Bakersfield Blasts Giants To Even Series
April 17, 2010 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Bakersfield's Engel Beltre finished a double shy of the cycle and hit a grand slam during a six-run third inning to lead the Blaze to an 11-3 victory over the San Jose Giants on Friday evening at Municipal Stadium. Beltre and Tommy Mendonca each rapped out four hits in the contest to lead the Bakersfield offensive attack as the Blaze jumped out to a 10-1 lead after 3 1/2 innings before cruising to the win. The loss snaps San Jose's three-game win streak and drops the Giants' record to 5-3.
San Jose starting pitcher Ari Ronick (0-1) was roughed up for a career-high eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits over three innings of work. The left-hander walked one, struck out two and surrendered three home runs during his stint on the mound.
Brandon Belt (3-for-4, 2B) and Aaron Lowenstein (2-for-4, 2B) each produced multi-hit games at the plate for the Giants in the losing effort.
Bakersfield jumped out to 2-0 lead against Ronick scoring twice in the top of the first before an out was recorded in the inning. Beltre led off the game with a triple to deep right center field before Davis Stoneburner stepped to the plate and belted a two-run homer to left.
The Blaze took control of the contest when they sent all nine of their hitters to the plate in the top of the third. Erik Morrison began the inning with a home run to left extending the Bakersfield lead to 3-0. After David Paisano walked, Mendonca singled to put runners on first and second. Jose Felix followed with a sacrifice bunt and when the catcher Lowenstein threw wildly to third base in an attempt to cut down the lead runner, Paisano raced home with the second run of the frame.
Two batters later, Andres James singled to load the bases and then Beltre crushed the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right for a grand slam and an 8-0 Blaze advantage.
The Giants plated a single run in the bottom of the third inning against Bakersfield starter Carlos Pimentel when Wendell Fairley led off by getting hit by a pitch and then scored on a two-out throwing error committed by Mendonca at third base.
Pimentel (2-0) was credited with the victory on the mound after holding San Jose to a pair of hits and one unearned run over five innings. He walked one and struck out four.
The Giants used only two relievers in the contest as Eric Stolp (4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) relieved Ronick to begin the top of the fourth before Edwin Quirarte (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) worked the last two innings.
San Jose scored their final two runs of the night in the bottom of the eighth as Francisco Peguero reached on a one-out error before Belt singled to put runners on first and second. Juan Perez followed with a double down the left field line to bring home Peguero while Joel Weeks' groundout to shortstop scored Belt to make it 11-3.
California League Stories from April 17, 2010
- Giants Flirt With No-Hitter In 4-1 Victory Over Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Ports Drop Second Straight to Rawhide, 3-2 - Stockton Ports
- Bakersfield Blasts Giants To Even Series - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Bats Go Quiet in 9-1 loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Win Second Straight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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