Flying Squirrels' Shaw delivers at the dish

As he had all evening, Chris Shaw came through when his team needed him most.
The Giants' fifth-ranked prospect belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning to cap a 3-for-3, four-RBI night and lead Double-A Richmond past Reading, 5-3, on Friday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Shaw had helped the Flying Squirrels even the game at 3-3 in the sixth. He smacked an RBI double to right field, then scored on a two-out single by Ryan Lollis. The 23-year-old first baseman came to the plate again with one out in the eighth following Miguel Gómez's single off Fightin Phils reliever Yacksel Ríos (0-1). After working the count to 2-0, Shaw clubbed the next pitch over the right field fence.
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"They had been shifting me all night, so I was thinking maybe look for something middle to the inner third of the plate, something I can drive," Shaw said. "When I went 2-0, I figured look fastball away and adjust if he hangs something. He hung a slider and I was able to jump on it."

Including an RBI single to center in the first inning, Shaw had a hand in all five of Richmond's runs. The 2015 first-round pick produced his first three-hit game of the season as well as his first four-RBI effort in 69 career Double-A games. Since going 1-for-10 in the first four games of the year, he's 9-for-19 with eight RBIs in the last five contests.
"My approach every time I step into the box is to hit a pitch hard where it's pitched," the Boston College product said. "I'll go up and have a plan based off of what the situation is, but when I deviate from my plan I get into trouble anyway. I just try and get a good pitch to hit and hit it hard."
Shaw batted .246 in 60 games with Richmond last season, his first exposure to Double-A ball. Although he has compiled a .345/.457/.655 line through nine games this season, the Massachusetts native has hesitated to read too much into the quick start.
"Something I really have to focus on is just taking it night to night and at-bat to at-bat," Shaw said. "Just trying to stay in the moment and not get too lost in the numbers. It's a long, long, year.
"I'm definitely happy right now, but it's game nine of 142. I'm trying to stay as even-keeled as possible and just get ready for tomorrow."

Gomez finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for the Flying Squirrels.
Richmond starter Sam Coonrod, the Giants' No. 13 prospect, allowed three runs -- two earned -- on three hits and a walk while fanning nine over six innings. D.J. Snelten (2-0) got the win in relief after giving up two hits and striking out two in two scoreless frames. Reyes Moronta nailed down his second save by punching out two in a perfect ninth.
Rios took the loss after giving up two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.