SF Giants prospects rundown 5/20: Bullpens shine throughout system

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/20: Double-A

Bowie Baysox 6 at Richmond Flying Squirrels 1
Performance of the Game: Jacob Heyward (2-4, 2B, BB, K, R)

Minor-league veteran Gerson Garabito took the start for Richmond and failed to make it through three innings. The former prospect in the Royals system surrendered seven hits, two walks, and five runs and quickly put the Flying Squirrels in a hole.

Luis Amaya, Trenton Toplikar, and Frank Rubio did nearly everything they could to give Richmond a chance to make a comeback out of the bullpen. Still, much like Sacramento, the offense was unable to get going. Amaya and Rubio combined to strike out five over 2.1 perfect innings, while Toplikar allowed one run on three hits and a walk over four innings with five strikeouts. The 25-year-old Toplikar has quietly been a valuable swiss-army knife out of the bullpen for manager Jose Alguacil thus far in the season. He had yet to allow a run prior to Thursday’s game and has now struck out 12 over 9.1 innings pitched.

Heliot Ramos (fourth-ranked prospect) went hitless across four plate appearances but did work two walks. Otherwise, Jacob Heyward was the lone Flying Squirrels hitter to record multiple hits. Heyward scored Richmond’s only run on an Andres Angulo single in the eighth inning after walking and reaching second base on a David Villar walk.

The Giants Double-A affiliate did not go most of the game without base runners, recording four hits and two walks against Baysox starter Kevin Smith, but failed to find hits at the right time. The Flying Squirrels finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 different players on base.