Giants Can't Keep up with Blaze, Fall 8-5
July 24, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield's Tyler O'Neill homered twice in his return from the Pan Am Games to lead the Blaze to an 8-5 series-opening victory over the San Jose Giants on Thursday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The loss snapped San Jose's (47-49) six-game winning streak and was only the Giants' second defeat in their last 15 games overall.
Daniel Carbonell (3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) homered as part of a three-hit night to lead San Jose offensively in the loss. Carbonell's home run was a three-run shot in the top of the third to tie the game 3-3, but the Blaze responded with two in the bottom of the frame to reclaim the lead and then held off the Giants for the remainder of the contest.
O'Neill (2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI) hit his team-leading 17th and 18th home runs of the season to pace the Bakersfield offensive attack. The Blaze slugger was playing in his first game since July 3 after helping Canada win the gold medal at the Pan Am Games in Toronto earlier this month.
Bakersfield jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after just two innings. In the bottom of the first, Keury Mella issued a one-out walk to Nelson Ward before O'Neill stepped to the plate and launched a two-run home run to straightaway center. Then in the second, Estarlyn Morales doubled to leadoff, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jay Baum's one-out single up the middle to make it 3-0.
The Giants tied the game in the top of the third as Jeff Arnold walked with one out before Brandon Bednar's two-out single put runners on the corners. Carbonell was up next and he belted an opposite field three-run homer to right center. The home run, Carbonell's second with San Jose this season, tied the score 3-3.
The Blaze though came back with a pair of unearned runs against Mella in the bottom of the third. Mella struck out Ward to start the frame, but then O'Neill's grounder to shortstop was mishandled by Bednar for an error. Austin Wilson followed with a single to right advancing O'Neill to second. After a Tim Lopes sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Morales ripped a two-out double into deep right center plating both O'Neill and Wilson for a 5-3 Bakersfield advantage.
The Blaze extended their lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth when O'Neill lined a solo homer to right center on the first pitch of the inning thrown by Mella.
The Giants rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth against reliever Nick Valenza to trim the Bakersfield lead to 6-5. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Seth Harrison struck out, but reached first on a passed ball. A wild pitch then moved Harrison to second before he scored moments later when Skyler Stromsmoe laced a double down the left field line. Arnold then lined a double into deep right center scoring Stromsmoe to bring San Jose to within 6-5. However with the potential tying run at second, new pitcher Emilio Pagan induced Jeff Kobernus to groundout to shortstop to end the inning.
The Giants again put the tying run at second with two outs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, but couldn't bring home the run in either frame. In the seventh, Carbonell reached on a one-out bunt single and moved to second on Angel Villalona's groundout. Tyler Horan though struck out on a 3-2 pitch to retire the side. Then in the eighth, with the score still 6-5, Stromsmoe drew a two-out walk and stole second, but was stranded when Arnold struck out swinging.
The Blaze then pushed across two key insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth against Dan Slania (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO. Back-to-back singles from Lopes and Morales started the inning before Justin Seager's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Baum followed with a grounder to third that saw Stromsmoe throw out Lopes at the plate for the second out of the inning. However, Daniel Torres followed with a fly ball into left center that bounced off the glove of the diving Harrison for a double. The hit scored both runners to make it 8-5 Bakersfield.
Kyle Schepel struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to seal the Blaze victory. Schepel was credited with his first save of the season. Valenza (2-3), who entered the game to begin the top of the fourth, picked-up the win. Valenza worked 2 2/3 innings and allowed two unearned runs on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Four Bakersfield pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.
Mella (5-3) suffered the loss after surrendering a career-high six runs (four earned) over six innings. Mella allowed six hits, walked one and matched a season-high with eight strikeouts.
Stromsmoe (2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI, SB), who doubled twice, also finished with a multi-hit game for the Giants.
Notes:
* Thursday was the opener of a seven-game road trip for the Giants.
* Bakersfield out-hit San Jose 10-7.
* The Giants gave up a total of just 11 runs during their six-game winning streak before surrendering eight runs to the Blaze on Thursday.
* O'Neill has hit seven out of his 18 home runs this season against San Jose. He's fourth in the California League in home runs.
* Stromsmoe was making his 2015 San Jose Giants debut. He was added to the roster from Sacramento (AAA) on Tuesday.
* Mella had allowed only two home runs in 70 innings this season before yielding two homers to O'Neill on Thursday.
* The Giants suffered just their second loss since July 6.
* San Jose is 1-4 at Sam Lynn Ballpark this season.
On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Sam Lynn Ballpark scheduled for 7:45 PM. Martin Agosta (4-6, 4.52 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Dan Altavilla (4-7, 3.30 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 7:15 PM.
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California League Stories from July 24, 2015
- Christmas in July Set for Monday, July 27 - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Can't Keep up with Blaze, Fall 8-5 - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Pitching Grounds Ports in 6-1 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Big Hits Power Blaze in 8-5 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers Down Quakes in Ten on McGee's Heroics - Inland Empire 66ers
- Nuts Take Series Opener 4-2 in Ten Innings - Modesto Nuts
- Yuhl, Radziewski Help 'Hawks Snap Skid - Lancaster JetHawks
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