Crawford's 11th Inning Home Run Propels Giants To Victory
Published on April 19, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Brandon Crawford hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Stockton Ports on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Crawford stepped to the plate with a runner at first and two outs and lined a 1-0 pitch from Justin Friend over the fence in left center field for the go-ahead homer. With the win, San Jose has claimed two out of the first three games in the series while improving their overall record to 7-3.
Crawford (3-for-6, HR, 2 RBI) led the Giants offensive attack while Conor Gillaspie (2-for-4) and Michael Ambort (2-for-4, 2B) also contributed multiple-hit games at the plate. Crawford, Gillaspie and Ambort combined for all seven of San Jose's hits.
Friend quickly retired the first two batters of the 11th inning before issuing a four-pitch walk to Ford. Crawford was up next and the Giants shortstop connected for his third home run of the season to give San Jose a 5-3 lead.
Wilmin Rodriguez (1-0) was credited with the victory out of the Giants bullpen after firing a perfect bottom of the 10th. Rodriguez struck out two during his only inning of the contest. Edwin Quirarte earned his second save of the year after setting down the Ports 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 11th.
San Jose initially jumped ahead by 3-0 score after plating three runs in the top of the third inning against Stockton starting pitcher Justin Murray. Angel Villalona led off by reaching on a throwing error committed by shortstop Michael Richard before Ambort singled and Thomas Neal walked to load the bases. Ford followed with an RBI ground out to second base scoring Villalona with the first run of the night. Crawford then rolled a ball softly up the first base line that was fielded by Murray, but the pitcher threw wildly to first base. The play was scored a hit for Crawford while the throwing error allowed Ambort to score the second run of the frame. Nick Noonan then delivered a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right extending the Giants lead to 3-0.
Craig Clark started on the mound for San Jose and worked five solid innings with two runs (both earned) and four hits allowed. Clark walked one and struck out six. The left-hander stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back strikeouts of Greg Dowling and Matt Smith. Clark then struck out two more Stockton hitters in a scoreless bottom of the second.
In the third, Shane Keough led off with a bunt single before he was forced at second base on Richard's fielder's choice ground out. Matt Spencer was up next and he belted the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right field for a two-run homer bringing Stockton to within 3-2. Clark did recover to set down the next eight Ports hitters to conclude his outing.
Mitch Lively (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) entered the game to begin the bottom of the sixth and fired a pair of scoreless innings. In the eighth, Craig Whitaker quickly retired the first two batters before Richard was hit by a pitch. Daniel Turpen was then summoned from the bullpen and the right-hander surrendered a bloop double to left field off the bat of Spencer before issuing an intentional walk to Dowling to load the bases. Dante Love was up next and the Ports catcher worked a full count walk to force home Richard with the tying run. Turpen did settle down in retiring the next hitter, Todd Johnson, on a soft ground ball back to the mound.
Both clubs stranded a runner at second base in the ninth inning with Turpen striking out back-to-back hitters to end the bottom of the frame. In the top of the 10th, the Giants loaded the bases after Crawford led off with a single before reliever Scott Mitchinson issued back-to-back two-out walks to Gillaspie and Roger Kieschnick. Friend though was then brought into pitch and he worked out of trouble inducing Villalona to ground into a fielder's choice to shortstop.
Mitchinson was outstanding in long relief for Stockton firing 5 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits allowed, four walks and six strikeouts.
Notes: The Giants are 6-1 against Stockton this season ... Crawford leads San Jose with a .455 batting average and is tied for first with three home runs ... Buster Posey (0-for-5) saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end ... Saturday marked the Giants' first extra-inning game of the season ... Turpen, Rodriguez and Quirarte combined to set down the last nine Ports hitters that came to the plate ... San Jose out-hit Stockton by a 7-6 margin ... The Giants used a season-high six pitchers in the game ... Quirarte has not allowed a baserunner in three innings this season spanning three relief appearances.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports conclude this four-game series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 2:05 PM. Oliver Odle (0-1, 5.79 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Tyson Ross (0-2, 5.19 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from April 19, 2009
- Bastardo Dominant as Sixers Snap Streak - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ports Lose Another Lead Late Against Giants - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Shutout Quakes 4-0 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Crawford's 11th Inning Home Run Propels Giants To Victory - San Jose Giants
- Ports Drop Ninth Game in Extra Innings - Stockton Ports
- Large Crowd Sees JetHawks Fight But Fall to Mavericks Again - Lancaster JetHawks
- Rawhide Tie Record, Remain Undefeated - Visalia Rawhide
- Quakes Shutout 66ers 2-0 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Sweeney Blasts Quakes Past Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
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