Visalia Home Runs Drop Giants In 7-4 Series Opening Loss
Published on June 16, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
The Visalia Rawhide hit three home runs, including a pair from Ryne White, in a come-from-behind 7-4 victory over the San Jose Giants on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium. In the opener of a key three-game series, White drove home five runs while his three-run blast in the top of the seventh inning erased a 4-2 Giants lead. The loss snaps San Jose's season-high winning streak at five as the Giants (37-27) fall two games behind the Rawhide (39-25) for the top spot in the North Division with only six games remaining in the first half.
Visalia reliever Jeff Dietz (2-1) earned the win on the mound after tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Dietz, who pitched out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the fifth, allowed just one hit with no walks and three strikeouts. Jordan Norberto earned his first save of the year with two no-hit innings to finish the contest.
White (3-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI) was the hitting star for the Rawhide while Kyle Greene (1-for-5, HR, RBI) also went deep during a four-run top of the seventh inning rally. White entered the game with just one home run in 193 at-bats this season while the Rawhide were last as a team in the California League in homers.
With the Giants ahead by a 4-2 score, Visalia's David Cooper began the seventh inning rally with a leadoff bloop single to left against San Jose starter Paul Oseguera. Ollie Linton then grounded a ball softly to the right side of the infield that was mishandled by a charging David Maroul at first for an error. After Eli Rumler struck out looking, White stepped to the plate and hit a towering three-run homer down the right field line to give the Rawhide a 5-4 lead.
Two batters later, Greene connected for a two-out, solo home run to right field off of Daniel Turpen extending the Visalia advantage to 6-4.
Oseguera (0-2) suffered the loss for the Giants after yielding five runs (four earned) on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander walked one and struck out seven.
Roger Kieschnick (3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI) had a pair of two-out, run-scoring doubles to lead the 11-hit San Jose offensive attack. Thomas Neal (2-for-4, HR, RBI) also hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season while Brian Bocock (2-for-5, 2B) and Buster Posey (2-for-2, 2B) added a pair of hits each.
Visalia initially took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when White blasted a one-out, two-run homer to center field off of Oseguera. The Giants though answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Bocock doubled to the right center field gap before advancing to third base on Neal's ground out. After Posey drew a walk, Rawhide starting pitcher Christian Beltre uncorked a wild pitch to score Bocock with San Jose's first run of the night. Kieschnick then lifted a fly ball down the left field line that dropped in fair territory for a double as Posey raced home with the tying run.
Neal gave the Giants their first lead of the contest in the bottom of the third inning when he lined a two-out, solo homer to left. Posey and Kieschnick followed with back-to-back doubles producing another run and a 4-2 San Jose advantage.
The Giants threatened to add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Neal singled, Posey walked and Kieschnick singled to load the bases with one out. Beltre was then removed from the game in favor of Dietz, who promptly struck out Maroul on three pitches before Conor Gillaspie grounded out to second.
San Jose would muster only one hit over the last four innings against Dietz and Norberto and did not have any runners advance into scoring position.
Visalia scored their final run in the top of the eighth when Brendan Duffy led off with a double against Turpen before scoring when Linton reached on a two-out throwing error committed by Gillaspie at third base.
Notes: The Giants pitching staff has allowed 59 home runs this season - tied for second-most in the league ... 37 of those home runs have come at home (San Jose allowed only 21 home runs at Municipal Stadium all of last season) ... Neal extended his hitting streak to 11 games ... He is batting .465 (20-for-43) with five home runs during the streak ... Monday marked the first meeting of the season between the Giants and Rawhide at Municipal Stadium ... Visalia leads the overall season series by a 5-3 margin ... San Jose's season-high six-game winning streak was snapped with the loss ... Turpen (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO), Wilmin Rodriguez (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) and Craig Whitaker (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) each appeared out of the Giants bullpen.
On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide play the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Garrett Broshuis (4-1, 2.89 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Pat McAnaney (7-1, 2.98 ERA). The first 750 fans at the game will receive a 10-card San Jose Giants trading card set, featuring Buster Posey, presented by Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 16, 2009
- Quakes Upcoming Events!!! - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Visalia Home Runs Drop Giants In 7-4 Series Opening Loss - San Jose Giants
- Hodsdon, Weeks Propel Ports to 5-1 Win - Stockton Ports
- JetHawks Offense Too Much In Opener - Inland Empire 66ers
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