Darren Ford hit a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning propelling the San Jose Giants to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Stockton Ports on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. Ford drilled an 0-2 pitch from Stockton closer Mickey Storey down the left field line to easily score Aaron Lowenstein with the tying run and Tyler Graham all the way from first base with the winning run to set off a wild celebration. The game was played in front of 5,419 fans at Municipal Stadium giving the Giants a season attendance figure of 185,265 to set a franchise record for the fourth consecutive year.San Jose trailed by a 2-1 score entering the bottom of the ninth inning as Storey quickly retired Skyler Stromsmoe on a strikeout to begin the frame. Brian Bocock followed with a single into right, but was promptly picked off at first base by Storey for the second out of the inning. Lowenstein though extended the game with a ground ball single up the middle before Graham drew a five-pitch walk to put runners on first and second. Ford was up next and after two quick strikes, he connected for a line drive into left field that reached the fence near the corner. The double scored both runners with Graham sliding safely at the plate to give the Giants their second walk-off victory of the season.
Daniel Turpen (4-2) was credited with the win out of the San Jose bullpen after working 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Turpen allowed one hit with one walk while striking out four.
Conor Gillaspie (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) was the only Giants player to finish with a multi-hit game. San Jose had not recorded a hit with a runner in scoring position until Ford's ninth-inning double.
Stockton initially took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Grant Desme led off with an opposite field home run to deep right center. San Jose tied the score in the bottom of the fourth as Roger Kieschnick singled with one out before Gillaspie's delivered a two-out, RBI double off the fence in right center field.
The Ports immediately went back ahead in the top of the fifth as Kala Ka'aihue led off with a single before Frank Martinez drew a one-out walk. After Shane Keough flied out to center advancing Ka'aihue to third, Dusty Coleman hit a slow ground ball near second base. However on the play, Giants second baseman Nick Noonan decided to flip the ball to Bocock covering the bag instead of taking it himself for the out which allowed Martinez to slide safely. The play was ruled a fielder's choice for Coleman and an RBI as Ka'aihue scored to make it 2-1.
Clayton Tanner started on the mound for San Jose and tossed 6 1/3 innings with two runs (both earned) and five hits allowed. Tanner struck out seven and walked three. He left the contest with runners on first and second and one out in the top of the seventh, but Turpen entered and struck out the next two hitters, Coleman and Todd Johnson, to get out of trouble.
Ports starter Anthony Capra pitched 6 1/3 innings as well and fanned 10 while walking three and surrendering one run. In the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff walk followed by a Gillaspie bunt single and then a sacrifice bunt from Bocock put runners on second and third. Jason Ray was then summoned from the bullpen and he struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Lormand for the second out. After a hit by pitch of Graham loaded the bases, Ray induced Ford to line out to right center field ending the threat.
San Jose nearly scored in the eighth inning as well as David Maroul was at the plate with a runner on first and two outs and drove a fly ball to deep left center field that was caught by Johnson was his back up against the wall.
Turpen pitched around a leadoff walk in the eighth inning and a two-out, bunt single in the ninth to keep the deficit at one run for the Giants.
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