NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Ports Explode in Eighth to Rally Past Giants

August 31, 2010 - California League (CalL1) - San Jose Giants News Release


The Stockton Ports scored six times in the bottom of the eighth inning highlighted by Grant Green's go-ahead three-run homer in a 9-5 come- from-behind victory over the San Jose Giants on Monday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. Wendell Fairley hit his first home run of the season to lead the Giants offensively as San Jose managed only one win in the four-game series. The loss drops the Giants' overall record to 71-62 - one game ahead of the Ports (70-63) and Visalia Rawhide (70-63) for the top overall mark in the North Division. Seven games remain in the regular season.

Fairley's (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) three-run blast in the top of the sixth inning gave San Jose a 5-3 lead while James Simmons (1-for-4, HR, RBI) also connected for his 12th home run of the year earlier in the contest.

Quirarte (2-9) suffered his ninth loss of the season after surrendering five runs (all earned) on five hits during the eighth- inning rally. Quirarte worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to keep the Giants ahead before Stockton's eighth- inning explosion.

San Jose trailed by a 3-2 score in the top of the sixth inning as Francisco Peguero and Jose Flores began the frame with back-to-back singles. Michael Sandoval followed with a fly out to center advancing Peguero to third and prompting a pitching change as Trey Barham entered the contest in place of starter Justin Murray. Fairley was up next and he crushed the first pitch of the at-bat well over the fence in right field for a three-run homer and a 5-3 Giants advantage.

The Ports threatened in the sixth and seventh innings against the San Jose bullpen, but failed to score in each frame. Ryan Verdugo (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 SO) entered the game to begin the sixth and worked around a one-out single off the bat of Tyler Ladendorf and a two-out walk to David Thomas followed by a wild pitch to keep the Giants in front.

In the bottom of the seventh, Verdugo issued three consecutive one-out walks, but retired Todd Johnson on a pop out to third before Quirarte (2/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) entered the game and induced Ladendorf to bounce into a fielder's choice.

Stockton entered the bottom of the eighth 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position before finally breaking through against Quirarte. Kent Walton started the inning with a double down the left field line before Thomas blooped a single into shallow right center. Green followed by driving a 1-0 pitch from Quirarte over the wall in left for his 19th home run of the season and a 6-5 Ports lead. Stockton though kept the pressure on as Stephen Parker followed the home run with a single before Jeremy Barfield singled with one out. Eric Stolp (2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) then entered the game and after a wild pitch, Yusuf Carter hit a broken bat single into shallow left plating both Parker and Barfield. Carter eventually scored on Ladendorf's two-out, RBI single. Stockton sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and knocked out seven hits.

Scott Deal (2-4) earned the win out of the Ports bullpen after tossing three perfect innings to finish the game. Deal walked none and struck out none during his stint on the mound.

The Giants initially took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Simmons belted a solo homer to deep left center field. In the third, Matt Klimas led off by reaching on an error, advanced to second on Ehire Adrianza's bunt single, moved to third on Juan Perez's sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out wild pitch for a 2-0 advantage.

Andrew Romo started on the mound for San Jose and worked the first 2 2/3 innings with two hits and one run allowed. Romo walked one and matched a career-high with five strikeouts.

Romo managed to strand a pair of runners in scoring position in the second inning, but then plunked Barfield with the bases loaded and two outs in the third forcing home Stockton's first run of the night. Scott Nestor (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) then relieved Romo and promptly struck out Yusuf Carter to end the inning.

The Ports took their first lead of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning against Nestor when Thomas hammered a two-out, two-run homer to deep right field.

Notes: Monday was the 26th and final regular season meeting between the Giants and Ports ... San Jose won the season series by a 14-12 margin ... It was also the last road game of the regular season for the Giants (40-30 record - tops in the North Division) ... Quirarte has suffered six of his nine losses in the second half ... He was also charged with his fourth blown save since the All-Star break ... Stockton out-hit San Jose by an 11-7 margin ... No Giants starter finished with a multi-hit game ... Peguero (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to 13 games ... San Jose pitchers combined for eight walks, three hit batsmen and five wild pitches.

On Deck: The Giants begin their final homestand of the regular season on Tuesday evening with the first of three straight games against the Inland Empire 66ers. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Justin Fitzgerald (9-6, 3.69 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Cody White (0-1, 6.97 ERA). It's Orange Out Night at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com .


• Discuss this story on the California League message board...

California League Stories from August 31, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Jose Giants Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central