Minor League Notebook | May 29

One day after getting pounded, San Jose’s pitching staff, led by the staff ace, bounces back in a big way, and a young prospect delivers in the clutch. Augusta’s ace cruises to his eighth victory, and Schierholtz continues his offensive tear for Fresno. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s slide continues. Just Another Day in the Minors!

Fresno Grizzlies: Fresno 6, Round Rock 3 (Click to see box score)

Lines of the day:

RF Nate Schierholtz – 1-3, 2 R, 1 2B (18), 2 RBI (27)
1B Lance Niekro – 0-3, 1 RBI (9)
2B Luis R. Figueroa – 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B (9)
CF Clay Timpner – 1-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 CS (6)
C Guillermo Rodriguez – 1-4, 1 RBI (14)
LF Justin Leone – 1-2, 1 RBI (23), 1 SB (10) 2 BB
SP Matt Palmer – 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 E, W (3-3)
RP Erick Threets – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, H
RP Carlos Hines – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, SV

Nate Schierholtz’s two-run double highlighted a three-run first inning, and Matt Palmer threw six solid frames in Fresno’s 6-3 triumph.

Palmer (3-3), who has been up and down all season long, was able to limit Round Rock to one run over 6 2/3 innings to give the bullpen a much-needed rest.

With the Grizzlies ahead 3-0 in the second, Matt Palmer came in to score on Schierholtz’s double play grounder to increase the lead to 4-0.

Lance Niekro hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth to give Fresno a commanding 5-0 advantage, and Justin Leone’s RBI single in the seventh closed out the scoring for Fresno.

Carlos Hines gave up one run over the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his first save.

Connecticut Defenders: Portland 10, Connecticut 3 (Click to see box score)

Lines of the day:

2B Trey Webb – 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI (3)
2B Eugenio Velez – 1-1, 2 SB (10)
LF Carlos Sosa – 0-4, 1 BB, 1 SO
RF John Bowker – 1-5, 2 RBI (25), 1 SO
CF Pat Dobson – 2-5, 1 2B (11)
SP Darren Sack – 3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, L (2-5)

Connecticut’s hitting woes have been well-documented, but the pitching staff -- which until the past few days had for the most part done a superb job of keeping the Defenders in games -- has struggled mightily of late. Tuesday was no exception. Darren Sack (2-5) was hit hard, giving up seven runs in three innings, as the Defenders were trounced 10-3.

The Defenders jumped on top 1-0 in the first when Eugenio Velez singled, and then stole second and third base. After stealing third, Velez left the game with an apparent arm injury and Trey Webb pinch ran for him. John Bowker lined an RBI single to right, driving in Webb. The lead would be short-lived however, because Portland scored seven runs in the next two innings and never looked back.

Notes: Bowker grounded into a fielder’s choice in the fifth to knock in Jake Wald, picking up his second RBI of the game. … Webb delivered a run-scoring single of his own in the sixth. … Connecticut has now dropped nine of its last 10 games.

San Jose Giants: San Jose 2, Stockton 1 (Click to see box score)

Lines of the day:

1B Tyler Von Schell – 1-2, 1 RBI (16), 1 BB, 1 SO
CF Alex Requena – 3-5, 1 R, 1 RBI (7), 1 SO, 1 CS (3), 1 PO
SS Brian Bocock – 2-4, 1 2B (3)
3B David Maroul – 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B (11), 1 BB, 1 SO
SP Dave McKae – 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
RP Sergio Romo – 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, BS (2), W (1-0)

Alex Requena delivered a walk-off RBI single to drive in David Maroul, giving San Jose a 2-1 victory.

This game was close throughout. Tyler Von Schell lined an RBI single to left, scoring Requena to put San Jose on top early.

San Jose ace Dave McKae dominated Stockton for 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run, and fanning six. He lowered his ERA to 1.93. After retiring the first two batters he faced in the seventh, McKae gave up a single and was replaced by Sergio Romo. After surrendering a double to the first batter he faced, Romo (1-0) shut down Stockton the rest of the way.

Augusta GreenJackets: Augusta 3, Greensboro 2 (Click to see box score)

Lines of the day:

RF Matthew Weston – 1-3, 1 2B (12)
DH Dayton Butler – 2-3, 1 SO
RF Robert Felmy – 1-4, 1 RBI (24)
C Nestor Rojas – 1-3, 1 RBI (9)
2B Sharlon Schoop – 1-3, 1 R, 1 SO
SP Adam Cowart – 8.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, W (8-3)
RP David Newton – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, SV

Adam Cowart may not be the most overpowering pitcher on Augusta’s staff, but all the guy does when he takes the mound is win. Cowart limited Greensboro to one earned run on four hits over 8 1/3 innings and received just enough offensive support to pick up his eighth win of the year.

The game remained scoreless until the sixth when Robert Felmy singled home Sharlon Schoop to put Augusta in front 1-0.

After Greensboro answered with a run to tie it in the top of the seventh, the GreenJackets came back to recapture the leas in the bottom half of the inning. Nestor Rojas came through with a clutch RBI single to score pinch-runner Marcus Sanders, and then on a throwing error, Michael McBryde scored to give Augusta a 3-1 edge.

David Newton entered the game in the ninth with runners at second and third with only one out, but got out of the jam by picking the runner off at third, and then striking out Portland’s Jacob Blackwood to end the game.