Bandura's Banner Debut Propels Giants Past Grizzlies
Published on August 9, 2023 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release
Scott Bandura hit a go-ahead three-run home run to highlight a perfect night at the plate in his California League debut propelling the Giants to a 10-5 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies on Tuesday evening at Excite Ballpark. In San Jose's return home after a two-week road trip, the Giants twice overcame two-run deficits and never looked back after Bandura's fifth-inning big fly. The series-opening triumph snapped San Jose's (57-46 overall, 17-20 second half) three-game losing streak.
Bandura (3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, SB) also singled twice and walked twice as the newcomer reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances. A seventh round pick out of Princeton in this year's draft, Bandura was added to the Giants' roster from the Arizona Complex League (Rookie-level) before the game on Tuesday. P.J. Hilson (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, SB) and Onil Perez (2-for-4, SB) added two hits apiece while Tanner O'Tremba (1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB) also drove in a pair of runs for San Jose in the victory.
The Giants trailed early as Fresno's EJ Andrews Jr. hit a two-run inside-the-park home run in the top of the second inning off of Nomar Medina to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead. Andrews Jr. belted a towering fly ball that bounced sharply off the left center field fence and managed to round the bases for his 10th homer of the season.
San Jose tied the game, however, with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. A one-out infield single from Turner Hill started the rally before O'Tremba worked a walk. After the duo successfully executed a double steal, Diego Velasquez brought home the first Giants run with an RBI groundout. Perez then reached safely on a throwing error committed by Fresno shortstop Dyan Jorge that allowed O'Tremba to score tying the game 2-2.
The Grizzlies though immediately answered with a two-run top of the fourth. Jesus Bugarin led off the inning with a single before Jake Snider lined a double into the left center gap. On the Snider hit, the left fielder Bandura initially mishandled the ball for an error, which allowed Bugarin to score all the way from first putting Fresno back ahead. The catcher Perez was also charged with an error on the play when he dropped the throw home as Snider was able to take third base. The next batter Kody Huff then reached safely on a throwing error committed by shortstop Cole Foster as Snider scored to make it 4-2 Grizzlies.
The Giants had another quick answer scoring once in the bottom of the fourth to trim the deficit to 4-3. Bandura drew a leadoff walk and Anthony Rodriguez singled to put runners on first and second. Andrew Kachel followed by grounding into a 6-4-3 double play, but Hilson provided a clutch hit with a double into the right field corner as Bandura scored to bring San Jose within a run.
The Giants then took the lead for good on Bandura's blast in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Perez singled before Foster reached on an error. Bandura was up next and he crushed a fly ball to deep left center that was initially ruled as being off the fence for a two-run go-ahead double. However, the umpiring crew deliberated following the play and changed the call to a home run as the ball hit over the fence and bounced back onto the field. The three-run homer put San Jose ahead by a 6-4 margin.
Fresno got one back in the top of the seventh as a leadoff double on a ball lost in the lights followed by a two-out error to score the run cut the Giants lead to 6-5. San Jose though responded with a four-run bottom of the seventh to take control of the game. Perez drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third. After a one-out walk to Bandura put runners on the corners, Rodriguez hit a grounder to third that was misplayed for an error as Perez scored. Hilson then stepped to the plate with two outs and singled home another run to make it 8-5. After a walk to Hill, a two-run single off the bat of O'Tremba pushed the lead to 10-5.
Wilkelma Castillo (3-0) earned the win for the Giants after tossing three strong innings out of the bullpen. Castillo, who entered the game to begin the top of the fifth, allowed only one hit and one unearned run. He walked none and struck out one. Cameron Cotter closed out the game with two scoreless innings. Cotter surrendered two hits, walked one and struck out three. Medina was charged with four runs (three earned) in his four-inning start.
The Giants out-hit the Grizzlies 11-9. San Jose was a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. The two teams combined for nine errors (SJ 5, Fresno 4).
The Giants added four players to their roster from the Arizona Complex League before the game: Bandura, Foster (who started at shortstop) and pitchers Mikell Manzano and Cody Tucker. Bandura and Foster (third round) were both drafted by the San Francisco Giants last month.
Scott Bandura went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI's in his San Jose Giants debut on Tuesday night
The Giants continue their series against Fresno on Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at Excite Ballpark set for 1:00 PM. Mikell Manzano is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher. Visit sjgiants.com for tickets.
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