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Giants Bullpen Stellar in 4-3 Victory over Nuts

May 16, 2012 - California League (CalL) San Jose Giants

SAN JOSE - San Jose relief pitchers Jose Valdez, Chris Wilson and Seth Rosin combined for 3 1/3 hitless innings as the Giants held off the Modesto Nuts to earn a 4-3 victory on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the sixth before the bullpen slammed the door to pick-up the win. The victory improved the Giants' overall record to 25-14 - 1 1/2 games ahead of the Bakersfield Blaze (23-15) for the top spot in the first half North Division race.

Valdez (3-1) was credited with the win for San Jose after 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief. Valdez struck out two during his stint on the mound. Rosin (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) notched his eighth save of the year with a hitless top of the ninth.

Adam Duvall (3-for-4, 2B, RBI) had three hits and Joe Panik (2-for-4) added a pair of singles to lead the Giants offensive attack.

The back-and-forth affair saw San Jose jump out to an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the first against Nuts starter Josh Slaats. Consecutive walks to Chris Lofton and Panik started the frame before Ryan Lollis bounced into a 5-4-3 double play for the first two outs of the inning. Duvall was up next and he delivered the clutch hit with an infield single to shortstop plating Lofton for the first run of the game.

Modesto immediately tied the game in the top of the second when Corey Dickerson led off with a home run to right against Giants starting pitcher Justin Schumer. The home run was Dickerson's second of the series and seventh of the year.

San Jose moved back in front with a run in the bottom of the third inning as Duvall doubled off the fence in deep left center with one out to begin the rally. Ricky Oropesa was up next and he hit a line drive to left that bounced under the glove of the diving Juan Crousset. Duvall scored on the play as Oropesa raced into third was his first triple of the season. The Giants had an opportunity to add to their lead as back-to-back two-out walks to Luke Anders and Jarrett Parker loaded the bases, but Slatts struck out Carter Jurica to end the inning.

The Nuts though again answered with the tying run the next half- inning. Dickerson led off by drawing a walk before Crousset's one-out double put runners on second and third. Schumer then uncorked a wild pitch allowing Dickerson to score for a 2-2 tie. Schumer though stranded Crousset at third base as Kyle Parker popped out to shortstop and Dustin Garneau flied out to left.

Modesto took their first lead of the contest in the top of the fifth when Helder Velazquez hit the first pitch of the inning over the fence in deep left field for a home run. San Jose came right back, however, in the bottom of the inning as Duvall led off with a single before Oropesa walked to put two runners on base. Andrew Susac was up next and he lined an RBI single to left tying the game 3-3.

In the top of the sixth with the score tied, Dickerson led off with a single to center and advanced to second on the play when Lofton threw wildly back to the infield. Jared Clark then grounded out to second advancing Dickerson to third, but Schumer retired Crousset on a groundout as the runner held before Valdez entered the game and struck out Parker looking to end the inning.

The Giants then took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lofton reached base on an error committed by Clark at first base to start the inning. Panik then bounced a single to right advancing Lofton to third with none out. Lollis followed by grounding into a fielder's choice to shortstop as Lofton scored the go-ahead run.

Valdez then struck out one in a perfect top of the seventh inning before Wilson (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) fanned one in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth to preserve the one-run advantage. In the ninth against Rosin, Clark led off by reaching first on a fielding error committed by Duvall at third base. However, Rosin didn't allow the runner to advance any further as he struck out the next two hitters, Crousset and Parker, before Garneau flied out to finish the game.

Craig Bennigson (0-1) suffered the loss out of the Modesto bullpen after surrendered the go-ahead tally in the bottom of the sixth. Bennigson worked 2 1/3 innings with two hits and two runs (one earned) allowed. Slaats pitched the first three innings and allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits with seven walks and five strikeouts.

Schumer did not receive a decision for San Jose after pitching the first 5 2/3 innings with three runs (all earned) and six hits allowed. He walked one and did not record a strikeout.

Notes: The Giants and Nuts have split the first two games of the series ... San Jose is 18-4 at home this season ... Rosin is 8-for-9 in save opportunities this year and has struck out 23 batters in 14 2/3 innings ... Duvall is 7-for-13 (.538) with three doubles and four RBI's over his last four games ... The Giants are 6-3 against Modesto this season ... San Jose matched a season-high with three stolen bases (Lofton, Parker and Lollis) ... The Giants out-hit the Nuts by a 9-6 margin.

On Deck: The Giants and Nuts play the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Taylor Rogers (2-2, 3.44 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Christian Bergman (4-2, 3.07 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from May 16, 2012


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