SF Giants prospects rundown 5/22: Caleb Kilian almost perfect

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/22: Double-A

Bowie Baysox 4 at Richmond Flying Squirrels 2
Performance of the Game: Sam Long (4 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 7K)

There is only one word to describe this ballgame: pain. The Baysox got out-hit by the Flying Squirrels seven to three and committed one more error. How did they lose? Well, they finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position with that lone hit coming off the bat of Heliot Ramos, a one-out, soft liner to right field to cut the lead in half in the ninth inning. However, it was too little, too late as the Baysox pitching ultimately closed out the game by inducing two straight pop-ups.

The Flying Squirrels threatened all game, with a baserunner every single inning, but failed to capitalize. Ramos and second baseman Kyle Mottice led the way as Ramos with the aforementioned two-RBI base hit and Mottice with two hits including his fourth double of the year. Mottice is continuing to show his knack of making contact with a strikeout rate below 10% while maintaining a .314 average.

It was a good outing for Richmond starter Sam Long, striking out seven in four innings of work with only one earned run and no walks. His fastball was sitting in the low-90s while his curveball had great break all game long. Even though I saw him as a primarily two-pitch pitcher, his changeup actually looked solid as well.  His seven strikeouts was the most in a single game this season, and the most since August 18, 2018 when he was still with the White Sox organization.

Reliever Ronnie Williams also impressed with three hitless innings, only allowing two walks while striking out four. It brought down his ERA to only 0.77 and it was the first time this season that he struck out more than one per inning. Solid stuff from the 2014 second-round pick.

Overall, it was just a painful game to watch due to the missed opportunities by the offense.