Giants Bats Stymied in 3-1 Loss to Nuts
May 17, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
MODESTO, CA - Nuts starting pitcher Yency Almonte fired 7 2/3 dominant innings with just one run allowed and seven strikeouts in a 3-1 Modesto victory over the San Jose Giants on Monday evening at John Thurman Field. The Giants were held to just one hit after the second inning in dropping the finale of the four-game series. With the loss, San Jose's record fell to 20-15 at the midpoint of the first half.
Almonte (3-3) yielded just four hits and no runs after the first inning to pick-up the win. The right-hander retired 18 out of the final 21 batters he faced.
Ronnie Jebavy (2-for-3, 2B) singled and doubled to lead the Giants offensively in defeat.
San Jose's only run of the contest came in the top of the first. Jebavy started the game with a single up the middle and immediately scored when the next batter, Steven Duggar, blasted a double to deep left. C.J Hinojosa followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Duggar to third, but Almonte then struck out Chris Shaw and set down Jonah Arenado on a groundout to end the inning.
Jason Forjet started on the mound for the Giants and worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the first before running into trouble in the second. Forjet struck out the first two batters of the second inning before Wilson Soriano reached on an infield single to shortstop. After Soriano stole second, Luis Jean delivered an RBI single into left to tie the game. Jean advanced to second on the throw home and then moved to third when the next batter, Emerson Jimenez, reached on a fielding error committed by Cristian Paulino at second base. Omar Carrizales followed with a single into left plating Jean for a 2-1 Nuts lead.
San Jose's only hits after the first inning were a leadoff single from Jose Vizcaino, Jr. in the second and a leadoff double from Jebavy in the top of the sixth. With the Giants still trailing by a run, Jebavy's sixth-inning double was followed by a walk to Duggar to put runners on first and second with none out. Almonte though induced Hinojosa to ground into a 6-4-3 double play before striking out Shaw to end the threat.
Almonte then struck out the side in a perfect top of the seventh before retiring the first two batters of the top of the eighth to end his night. Tyler Matzek entered from the bullpen and walked Jebavy to put the potential tying run on base, but new pitcher Yoely Bello struck out Duggar on three pitches to retire the side.
Jerry Vasto earned his sixth save of the season after working a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for Modesto.
Forjet (4-2) pitched a season-high seven innings, but suffered the loss for San Jose. The right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits. He struck out five and did not issue a walk. Forjet had retired 14 out of 15 Nuts hitters until Wes Rogers led off the bottom of the eighth with a double down the left field line. The hit knocked Forjet out of the game as Jose Morel entered from the bullpen and promptly struck out Drew Weeks. Collin Ferguson though followed with a double to deep right center to push the Nuts lead to 3-1.
Notes:
* The Giants have lost back-to-back games for the first time since dropping three straight from April 29-May 1.
* Modesto out-hit San Jose 8-4.
* The Giants were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position (1-for-17 over the last two games).
* Jebavy has multi-hits in five out of his last six games.
* San Jose is two games behind the Visalia Rawhide (23-14) for first place in the first half North Division standings.
On Deck: The Giants continue their road trip on Tuesday evening with the opener of a three-game series against the Stockton Ports. First pitch at Banner Island Ballpark is scheduled for 7:10 PM. Martin Agosta (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Heath Fillmyer (3-1, 3.79 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:40 PM.
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California League Stories from May 17, 2016
- Ports May 17th-May 23rd Homestand Preview - Stockton Ports
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Road Trip Continues in Stockton - San Jose Giants
- Stockton Earns Series Split with 8-4 Win - Stockton Ports
- Marathon 9-Inning Game Ends in Defeat - Bakersfield Blaze
- Ritchie, JetHawks Get Rich in Rout of Storm - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Bats Stymied in 3-1 Loss to Nuts - San Jose Giants
- Early Offense Backs Almonte in 3-1 Win - Modesto Nuts
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