CalL1 San Jose Giants

Craig Clark Ties California League Consecutive Strikeout Record In Giants 6-1 Win

Published on June 2, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Craig Clark set a San Jose Giants record and tied the California League mark by striking out 10 consecutive hitters in a 6-1 victory over the Stockton Ports on Monday night at Municipal Stadium. Clark fanned the last two batters of the first inning before striking out the side in the second and third frames and then recording two more punchouts to begin the top of the fourth. San Jose pitchers combined for a season-high 18 strikeouts in the contest as the Giants improved their overall record to 28-23 - four games behind Visalia (32-19) for the top spot in the first half North Division race.

Clark (4-2) matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts over six scoreless innings. The left-hander allowed three hits while issuing only one walk. Wilmin Rodriguez (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) was charged with an unearned run in the top of the eighth before Steve Edlefsen (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO) collected the last five outs to finish the game.

Thomas Neal (2-for-4, HR, RBI) blasted his eighth home run of the season to lead a 10-hit Giants offensive attack. Shane Jordan (2-for-4, RBI) also finished with a pair of hits.

San Jose immediately jumped ahead with a single run in the bottom of the first inning against Ports starting pitcher Tyson Ross. With one out, Conor Gillaspie belted a triple high off of the fence in deep right field. After Neal struck out, Buster Posey grounded a single up the middle to plate Gillaspie with the first run of the night.

The Giants took control of the game with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Roger Kieschnick started the frame with a line drive single into center before Angel Villalona was hit by a pitch. After Nick Noonan advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, Ryan Lormand lined a single into right center field scoring Kieschnick. Jordan then stepped to the plate and blooped a single into shallow left field to score another run and give San Jose a 3-0 advantage.

After Brian Bocock reached on an error to load the bases, Gillaspie drove a fly ball to deep left center field that was caught by a sprinting David Thomas on the warning track for the second out of the inning. The sacrifice fly easily scored Lormand from third base, but Jordan, who was at second, then also scored on the play as he raced around third and came home without a throw. The exceptional baserunning extended the Giants lead to 5-0.

Clark completely dominated the Ports over the first four innings as the southpaw did not allow a hit en route to setting the team record for consecutive strikeouts. Clark was unable to break the California League record when he issued a full-count walk to Yusuf Carter with two outs in the top of the fourth. Matt Smith though followed by lining out to center field to end the inning - the first Ports hitter to put a ball in play since Michael Richard's fly out to lead off the game.

Stockton's Todd Johnson gave the Ports their first hit when he began the top of the fifth inning with a line drive single into right. Shane Keough followed with a line drive to deep left center field that was caught by a diving Jordan for the first out of the inning. Then Jermaine Mitchell hit a fly ball to deep right center field that was again caught by Jordan as he went into a headlong dive. The two spectacular back-to-back defensive plays brought the Municipal Stadium crowd to its feet and helped Clark keep the shutout intact as he settled down to strikeout the next hitter, Christian Vitters, ending the inning.

Stockton threatened against Clark in the top of the sixth when Jemile Weeks singled with two outs before Carter doubled to put runners on second and third. However, Clark recovered to induce Smith to ground out weakly to second base ending the rally.

The Giants scored their final run of the night in the bottom of the seventh inning when Neal led off with a line drive homer to deep left field.

The Ports' only run came in the top of the eighth as Edlefsen issued a bases loaded two-out walk to Smith. However, Edlefsen bounced back to strike out Johnson to strand three base runners.

Edlefsen then pitched through a leadoff single in the top of the ninth striking out the last two hitters to finish the game.

Notes: Clark tied the California League record set by Salinas' Jerauld Davey on May 20, 1964 ... Davey struck out 10 consecutive Santa Barbara hitters in that game ... Clark lowered his ERA to 3.06 (sixth in the league) and is now third with 59 strikeouts (compared to just eight walks) ... San Jose out-hit Stockton by a 10-5 margin ... Every Giants starter with the exception of Bocock (0-for-5) had at least one hit ... Ross (0-3) suffered the loss for the Ports after surrendering five runs (three earned) on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their four-game series on Tuesday night with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Oliver Odle (2-5, 5.13 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Craig Italiano (3-5, 6.17 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from June 2, 2009


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