Early Home Run, Stellar Pitching Lift Giants to Victory
July 26, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Dylan Davis hit an early three-run home run and Mark Reyes threw seven strong innings on the mound to lead the San Jose Giants to a 4-1 series-opening victory over the Bakersfield Blaze on Monday night at Municipal Stadium. The win was San Jose's (53-48) third in a row and fifth in their last six games.
Davis' (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) eighth home run with the Giants gave San Jose a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Giants added a single run in the second inning and then cruised to the victory. T.J. Bennett (2-for-4) was the only San Jose player to finish the contest with more than one hit.
Reyes (8-4) allowed just one run and four hits during his seven-inning masterpiece to pick-up the win. The left-hander walked two and matched a career-high with six strikeouts. Tyler Cyr (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO) and Reyes Moronta (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) then threw scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively out of the bullpen to seal the victory. Moronta earned his sixth save of the year.
The Giants scored the three runs in the bottom of the first before an out was recorded by Blaze starting pitcher Art Warren. Ronnie Jebavy led off the inning with a double into the left field corner. Robbie Garvey then walked to put runners on first and second. Davis was up next and he crushed a pitch from Warren over the fence in right for an opposite-field three-run homer and a 3-0 San Jose lead.
The Giants pushed their advantage to 4-0 in the bottom of the second. Cristian Paulino dropped down a bunt to start the frame and reached base safely when Warren mishandled the ball for an error. Paulino stole second before Garvey drew a one-out walk. Davis' deep fly out to right center then advanced Paulino to third. Jonah Arenado was up next and in the middle of his at-bat, San Jose successfully executed a double steal as Garvey swiped second and Paulino stole home to make it 4-0.
Meanwhile, Reyes allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings to begin his start. Bakersfield's only run of the night came in the top of the fourth. Tyler Marlette led off with a single before Jay Baum doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Chantz Mack then grounded out to second scoring Marlette to bring the Blaze to within 4-1. Baum advanced to third on the groundout as well, but Bakersfield was unable to bring him home as Austin Wilson struck out and Braden Bishop grounded out to end the inning.
Reyes then pitched around a two-out hit by pitch in the fifth before tossing a 1-2-3 sixth inning. He had retired five straight Blaze hitters until issuing a one-out walk to Bishop in the top of the seventh. Joe DeCarlo followed with a single to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Reyes escaped retiring Jordan Cowan on a fly out to center before Drew Jackson grounded out.
With the score still 4-1, Cyr entered from the bullpen to begin the top of the eighth. Gianfranco Wawoe drew a leadoff walk, but was promptly erased when Marlette grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Bakersfield though threatened with two outs as Baum singled and Mack walked to bring the tying run to the plate. Cyr, however, recovered to strikeout Wilson on a 3-2 pitch to retire the side.
In the ninth, Moronta issued a one-out walk to DeCarlo, but Cowan followed by grounding into a game-ending 3-6-3 double play.
Warren (0-1) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (three earned) on five hits over five innings. He walked four and struck out three.
Notes - * The Giants improved to 4-1 on their homestand. * San Jose has won three games in a row for the first time since July 4-6. It's only their second three-game winning streak since the beginning of June. * The Giants out-hit the Blaze 8-5. * Monday marked just the second win for the home team in 11 games of the San Jose-Bakersfield season series (Blaze lead 6-5). * Daniel Carbonell (1-for-3, SB) and Jebavy (1-for-5, 2B) extended hitting streaks to seven and six games respectively. * The Giants stole four bases - all in the first two innings. * Monday was the ninth time in Reyes' career he recorded six strikeouts in a start (fourth time in 2016).
On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jason Forjet (9-7, 4.82 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Osmer Morales (2-3, 5.04 ERA). It's Super Hero Night at the ballpark! Fans who dress up as their favorite superhero or heroine will receive two free future game tickets. For tickets to Tuesday's game, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
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