Giants Snap Losing Skid With 9-5 Victory Over Nuts
Published on May 23, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Buster Posey homered and collected four RBI's to lead a 13-hit Giants offensive attack in San Jose's 9-5 victory over the Modesto Nuts on Saturday night at Municipal Stadium. Six different Giants players finished with multi-hit performances as San Jose snapped a season-high three-game losing streak. With the win, the Giants improve their overall record to 24-19.
Posey (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) connected for his team-leading eighth home run of the season while Thomas Neal (2-for-4, RBI), Angel Villalona (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Conor Gillaspie (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) also each contributed a pair of hits and an RBI.
San Jose took control of the game with a five-run bottom of the third inning against Nuts starting pitcher Kenny Durst. With the score tied 2-2, Brian Bocock began the frame by drawing a walk before Ryan Lormand reached base safely on a bunt single. Neal followed with a sharp ground ball single into left field plating Bocock with the go-ahead run and then Posey belted a three-run homer to straightaway center field extending the Giants lead to 6-2.
San Jose added a fifth run in the inning when Kieschnick followed the Posey home run with a single before Gillaspie delivered an RBI double.
Modesto immediately answered with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning against Giants starter T.J. Brewer. With one out, Matt Repec reached on a fielding error committed by Villalona at first base before Jeff Cunningham smacked a two-run homer to deep right center field. The blast brought the Nuts back to within 7-4.
San Jose though responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning while facing Modesto reliever Carlos Luna. With one out, Lormand doubled into the left center field gap before scoring on Posey's two-out ground ball single up the middle. Then with Kieschnick at the plate, Posey stole second base and advanced to third when catcher Lars Davis' throw bounced into center field. Still in the middle of Kieschnick's at-bat, Luna followed by uncorking a wild pitch allowing Posey to score the Giants' ninth run of the contest.
Brewer surrendered a single run in the top of the fifth inning when Radames Nazario led off by drawing a walk before moving to third on Jay Cox's one-out double and then scoring on Jason Van Kooten's ground out. However, the Nuts would not score again for the remainder of the night.
Brewer pitched a scoreless top of the sixth thanks to a dramatic play at the plate to end the inning. Michael Mitchell was attempting to score from first base on Charlie Blackmon's two-out double into right center field, but was thrown out at home to end the frame.
Craig Whitaker (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) pitched through a walk and a hit by pitch in the top of the seventh stranding a pair of runners in scoring position. In the eighth, Wilmin Rodriguez (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) yielded a leadoff single, but promptly retired the next three hitters. Steve Edlefsen (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) finished the game with a perfect top of the ninth.
Brewer (2-0) was credited with the victory despite allowing 10 hits and five runs (four earned) over six innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out five over his 81-pitch outing.
The Giants jumped in front with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning against Durst. Kieschnick led off with a single before scoring on Villalona's double to the fence in the left field corner. Then with two outs, Skyler Stromsmoe delivered an RBI single into center giving the Giants a 2-0 lead.
Modesto's Charlie Blackmon tied the game in the top of the third inning with a one-out, two-run homer down the right field line off of Brewer.
Durst (1-3) was saddled with loss after surrendering seven runs (all earned) on nine hits over three innings.
Notes: Two Giants outfielders recorded assists on plays at the plate, including Stromsmoe (CF) who was making his first appearance in the outfield since 2007 ... San Jose out-hit Modesto by a 13-11 margin ... Kieschnick (2-for-4) and Lormand (2-for-4, 2B) also finished with more than one hit ... Posey is third in the California League with 36 RBI's ... He has homered three times in his last six games ... The Nuts still hold a 7-6 advantage over the Giants in the season series.
On Deck: The Giants and Nuts continue this three-game series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 2:00 PM. Clayton Tanner (2-1, 3.71 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Bruce Billings (3-3, 4.08 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from May 23, 2009
- Giants Snap Losing Skid With 9-5 Victory Over Nuts - San Jose Giants
- Sixers Bats Stymied as Kuroda Makes Rehab Start - Inland Empire 66ers
- Things Continue to Spiral For JetHawks, Mavericks Roll to Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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