10th Inning Home Run Drops Giants In First Half Finale
Published on June 16, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Bakersfield's Julio Borbon hit a home run to leadoff the bottom of the 10th inning vaulting the Blaze to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Giants on Sunday afternoon at Sam Lynn Ballpark. In the final game of the first half, Bakersfield scored twice in the eighth inning to draw even before Borbon's blast in the 10th. With the loss, the Giants finished the first half with a 43-27 record - tops in the North Division.
Tim Alderson was spectacular on the mound for San Jose tossing seven scoreless innings to begin the game. The right-hander, who matched a season-high for his longest outing of the year, surrendered just four hits (all singles) with one walk and four strikeouts.
The Giants scored their only two runs of the afternoon in the top of the first inning. With one out, Tyler Graham singled before stealing second base. After Ryan Rohlinger flied out, Andy D'Alessio lined a single into left center field to plate Graham with the first run of the contest. Then after Brett Pill singled, Tyler LaTorre grounded a single through the hole on the right side of the infield scoring D'Alessio for a 2-0 lead.
San Jose out-hit Bakersfield by an 11-7 margin, but stranded nine runners on base and also hit into three inning-ending double plays. Blaze starting pitcher Jared Hyatt scattered 10 hits over seven effective innings of work. Hyatt allowed two runs (both earned) with three walks and three strikeouts. The Giants had at least one hitter reach base in all seven of Hyatt's innings.
Joe Paterson relieved Alderson to begin the bottom of the eighth and promptly allowed an infield single to Chris Gradoville before Marcus Lemon drew a walk to put runners on first and second. After Borbon dropped down a sacrifice bunt, Jose Vallejo grounded out to shortstop scoring Gradoville to cut the Giants lead in half. Taylor Wilding was then summoned from the bullpen and the first batter he faced, Chad Tracy, lined a single into left field to bring home Lemon with the tying run.
In the bottom of the ninth, Wilding issued a leadoff walk before a sacrifice bunt moved the potential winning run to second base. Then after an intentional walk put runners at first and second, Wilding retired Gradoville on a foul pop out before Lemon flied out to center forcing extra innings.
The Giants only managed a two-out walk in the top of the tenth inning as Blaze reliever Jordan Stewart kept the game deadlocked. Borbon then led off the bottom of the frame and hit a 2-2 offering from Wilding - the eighth pitch of the at-bat - over the wall in right center field for a home run. For Borbon, it was his second homer of the season.
Wilding (0-5) suffered the loss after yielding one run on two hits over 1 1/3 innings.
Alderson was sharp throughout his entire outing retiring seven batters in a row after Borbon singled to begin the bottom of the first. Alderson then set down six consecutive batters to end his start. The All-Star selection threw just 79 pitches over his seven innings.
McBryde (2-for-5), Graham (2-for-5, 2B, 2 SB), LaTorre (2-for-3, RBI) and Sharlon Schoop (2-for-4) all finished with multiple-hit games for San Jose.
Notes: The Giants still won two-of-three games in the series ... San Jose suffered their first loss this season at Sam Lynn Ballpark in seven games ... Alderson lowered his ERA to 2.84 - sixth in the California League ... The Giants have now lost eight games this season when leading after seven innings - most in the California League ... Borbon finished 4-for-4 with two stolen bases ... LaTorre, a catcher, made his first start of the season in the outfield (left) ... The Giants rested regulars Pablo Sandoval, Matt Downs and Bobby Felmy after clinching the division crown the previous evening ... San Jose ended the first half one game ahead of the Stockton Ports (42-28) in the North Division.
On Deck: The Giants begin the second half on Monday night with the opener of a three-game series against the Stockton Ports. First pitch at Banner Island Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05 P.M. Henry Sosa (1-1, 2.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Jason Fernandez (6-4, 4.43 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
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- 10th Inning Home Run Drops Giants In First Half Finale - San Jose Giants
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