Giants Suffer 4-2 Loss to Modesto
April 8, 2012 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
MODESTO - Four Modesto pitchers combined to strikeout 12 Giants hitters and the Nuts never trailed in a 4-2 victory over San Jose on Saturday evening at John Thurman Field. In the third game of the season-opening four-game series, the Giants managed only six hits and suffered their first defeat of the year.
Joe Panik (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) was the only San Jose player to finish with a multi-hit game in the loss.
Modesto jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third innings against Giants starter Ryan Bradley. With one out in the bottom of the second, Corey Dickerson got the rally started by drawing a four-pitch walk. Jared Clark followed with a double into left center field before Chandler Laurent's infield single to third plated Dickerson with the first run of the night.
In the third, consecutive two-out singles from Brett Tanos and Bryce Massanari put two runners on and then Dickerson came through with an RBI double to make it 2-0.
After picking up just two singles in the first three innings against Nuts starting pitcher Josh Mueller, San Jose broke through with a run in the top of the fourth. Andrew Susac and Panik began the frame with back-to-back singles before a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Mueller came back to strikeout Adam Duvall and then Luke Anders grounded out to bring home Susac with the Giants' first run. Mueller induced the next hitter, Ricky Oropesa, to ground out leaving Panik in scoring position.
Edward Concepcion (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) relieved Bradley to start the bottom of the fifth and surrendered one run in his only inning of work. Tanos drew a one-out walk and stole second. Then with two outs, Dickerson belted an RBI double to deep right for a 3-1 Modesto advantage.
Nuts reliever Isaiah Froneberger entered the game in the top of the fifth and fired three no-hit innings out of the bullpen to keep the Modesto lead intact. Froneberger worked around a leadoff walk to Jarrett Parker in the fifth and a hit batsman to start the seventh. He struck out four during his stint on the mound.
San Jose's best opportunity to catch the Nuts came in the top of the eighth inning. Still trailing by a 3-1 score, Bobby Haney led off with a single to left. After Chris Lofton flied out and Ryan Lollis struck out, Susac drew a walk. Panik was up next and he doubled down the left field line to score Haney and move Susac to third. Duvall though popped out to shortstop to end the inning and leave the potential tying and go-ahead runs at third and second respectively.
Modesto immediately got the run back in the bottom of the eighth inning against Giants reliever Drew Bowlin (1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO). Consecutive singles from Dickerson and Clark put runners on the corners with none out before Laurent hit a sacrifice fly to right giving the Nuts back a two-run cushion.
Modesto closer Bruce Kern then struck out the side in a perfect top of the ninth inning to finish the game. Froneberger (1-0) was credited with the victory while Kern earned the save.
Dickerson (3-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI) had a perfect night at the plate to lead a 10-hit Nuts offensive attack.
Bradley (0-1) took the loss after yielding two runs (both earned) on six hits over four innings of work. The left-hander walked one and struck out one.
Notes: The Giants have won two out of the first three games in the series ... Panik is 4-for-10 (.400) with two doubles and three RBI's to start the season ... The #4 through #7 hitters in the San Jose lineup (Duvall, Anders, Oropesa and Parker) were a combined 0-for-14 with eight strikeouts on Saturday ... Second baseman Carter Jurica and Oropesa were ejected by home plate umpire Matt Heersema in the sixth and ninth innings respectively for arguing balls and strikes ... Phil McCormick (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) also pitched out of the Giants bullpen.
On Deck: The Giants and Nuts conclude their four-game series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at John Thurman Field scheduled for 1:05 PM. Justin Schumer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Christian Bergman (0-0, 0.00 ERA. The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 12:35 PM.
California League Stories from April 8, 2012
- Giants Shutout Nuts to Take Opening Series - San Jose Giants
- Lilly Struggles in 7-1 Loss - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Take Win, Series Split Sunday - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Suffer 4-2 Loss to Modesto - San Jose Giants
- Blaze fall to Visalia - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Earn First "W" of Year with 5-4 Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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