CalL1 San Jose Giants

Ninth-Inning Rally Lifts Giants to Dramatic Win

Published on July 14, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


VISALIA - The San Jose Giants scored three runs - all with two outs - in the top of the ninth inning to shock the Visalia Rawhide, 5-4, on Wednesday evening at Recreation Park. Jarrett Parker tied the score with an RBI single before Tommy Joseph doubled home the go-ahead run as the Giants won their eighth consecutive game. The victory, San Jose's first this season when trailing after eight innings, improved the Giants' overall record to 61-28.

Trailing by a 4-2 score, San Jose was down to their last strike before staging the dramatic rally. James Simmons led off the frame with a line drive single into left and then took second on a wild pitch when Gary Brown struck out. Rawhide closer Yonata Ortega then struck out Ehire Adrianza to bring Brandon Belt to the plate. With the count 1-2, Belt hit a shallow fly ball into left center that dropped in for a hit. On the play, Visalia's Keon Broxton was unable to make a diving catch as the ball rolled behind the center fielder. Simmons easily scored to make it 4-3 and Belt raced into second with a double. Parker was up next and he smacked a 1-1 pitch up the middle for a single as Belt came home with the tying run. Joseph followed with a line drive double into the right field corner plating Parker for a 5-4 Giants lead.

Mitch Lively (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) came on to pitch in the bottom of the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning for the save. Alfredo Marte led off with a line drive into shallow right that was caught by a diving Parker for the first out. After Broxton grounded out, Brent Greer lined out back to the pitcher's mound with Lively making the catch to end the game.

Brown (3-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, SB) doubled twice as part of a three-hit night to lead the San Jose offensive attack. Joseph (2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI) and Adrianza (2-for-5, SB) added two hits apiece.

Andy Reichard (5-1) was credited with the win after tossing a perfect bottom of the eighth. Lively earned his eighth save of the season.

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Brown started the game with a double down the right field line. After Adrianza flied out, Brown advanced to third on a passed ball and then Belt drew a walk. With Parker at the plate, Belt stole second and when catcher Rossmel Perez's throw bounced away for an error, Brown came home with the first run.

San Jose extended their lead in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally against Rawhide starter David Holmberg. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Jose Flores doubled and Simmons walked. Brown then doubled into the right center field gap plating Flores, however Simmons was thrown out at the plate attempting to score a second run on the play.

Chuck Lofgren started on the mound for the Giants and faced the minimum nine hitters over three scoreless innings to begin his outing. Visalia broke through against Lofgren in the fourth as Chris Owings singled with one out before Matt Davidson belted a game-tying two-run homer to deep right center field.

The Rawhide then took their first lead of the evening with two more runs in the fifth. With Brent Greer at third base and two outs, Ryan LaPensee doubled down the left field line to put Visalia in front. David Nick followed with an RBI single for a 4-2 Rawhide advantage.

Lofgren finished his night with four runs (all earned) and seven hits allowed over five innings. He walked one and struck out four.

San Jose put runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, however Holmberg struck out Flores and Simmons to end the threat. In the seventh facing reliever Mike Belfiore, Brown and Adrianza both singled before Parker drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Belfiore though kept the Visalia lead at 4-2 by inducing the next hitter, Joseph, to ground into a double play.

Kevin Munson then pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Rawhide before the Giants rallied in the ninth. Prior to Belt's at-bat with two outs in the ninth inning, San Jose was just 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Ortega (3-1) suffered his first loss and fifth blown save of the season for Visalia after he was charged with all three runs in the ninth.

Notes: The Giants are now 1-24 this season when trailing after eight innings ... Entering the series, San Jose had also not won a game this year when trailing after seven innings, however they've now accomplished that feat twice in two nights ... Belt finished 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two walks ... He is expected to rejoin Triple- A Fresno on Thursday ... The Giants out-hit Visalia by a 12-9 margin ... David Mixon (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO), Reichard and Lively combined for four scoreless innings of relief ... Brown stole his team-leading 37th base of the season ... Eight San Jose starters recorded at least one hit ... The Giants own a 2.47 team ERA during their current eight- game winning streak.

On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide continue their four-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Recreation Park scheduled for 7:00 PM. Kelvin Marte (6-5, 3.41 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Diogenes Rosario (5-2, 4.50 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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