSL Tigers2, 4-1 in Gm 2 (7 inn)

You may recall way back in early June, in the second game of the DSL season, Adolfo Valdez hit HRs in his first two professional plate appearances. Yesterday he had his second multi-HR day of his career. And in the intervening two months, he hit 1 total HR. DSL is weird!

Rayner Santana also went deep in yet another high scoring affair yesterday. That’s six homers for the 16 year old this year (Santana turns 17 this week), with, of course, four of them in his last four games after his 3-homer explosion earlier in the week.

Sixteen year old LHP Luis Castillo had his best start as a pro, going a career high 6 innings and allowing no runs on just 3 hits. The youngster has 46 hits in in 45.1 IP for the season.

Luis Matos rested for both halves of the double header — the second day off he’s had this week. Likely the long season is begining to wear on the 17 year old who has been in the lineup most every day this year. Matos is back in the lineup this morning.

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Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento (Justin Haley) vs. Nashville (Wes Benjamin)
Richmond (Caleb Baragar) vs. Bowie (Dean Kremer) Gm 1
Richmond (TBD) vs. Bowie (Cody Sedlock)
San Jose (Jose Marte) vs. Modesto (TBD)
Augusta (Seth Corry) @ Rome (Ricky DeVito) Gm 1
Augusta (Trent Toplikar) @ Rome (Ryan Shetter) Gm 2
Salem-Keizer (TBD) vs. Hillsboro (Conner Grammes)
AZL Giants OFF
DSL Giants (Jose Mullings) vs. DSL Tigers2 (Yonson Guerrero)

Another organizational debut coming up today as Sacramento gets a brand new player, formerly a Fresno St. Bulldog

Have a great weekend everybody! Not too many of them left to us here at Minor Lines!