San Francisco Giants Affiliates Opening Day

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Today was Opening Day for all of Minor League Baseball. The San Francisco Giants affiliates were in action, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Class A Short Season) open their season on April 13th in Vancouver (Bluejays)

In Class A the Augusta GreenJackets opened their season at home versus the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees)

The GreenJackets were defeated 5-1 and featured 2 of last years draft picks, and 2 of the 20 prospects in the Giants system. Number 5 prospect Christian Arroyo (1st round 25th overall) and number 15 Prospect Ryder Jones (2nd round, 64th overall) drafted as SS and 3B respectively, started the game at second (Arroyo) and short (Jones). The 2 youngsters combined to go 1-8 (Arroyo had a triple) with 2 strikeouts (both by Jones).

The GreenJackets host the RiverDogs again tomorrow night at 7pm EST/ 4pm PT

In High A Advanced, the San Jose Giants traveled to Rancho Cucamonga to take on the Quakes (Dodgers)

The Giants came out on top, by a score of 7-1. Chris Stratton (7th ranked in the Giants organization, 2012 1st round, 20th overall) started this game and went 5 innings giving up 2 hits, 1 earned run ( a home run) while walking 2 and striking out 4. Mac Williamson (number 9 ranked, 2012 3rd round, 115th overall) was the teams designated hitter and finished the game 0-3 with a walk, HBP and strike out in the Giants victory.

The Giants are back in action tomorrow night when they take on the Quakes again. Number 20 ranked prospect Kendry Flores (signed June of 2004) will face Julio Urias. Game begins at 7:05pm PT in Rancho Cucmonga.

In AA action, the Richmond Flying Squirrels opened their season in New Britain to take on the Rock Cats (Twins). Not a good night for the Flying Squirells as they dropped the game 10-2 to the Rock Cats. Number 6 prospect Ty Blach (2012 5th round, 178th overall) started the game and didn’t fair very well, going 5 innings giving up 7 hits, 4 runs (3 earned) while walking none and striking out 3. The left handed Blach was the losing pitcher in this game. Blach wasn’t the only pitcher from the top 20 in this game, number 18 prospect Josh Osich ((2011 6th round 207th overall) pitched an inning an a third of relief and surrendered 2 runs (1 earned) while walking 2 and striking out 2

Richmond will be in New Britain again tomorrow morning, 11:30am EST/8:30 PT as number 8 Prospect Clayton Blackburn (2011, 16th round and 507th overall) takes on DJ Baxendale and the River Cats

In AAA action, the Fresno Grizzlies were in Las Vegas to take on the 51’s (Mets) and did not fair well at all, losing 9-2.

This game was started by number 17 ranked prospect Michael Kickham (2010, 6th round, 198th overall). In 5 innings, Kickham surrendered 8 hits, 2 runs (none earned) while walking none and striking out 6. George Kontos followed Kickham and did not pitch well at all, an inning and two thirds giving up 3 hits, 5 runs runs (all earned) while walking 1, striking out 4 and giving up a home run. In his AAA debut, catcher and number 4 ranked prospect, Andrew Susac (2011, 2nd round, 86th overall) went 2-4 with 2 singles. Other ranked prospects in this game were infielder Joe Panik (14th ranked prospect. 2011, 1st round, 29th overall) who went 1-3 and a walk. Outfielder, number 16 ranked prospect, Gary Brown (2010, 1st round, 24th overall) was 1-4 with a double.

The Grizzlies will face the 51’s again tomorrow night, when Mitch Lively takes on MLB’s number 11 ranked prospect Noah Syndergaard. Game begins at 7:05pm PT

Not a successful night for the 4 Giants affiliates, with San Jose being the only winning team, on Opening Day.