Giants dominate California's All-Star squad

League's top team sending five representatives to Myrtle Beach

Tim Britton - MLB.com

The California League's best team has earned its just desserts, as the San Jose Giants will send five players across the country to Myrtle Beach to compete in the California/Carolina League All-Star Game on June 24.

Four of San Jose's five representatives come from the California League's best pitching staff. The Giants' 2.96 team ERA is nearly a run better than that of Stockton and Modesto, and San Jose's nine shutouts also lead the league. Tim Alderson (6-2, 3.27 ERA), Jesse English (8-2, 2.84 ERA), Kevin Pucetas (7-0, 2.54 ERA) and Ben Snyder (6-2, 2.31 ERA) will all make the trip east. The four San Jose hurlers constitute half of the league's eight best ERAs, and English is tied for the league lead with his eight wins.

The league's leading hitter and the other part of the Giants battery, catcher Pablo Sandoval (.364, 10 HR, 47 RBIs), will join the quartet of pitchers in Myrtle Beach.
To cap it off, San Jose's Steve Decker will manage the squad.

The second-place Stockton Ports earned three All-Star bids. First baseman Sean Doolittle (.328, 15 HR, league-leading 51 RBIs), who ranks in the top six in the triple-crown categories, will be joined by outfielder Archie Gilbert (.282, 4 HR, 25 RBIs) and the league's leader in strikeouts, pitcher Trevor Cahill (5-3, 2.77 ERA).
The South Division's Lake Elsinore Storm also has three All-Stars. Second baseman Eric Sogard (.329, 1 HR, 34 RBIs) and outfielders Sam Carter (.260, 8 HR, 46 RBIs) and Cedric Hunter (.306, 4 HR, 36 RBIs) have helped Lake Elsinore score more runs than every team outside of the Giants.

Speaking of offense, Lancaster Jethawks designated hitter Jon Still (.280, 13 HR, 36 RBIs) and Bakersfield Blaze second baseman Jose Vallejo (.293, 9 HR, 44 RBIs) are their teams sole representatives.

Visalia Oaks shortstop Pedro Ciriaco (.270, 18 SB) rounds out the infield while the speedy Peter Bourjos (.335, league-leading 32 SB) of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes caps the outfield. Inland Empire catcher Carlos Santana (.294, 7 HR, 50 RBIs) will back up Sandoval.

Ciriaco's Oaks teammate, starting pitcher Cesar Valdez (8-3, 2.56 ERA), headlines the rest of the pitching staff. Valdez leads the league in innings pitched and is tied for the league lead with eight wins. His 2.56 ERA is sparkling, at least until you compare it to the 0.00 ERA of Modesto Nuts closer Andrew Johnston, who also has a league-leading 12 saves. Johnston has given up just eight hits in 20 2/3 innings thus far this season, allowing only one unearned run.
Johnston is joined on the staff by teammate Aneury Rodriguez (5-5, 3.10 ERA) as well as Kyle Parker (5-2, 3.79 ERA) of the High Desert Mavericks (Mariners) and Paul Koss (2 saves, 2.76 ERA) of Inland Empire.