Kieschnick's Home Run Propels Giants Into First Place
Published on June 20, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Roger Kieschnick hit a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to lead San Jose to a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over the Stockton Ports on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark vaulting the Giants into sole possession of first place in the North Division. San Jose plated three runs in the eighth inning to overcome a 4-2 Stockton lead while three Giants relievers combined to hold the Ports scoreless over the final five frames.
With the win, San Jose improves their overall record to 40-28 and takes over sole possession of the top spot in the North Division race for the first time this season. With two games remaining in the first half, the Giants own a one-game lead over the Visalia Rawhide (39-29) and a two-game advantage over the Modesto Nuts (38-30). Both Visalia and Modesto suffered losses in their respective games on Friday evening.
Kieschnick's 12th home run of the season gave San Jose their first lead of the contest while Buster Posey (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) also went deep for the 11th time this year. The duo combined to drive home five of the Giants' six runs with Posey's sixth-inning solo blast marking San Jose's first hit of the contest.
Wilmin Rodriguez (2-0) was credited with the victory after tossing two hitless innings of relief. Rodriguez worked out of a bases loaded, none out jam with the Giants trailing in the bottom of the seventh before firing a perfect bottom of the eighth once San Jose had taken the lead. Dan Runzler earned his first California League save of the year with a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
The Giants trailed by a 4-1 score entering the top of the sixth and had not yet recorded a hit until Posey delivered a two-out, solo homer to deep left field.
Stockton then threatened in the bottom of the seventh as David Mixon hit Michael Richard with a pitch before Jermaine Mitchell drew a walk. Rodriguez was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly walked Jemile Weeks to load the bases with none out. However, Rodriguez recovered to strike out All-Star Yusuf Carter on three pitches before Christian Vitters hit a check-swing soft grounder back to the mound that saw the Giants record the force out at home plate. Matt Smith then flied out to shallow right field ending the threat.
Ports reliever Pat Currin quickly set down the first two hitters of the top of the eighth before Thomas Neal beat out a high chopper over the pitchers mound for an infield single. Posey then belted an RBI double to the fence in right center field bringing San Jose to within 4-3. Kieschnick was up next and he crushed the first pitch of his at-bat over the wall in deep right center for a two-run homer and a 5-4 Giants lead.
San Jose added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when pinch-runner Skyler Stromsmoe scored from third base on a wild pitch.
Runzler entered the game to begin the bottom of the ninth and quickly allowed a leadoff single to Richard, but bounced back when Mitchell grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. After Weeks reached on an infield single up the middle, Runzler retired Carter, who represented the potential tying run, on a routine pop out to second base.
Currin (2-3) suffered the loss for the Ports after surrendering all four runs (three earned) in the final two innings. Currin lasted 1 1/3 innings on the mound and allowed five of San Jose's six hits in the game.
Stockton initially jumped in front in the bottom of the third inning against Giants starter Craig Clark as Richard singled with one out before a walk and an error loaded the bases. Carter then delivered a sacrifice fly to left plating Richard with the first run of the night.
San Jose responded with a run of their own in the top of the fourth inning without the benefit of a hit. Consecutive walks to Bocock and Neal started the frame before Bocock eventually scored on Kieschnick's sacrifice fly to right.
The Ports though quickly went back ahead with three tallies in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double off the bat of Smith preceded back-to-back singles from Shane Keough and Frank Martinez scoring one run. After David Thomas singled to load the bases, the fourth consecutive hit to begin the inning, Richard bounced into a double play to score another run. Mitchell then reached on a fielding error committed by Ryan Lormand at second base to plate Martinez with the third run of the inning.
Clark received a no-decision for the Giants after surrendering four runs (two earned) on seven hits over four innings. The left-hander walked one and struck out one.
Stockton's Mike Madsen started on the mound and tossed three no-hit innings in his first outing of the season. Madsen, a former Double-A All-Star who also has Triple-A experience, walked two and struck out three as he recovers from an elbow injury sustained last year.
Notes: The Giants have won 11 out of their last 14 games ... San Jose won for just the second time this season (2-23) when trailing after seven innings ... Both victories have been at Stockton and the Giants went ahead in both contests on a Kieschnick home run ... Visalia had held at least a share of first place in the North Division throughout the entire first half until after Friday's games ... Mixon (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO), Rodriguez (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Runzler (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) all pitched out of the San Jose bullpen ... The Ports out-hit the Giants by a 9-6 margin ... Neal (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to 15 games with his eighth-inning single ... Kieschnick has homered in the first two games of the series.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their four-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:05 PM. Oliver Odle (3-6, 5.96 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Scott Mitchinson (0-1, 4.29 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 20, 2009
- Kieschnick's Home Run Propels Giants Into First Place - San Jose Giants
- Leandro Cespedes Leads JetHawks to Third Straight Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Torres Pitches Quakes to 2-0 Victory over Storm - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Late Surge by Giants upends Ports, 6-4 - Stockton Ports
- Gonzalez Walk-Off Caps Sixers Rally - Inland Empire 66ers
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