Cavan's Grand Slam Powers Giants to 5-3 Victory
Published on May 18, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Ryan Cavan hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Friday evening at LoanMart Field. Cavan's slam erased a 2-1 deficit as the Giants won their third straight game to begin the series and claimed their 11th in a row on the road overall. The win improves San Jose's record to a league-best 28-13 - three games ahead of the Visalia Rawhide (25-16) in the first half North Division race.
Cavan's (1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) grand slam was the first hit this season by a Giants player. Angel Villalona (1-for-3, HR, RBI) added a solo home run for San Jose.
Austin Fleet (3-1) picked-up the win after working 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen with one unearned run allowed. Bryce Bandilla struck out the side in a perfect bottom of the ninth for his first save of the year.
The Giants managed only two singles over the first six innings against Quakes starting pitcher Garrett Gould. Rancho Cucamonga took a 2-0 lead into the top of the seventh when Villalona stepped to the plate with two outs and launched a solo home run to straightaway center off of reliever Pedro Baez. The home run was Villalona's eighth of the season as San Jose cut the Quakes lead in half.
After Fleet struck out two in a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, the Giants continued their comeback in the eighth inning. With one out, John Polonius drew a full-count walk to start the rally. Brock Bond followed by reaching on a fielding error committed by Rancho Cucamonga third baseman Ryan Mount. Shawn Payne then walked to load the bases. Cavan was up next and San Jose's leading hitter crushed a 1-1 pitch from Eric Eadington well over the fence in left for a grand slam. The home run gave the Giants their first lead of the game at 5-2.
Fleet returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and promptly allowed a leadoff single to Chris O'Brien. Casio Grider then singled down the right field line and when Mac Williamson mishandled the ball for an error, O'Brien raced into third. Grider was then thrown out at second attempting to steal, but Noel Cuevas followed with an infield single to shortstop as O'Brien scored to make it 5-3. Cody Hall (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) was then summoned from the bullpen and he registered an inning-ending double play as the next batter, Darnell Sweeney, struck out swinging and then interfered with Jeff Arnold when the catcher attempted to throw out Cuevas, who was trying to steal second.
Bandilla entered the game to begin the bottom of the ninth and recorded a swinging strikeout of O'Koyea Dickson before back-to-back looking strikeouts of Angelo Songco and Jonathan Garcia to seal the victory.
Eadington (0-1) took the loss for Rancho Cucamonga after surrendering all four runs (three earned) in the top of the eighth. San Jose collected just one hit during their four-run eighth-inning rally - Cavan's grand slam.
Kelvin Marte started on the mound for San Jose and tossed a season-high six innings. Marte allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts. The Quakes built a 2-0 lead on back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the second from Garcia and Mount, but wouldn't score again until the eighth inning.
Arnold threw out Rancho Cucamonga runners attempting to steal second base to end the fourth and fifth innings. Marte then pitched around a one-out single and a two-out hit batter in the sixth to keep the deficit at 2-0.
Gould struck out eight and walked just one in his six innings of work for the Quakes. The Giants' only baserunners against Gould were a second-inning walk to Villalona, a fourth-inning single from Devin Harris and a sixth-inning single off the bat of Bond.
Notes: The Giants won their first game this season when trailing after seven innings ... Rancho Cucamonga out-hit San Jose 9-4 ... Cavan hit his first home run since April 6 - the third game of the year ... Giants pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and just one walk ... Bond finished 1-for-4 with a single in his first game of the season ... Bond joined San Jose from the Fresno (AAA) disabled list earlier Friday ... Infielder Ydwin Villegas was placed on the disabled list ... The Giants secured their sixth straight road series win to begin the season ... San Jose is 17-3 away from Municipal Stadium this year.
On Deck: The Giants will look for a four-game sweep of the Quakes when the teams conclude their series on Saturday evening. First pitch at LoanMart Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Clayton Blackburn (2-1, 3.65 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Rancho Cucamonga is expected to counter with Lindsey Caughel (0-1, 5.40 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.
California League Stories from May 18, 2013
- Blaze Steal Finale in Stockton, Win 5-2 in Extras - Bakersfield Blaze
- Two JetHawks Have Big Nights in Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- Cavan's Grand Slam Powers Giants to 5-3 Victory - San Jose Giants
- Modesto Hangs on Late to Drop Storm - Modesto Nuts
- Jimenez Sterling Through Seven, 66ers Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- Cruz Cruises, Bullpen Holds for Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Edge Ports 1-0 - Stockton Ports
- Errors and Miscues Cost Rawhide Ballgame - Visalia Rawhide
- Gould Sharp in Quakes' Defeat - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Pitchers Shine in 1-0 Shutout of Ports - Bakersfield Blaze
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