Four-Run Lead Slips Away, Giants Lose 7-5
April 30, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
VISALIA, CA - The Giants were unable to hold a four-run lead Friday night as Visalia rallied for a 7-5 series-opening victory over San Jose at Recreation Park. The Rawhide tied the game with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning before Rudy Flores hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth. The loss snapped the Giants' (10-9) season-high four-game winning streak.
Chris Shaw (3-for-3, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI) doubled twice, homered and drove in four of the five San Jose runs to lead the offensive attack in defeat. C.J Hinojosa (3-for-3, 2B, RBI) also collected three hits. The Shaw-Hinojosa duo were a combined 6-for-6 with the remainder of the Giants team contributing a total of just one hit.
San Jose built a 5-1 lead after five innings before the Rawhide rallied. In the bottom of the sixth, Giants starter Sam Coonrod issued a one-out walk to Colin Bray. Domingo Leyba then singled before Flores walked on four pitches to load the bases. Henry Castillo was up next and he laced a triple into the right field corner to plate all three runners cutting the Giants advantage to 5-4. The hit ended Coonrod's night as Jose Morel was summoned from the bullpen. Morel induced the next hitter, Dawal Lugo, to fly out to shallow left for the second out of the inning. Grant Heyman then hit a slow grounder back to Morel, but the San Jose reliever threw the ball away to first for an error. The miscue allowed Castillo to score the tying run.
Morel recovered to throw a scoreless bottom of the seventh using a double play to work around a one-out single. The Giants then had an opportunity to reclaim the lead in the top of the eighth, but failed to bring home the go-ahead tally. A single from Hinojosa began the frame before Shaw drew a walk. Aramis Garcia advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt and then Steven Duggar was intentionally walked to load the bases. However, Rawhide reliever Luis Ramirez was able to strikeout Jonah Arenado on three pitches before Brandon Bednar grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
Morel returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and ran into more trouble. Leyba led off with a slow grounder to the right of the pitcher's mound which Morel mishandled for his second error of the game. Flores then came up and belted a towering two-run home run to deep right center. The homer, Flores' fourth of the season, gave Visalia their first lead of the game at 7-5.
Rawhide closer Jimmy Sherfy then quickly retired the Giants 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to finish the game.
Ramirez (5-0) picked-up his league-leading fifth save of the season after his scoreless top of the eighth. Sherfy was credited with his sixth save.
Morel (0-1) suffered the loss for San Jose. The right-hander was charged with two runs (one earned) on two hits over 1 2/3 innings.
The Giants jumped out early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Hinojosa drew a walk before Shaw clobbered the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right for a two-run homer. The home run was Shaw's third of the season.
Hinojosa and Shaw then teamed up again for two more San Jose runs in the top of the third. With one out, Johneshwy Fargas singled before coming home on Hinojosa's two-out double down the left field line. Shaw was up next and he drove a fly ball off the fence in left for another double as Hinojosa scored to make it 4-0.
Meanwhile, Coonrod began his night by setting down six straight Rawhide hitters. Visalia pushed across a run in the bottom of the third as Heyman led off with a double before scoring on Victor Reyes' one-out single.
In the top of the fifth, Hinojosa singled with two outs before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Shaw then ripped a line drive double over the left fielder's head for his fourth RBI of the game as Hinojosa scored for a 5-1 advantage.
Coonrod surrendered just one run and three hits over the first five innings before Visalia's tying rally in the bottom of the sixth. The right-hander finished his night with five runs (four earned) allowed on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.
• Discuss this story on the California League message board...
California League Stories from April 30, 2016
- Pitcher Zac Curtis to Join Arizona Diamondbacks - Visalia Rawhide
- Ports Hang on for 9-8 Win to Snap Skid - Stockton Ports
- Misiewicz Flirts with No-No in Blaze Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Four-Run Ninth Not Enough in Fifth Straight Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Comeback Victory for Visalia Nets 5th Straight Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Four-Run Lead Slips Away, Giants Lose 7-5 - San Jose Giants
- Thornton, James Combine To Toss Gem At Diamond - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Get Gem from Misiewicz, Hold off Rally - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Win 4th Straight; Yaisel Sierra Pitches Saturday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
