Down on the Farm: 7/1/2011

AAA Fresno Grizzlies used the long ball to defeat the Tacoma Rainiers 10-7:

Jason Christian(LF)- 3 for 4, 3B, HR(2), S, 2 SB(4). BA= .583.
Mike Fontenot(2B)- 0 for 2, 2 BB. BA= .125.
Edgar Gonzalez(SS-2B)- 3 for 5. BA= .303.
Brett Pill(1B)- 3 for 5, 2B, 2 HR(15). BA= .314.
Thomas Neal(DH)- 2 for 4, 2B, BB. BA= .312.
Hector Sanchez(C)- 3 for 4, BB. BA= .345.


Christian might be another nice 4'th/5'th OF option for some MLB team. Fonty could be called up on Monday. Expect Bill Hall to be the one to go. Pill is red hot. Wonder if he'll ever get a shot at the majors? Neal and Sanchez continue to hit, but not for much power.

AA Reading Phillies topped the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-5:

Francisco Peguero(RF)- 3 for 5, HR(1). BA= .333.
Charlie Culberson(2B)- 3 for 5, 2B. BA= .264.
Wes Hodges(1B)- 2 for 4, HR(1). BA= .255.
Clayton Tanner(LHP)- 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 4.48.
Heath Hembree(RHP)- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 4.50.

Peguero hasn't been stymied by AA so far. Interesting that Roger K moved over the LF with Peguero manning RF in this one.

High A Stockton Ports downed the San Jose Giants 3-1:

Nick Liles(LF)- 3 for 4, SB(6). BA= .340.
Alex Burg(3B)- 1 for 4, HR(4). BA= .414.
Kelvin Marte(LHP)- 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 3.38.

Burg stays hot with the dinger.

Low A Savannah Sand Gnats edged the Augusta Greenjackets 3-2:

Robert Haney(SS)- 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB. BA= .279.
Taylor Rogers(RHP)- 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 2.60.
Austin Fleet(RHP)- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 4.62.

Short Season Everett Aquasox beat the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 4-1:

Kaohi Downing(RF)- 2 for 4, 2B. BA= .386.
Joe Staley(C)- 1 for 4, HR(3). BA= .219.

Downing had been playing mostly IF. Versatility is a good thing.

Rookie AZL Mariners outscored the Giants 8-6:

Kentrell Hill(RF)- 2 for 5, 2B. BA= .211.
Ben Thomas(1B)- 1 for 3, 2 2B. BA= .419.
Leonardo Fuentes(DH)- 2 for 5. BA= .263.
Eric Sim(C)- 3 for 4, HR(1), BB. BA= .360.
Kelby Tomlinson(SS)- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB(1). BA= .500.
Joan Gregorio(RHP)- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 1.32.

If you are going to pick one guy to follow on this AZL Giants team, it should be Fuentes, who might have the highest ceiling in the organization.

Thanks to Fla-Giant over on mccoveychronicles.com for tracking the signings of Giants draft picks. They recently signed 2 of the 3 Puerto Rican HS draftees as well as HS RHP Clayton Blackburn who faced 1 batter in this game. The Giants went mostly college in the first 10 rounds or so, but took more HS players than usual in the middle and later rounds. They have signed a surprising number of the HS kids. Their foray into the Puerto Rican market is particularly intriguing and worth tracking in the future.