Giants Score Five Runs In Ninth Inning To Shock Nuts, 11-10
Published on July 26, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
The San Jose Giants scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning before holding off a Modesto Nuts rally in the bottom of the frame to post an exciting 11-10 victory on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd at John Thurman Field. Brett Pill delivered a two-run double in the final inning to give the Giants the lead as San Jose claimed the opener of the three-game series. With the victory, the Giants improve their overall record to 61-43.
Sharlon Schoop (3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI) and Brad Boyer (3-for-5) led a 14-hit San Jose offensive attack. Jackson Williams (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) added his first California League home run while Pill (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI) came off the bench to contribute a multiple-hit game.
With the Giants trailing by a 9-6 score, the Nuts turned to their all-star closer, Andrew Johnston, to pitch the top of the ninth inning. Brock Bond and Boyer started the frame with consecutive singles before Matt Downs grounded a single into left field to plate Bond bringing San Jose to within 9-7. Tyler Graham followed with a bunt that Johnston fielded, but threw wildly to first base after falling to the ground. The ball rolled down the right field line as Boyer scored the second run of the inning, Downs advanced to third and Graham moved into second.
After Mike Mooney grounded out to third base as the runners held at their respective bases, Pill hit a soft line drive into center field on a 3-2 pitch. Nuts center fielder Anthony Jackson made a diving effort for the ball, but was unable to make the catch as both Downs and Graham scored and Pill took second base as the Giants went ahead by a 10-9 margin.
Two batters later, Williams lined a two-out single into center field plating Pill for a key insurance run.
Joe Paterson was summoned from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the ninth and he promptly walked Mike Paulk to begin the inning. Paterson followed by inducing Chris Nelson to ground out before Michael McKenry struck out looking. Matt Repec then hit a fly ball to deep center field that was dropped by Darren Ford on the edge of the warning track for an error as Paulk scored to make it 11-10. Repec, who represented the potential tying run, took second base. Dan Otero was then brought into pitch and Otero retired Jason Van Kooten on a routine ground out to second base sealing the Giants victory.
Craig Whitaker (1-3), who worked a perfect bottom of the eighth inning, was credited with his first victory of the season. Otero notched his sixth save with San Jose in seven opportunities.
The back-and-forth affair saw the Giants initially jump in front with a single run in the top of the second inning. Schoop brought home Mooney, who has earlier doubled off the fence in deep center field, with a two-out single.
Modesto though immediately answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. McKenry started the rally by drawing a walk before advancing to third base on Repec's double off the fence in left. After Van Kooten drove home McKenry with a sacrifice fly, Victor Ferrante stepped to the plate and belted a two-run homer to center field giving the Nuts a 3-1 advantage.
San Jose pushed across a run in the top of the third inning when Ford led off with a walk before eventually scoring on Downs' sacrifice fly. Then in the fourth, Schoop singled with two outs before Williams homered down the left field line to put the Giants back ahead at 4-3.
Modesto came right back in the bottom of the fourth to knock San Jose starting pitcher Jesse English out of the game. Travis Becktel scored the first run of the frame with an RBI double into the left field corner. That was followed by a two-run double off the bat of Jackson to put the Nuts in front by a 6-4 score. The hit forced a pitching change as Juan Trinidad was brought in from the bullpen and two batters later, Paulk delivered an RBI single to cap the fourth-inning scoring.
English allowed a season-high seven runs (all earned) on nine hits over three-plus innings - his shortest outing of the year. The left-hander walked two and struck out three.
The Giants cut the Modesto lead to 7-6 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Mooney led off by getting hit by a pitch before Andy D'Alessio drew a walk. Schoop followed with a ground ball over the third base bag and down the left field line to score both Mooney and D'Alessio. Schoop advanced to third base when the throw from the outfield went all the way to home plate, but failed to score when the next three hitters were retired in order.
The Nuts went back ahead by three runs when Ferrante came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single off Steve Edlefsen in the bottom of the seventh inning. The margin would remain 9-6 until the Giants sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the ninth.
Notes: The Giants won for the second time this season when trailing after eight innings ... The other comeback came with a ninth-inning rally against Johnston at John Thurman Field (June 26) ... Johnston leads the league in saves (23) with two of his three blown saves coming against San Jose ... The Giants out-hit Modesto by a 14-12 margin ... Pill replaced D'Alessio for defensive reasons at first base to start the bottom of the seventh inning ... Trinidad (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO), Edlefsen (2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO), Whitaker (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO), Paterson (2/3 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Otero (1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) all pitched out of the San Jose bullpen ... The teams combined for 11 pitchers ... The Giants are 4-1 at John Thurman Field in the second half after managing just one win in seven games during the first half ... San Jose improved their second half record to 18-16.
On Deck: The Giants and Nuts continue this three-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at John Thurman Field scheduled for 7:05 P.M. Clayton Tanner (5-6, 4.46 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Keith Weiser (6-10, 3.17 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from July 26, 2008
- Giants Score Five Runs In Ninth Inning To Shock Nuts, 11-10 - San Jose Giants
- Cardenas Comes Through With Walk-Off Single As Ports Win 5-4 In 11 - Stockton Ports
- JetHawks Stymied by Mavericks Pitchers in 6-3 Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
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