Bailey's Home Run Lifts Giants to Fifth Straight Win
July 18, 2021 - California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release
Patrick Bailey hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to lift the San Jose Giants to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Modesto Nuts on Saturday evening at John Thurman Field. Bailey's blast came with two outs and it gave the Giants their first lead of the game before Clay Helvey kept the Nuts off the board over the final two innings to secure the win. The victory was San Jose's (42-23) fifth in a row over Modesto to begin the series.
The Giants trailed for the majority of Saturday's contest as the Nuts rallied for three runs in the bottom of the second to put San Jose in an early 3-0 hole. Justin Lavey led off the frame with a single off Giants starter Kyle Harrison. After Cesar Izturis Jr. worked a walk, Eric Jones stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single giving Modesto the lead. Kennie Taylor followed with an RBI single of his own before a two-out passed ball scored another run to make it 3-0.
San Jose scored their first run of the night when Luis Matos lined a solo home run down the left field line in the top of the fourth. The homer, Matos' sixth of the season, brought the Giants to within 3-1.
The Nuts, however, would get the run right back in the bottom of the fourth. Three straight singles from Taylor, Brett Rodriguez and Victor Labrada off reliever Abel Adames loaded the bases with none out. Adames recovered to set down the next two batters on a pop out and a strikeout, but a walk to Matt Scheffler followed forcing home a run to stretch the Modesto lead to 4-1. Adames though came back with a strikeout of Lavey to end the inning and the Nuts would not score again for the remainder of the game.
San Jose chipped away at the deficit in the top of the sixth as Abdiel Layer reached on an error to leadoff before Jimmy Glowenke drew a walk. Luis Toribio followed by grounding into a double play, but Matos then came up and delivered a clutch two-out hit as he singled home Layer to bring the Giants to within 4-2.
Wilkelma Castillo worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for San Jose over the sixth and seventh frames before the Giants staged their dramatic rally in the top of the eighth. With one out, Glowenke was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Toribio struck out, but Matos followed with his fourth hit of the game as he lined a single into left bringing home Glowenke to cut the deficit to 4-3. Bailey was up next and the San Jose catcher crushed a 2-0 pitch from Modesto reliever Juan Mercedes over the wall in deep right for the go-ahead two-run home run. The homer was Bailey's first since joining the team and it gave the Giants a 5-4 lead.
Helvey took over on the mound to begin the bottom of the eighth and had to pitch out of a jam in his first inning of work to keep San Jose ahead. Taylor led off with a single before Rodriguez walked to put the go-ahead run on base. However, Helvey settled down and induced Labrada to ground into a double play and then struck out Marte looking to retire the side.
In the bottom of the ninth, Helvey quickly set down the first two batters on a pair of groundouts before a walk to Lavey put the tying run aboard. Helvey though came back with a strikeout of pinch-hitter Alberto Rodriguez to end the game and secure the Giants' fifth straight win in the series.
GIANTS NOTES
Series Update
The Giants have won the first five games of the series outscoring Modesto by a 51-13 margin. San Jose will attempt to sweep their first six-game series of the season on Sunday.
Bailey's Blast
Patrick Bailey's (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) home run in the top of the eighth traveled an estimated 425 feet. It was Bailey's third homer overall this season after the former first round draft pick went deep twice with High-A Eugene earlier in the year.
Comeback Victory
The Giants won for the fourth time this season when trailing after seven innings in a game (4-16).
Matos' Perfect Night
Luis Matos was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two singles, one double and a home run. He scored twice and collected three RBI's. Three of Matos' four hits drove in runs. He leads the Giants with 73 hits this season and is now batting .304 overall.
On The Mound
Wilkelma Castillo (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 SO) was credited with the win out of the bullpen while Clay Helvey (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) earned his team-leading seventh save of the year. Kyle Harrison pitched 2 2/3 innings in his start with three runs (two earned) allowed. Harrison gave up four hits, walked two and struck out four during his 66-pitch outing.
Playoff Race
The Giants (42-23) increased their lead over Modesto (36-29) to six games for the final playoff spot in the Low-A West race. San Jose is a season-high tying 19 games above .500.
On Deck
The Giants and Nuts conclude their six-game series on Sunday evening with first pitch at John Thurman Field set for 6:05 PM. Prelander Berroa is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher.
California League Stories from July 18, 2021
- Quakes Endure Tough Loss on Sunday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Grizzlies Sweep Twin Bill against Ports to Extend Win Streak to Season-Long 8 Games - Fresno Grizzlies
- Grizzlies Sweep Ports in Twin Bill - Stockton Ports
- Storm Win Home Series against the Rawhide - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Bailey's Home Run Lifts Giants to Fifth Straight Win - San Jose Giants
- Late Blast Sends Nuts to Fifth Straight Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Reclaim First Place with Win - 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.
