Giants Can't Overcome Early Deficit In Road Trip Finale
Published on May 19, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
The Modesto Nuts jumped out to a five-run lead after three innings and then held off the Giants to post an 8-6 victory over San Jose on Monday night at John Thurman Field. In the finale of the Giants' season-long 13-game road trip, Modesto pounded out 12 hits and scored eight runs in the first four innings en route to claiming the series win. Despite losses in the last two games, San Jose finished the road trip with a 7-6 record while their overall mark now sits at 22-16.
Buster Posey (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) was the only Giants player to finish with more than one hit. Posey clubbed a three-run homer in the fourth inning before adding an RBI single later in the contest.
Clayton Tanner (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after yielding five runs (all earned) on ten hits over just three innings. Tanner struck out three and walked none.
The Nuts used a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the second inning to score three runs against Tanner to take a 3-0 lead. Consecutive one-out singles from Jeff Cunningham and Michael Mitchell put runners on first and second before Charlie Blackmon delivered a two-out, RBI single into right. The hit scored Cunningham, moved Mitchell to third base while Blackmon advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Maikol Gonzalez was up next and he laced a single into left field scoring two more runs for a 3-0 advantage.
Modesto added two runs in the third against Tanner with back-to-back one-out doubles from Radames Nazario and Wilin Rosario producing one score. Two batters later, Mitchell came through with an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Nuts starting pitcher Bruce Billings began his outing by retiring 10 straight Giants hitters until issuing a one-out walk to Nick Noonan in the fourth. After Roger Kieschnick singled, Posey stepped to the plate and belted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in deep left center field for a homer. The home run, Posey's sixth of the season, brought San Jose to within 5-3.
Neal followed the home run with a double off of the wall in straightway center field before Conor Gillaspie's two-out RBI double into left center scored the fourth run of the inning.
Craig Whitaker (2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) relieved Tanner to begin the bottom of the fourth and initially struggled as Modesto reclaimed the momentum in the game. Blackmon started the inning with a single before back-to-back walks to Gonzalez and Hector Gomez loaded the bases. Jay Cox then crushed a 2-2 pitch over the head of left fielder Ben Copeland for a bases-clearing double pushing the Nuts lead up to 8-4.
The Giants answered with a run in the top of the fifth inning against Billings when Shane Jordan led off with a triple to the right center gap and scored on Copeland's line drive single into left.
San Jose's final run of the evening came in the top of the seventh inning when Noonan doubled with one out before Posey's two-out RBI single. The Giants though would not manage another baserunner for the remainder of the contest as Edgmer Escalona struck out Neal to end the seventh before working a perfect top of the eighth. Craig Baker then fired a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 12th save of the year.
Billings (3-3) was credited with the victory despite allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits over five innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.
Wilmin Rodriguez set down all nine batters he faced over a dominant three-inning stint on the mound for the Giants. Rodriguez, who entered the game to start the bottom of the fifth, struck out three. Modesto did not record a hit after Cox's double with none out in the fourth.
Notes: Modesto won three out of four games in the series ... Every San Jose starter with the exception of Angel Villalona (0-for-4) had at least one hit ... The Nuts out-hit the Giants by a 12-9 margin ... San Jose manager Andy Skeels was ejected by base umpire Sam Nichols in the top of the seventh inning for arguing a check swing on a strike three pitch ... Posey leads all active San Jose players in home runs ... Copeland was 1-for-5 with an RBI in the fourth game of his rehabilitation assignment ... San Francisco Giants Andres Torres and Sergio Romo were transferred to Fresno (AAA) earlier in the day to continue their rehab assignments ... Relief pitcher Adam Cowart (2-2, 7.56 ERA) was released by the organization before the game.
On Deck: The Giants return home on Tuesday night to begin a three-game series against the Inland Empire 66ers. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Craig Clark (2-2, 3.90 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Josh Wall (0-1, 15.75 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
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