CalL1 San Jose Giants

Clark Sets Consecutive Wins Record In 3-0 Victory

Published on July 28, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Craig Clark set a San Jose Giants record with his 11th consecutive victory after tossing eight scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Stockton Ports on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium. In rubber game of the three-game series, Clark limited the Ports to six hits with two walks and two strikeouts while Roger Kieschnick hit his team-leading 20th home run of the season to lead the offensive attack. The game was played in front of 5,719 fans - the largest crowd at Municipal Stadium since 1988 and the second biggest in team history.

Clark (12-2) allowed just six singles during his stint on the mound as he moved into a tie for the league-lead in wins. The left-hander is 11-0 in his last 14 appearances (13 starts) and broke a record that had been shared by Dan Rambo (1990), Jeff Urban (1998-99) and Kevin Pucetas (2008). The Giants have not lost a game that he's started since May 7.

Kieschnick's (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) home run broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning while Tyler Graham (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, SB) was the lone San Jose player to finish with a multi-hit game.

Clark used three double plays throughout the first five innings to keep the Ports off the scoreboard. After a walk to Michael Richard to start the game, Jemile Weeks hit into a 4-6-3 double play for the first two outs of the night. In the third, Jermaine Mitchell connected for Stockton's first hit of the contest, but was promptly erased on the base paths when the next hitter, Richard, bounced into an inning-ending double play. Then in the fifth, a pair of one-out singles from Matt Smith and Frank Martinez put runners on first and second, but Shane Keough hit into a 6-4-3 double play to keep the shutout intact.

Kieschnick gave the Giants a 1-0 lead as he belted a pitch from Ports starter Pedro Figueroa over the fence in straightaway center field for a solo homer. Stockton tried to respond in the top of the sixth putting a runner of third base with none out, but Clark managed to pitch out of trouble. Mitchell started the frame with a bunt single and advanced to second on the play when Clark threw wildly to first for an error. After a passed ball moved Mitchell to third, Clark set down Richard on a shallow fly out to left field. Weeks then hit a ground ball to third as Mitchell tried to score, but the baserunner was easily tagged out after a brief rundown. Clark then picked-off Weeks at first base to end the inning.

San Jose added to their lead with single tallies in the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Graham led off with a double to the right center field gap, took third on a passed ball and scored two batters later on Kieschnick's fielder's choice groundout to second.

In the seventh, Nick Noonan drew a one-out walk, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on Graham's infield single to shortstop.

Clark breezed through a perfect top of the seventh inning and pitched around a pair of singles in the top of the eighth to end his evening. Trey Webb (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) entered the game to begin the top of the ninth and promptly walked Weeks to lead off before Steve Kleen singled to bring the potential tying run to the plate. Webb though settled down to strikeout Yusuf Carter and Grant Desme before Smith flied out to shallow right field on a sliding catch made by Kieschnick. Webb was credited with his first save since joining the Giants.

Figueroa (1-3) suffered the loss for the Ports after yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings. The left-hander walked one and struck out seven.

Notes: Clark is tied for second in the California League with a 2.85 ERA ... He is undefeated (9-0) in 11 appearances at home ... Starting pitcher Scott Barnes was traded to the Cleveland Indians prior to the game along with a player to be named later for major league first baseman Ryan Garko ... Barnes and Clark are the only 12-game winners in the California League while the duo boast identical earned run averages ... The Giants stole four bases in the contest, including a pair by Darren Ford ... Stockton out-hit San Jose by a 7-5 margin ... The Giants improved their second half record to 26-6 - nine games ahead of the Ports (17-15) for the top spot in the North Division ... The victory extended San Jose's series unbeaten streak to 16 (14-0-2) ... The Giants have not lost a series since dropping three out of four games at Visalia from May 27-30 ... Monday's win was also the 21st of July for San Jose (21-5) - just win victory shy of matching the team record for most wins in a month.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their stretch of six consecutive games on Tuesday evening with the opener of a three-game series at Banner Island Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. T.J. Brewer (3-1, 2.95 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Scott Hodsdon (4-7, 5.65 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from July 28, 2009


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