CalL1 San Jose Giants

Bickford Brilliant in Debut, Giants Win 5-3

Published on June 19, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - Phil Bickford struck out 13 over six dominant innings to win his California League debut in a 5-3 Giants victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Four San Jose pitchers combined to record 18 strikeouts in the contest as the Giants (39-30) earned a split of the four-game series.

Bickford (1-0) surrendered just two singles and two runs during his six-inning performance to pick-up the win. The right-hander, who was added to the roster from Augusta (A) earlier Sunday, walked none and retired 18 out of the 21 batters he faced. Bickford struck out eight consecutive Quakes hitters at one point during his start.

San Francisco Giants reliever Sergio Romo (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) threw a scoreless top of the seventh out of the bullpen in the continuation of his rehabilitation assignment. Reyes Moronta (1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) allowed a single run in the top of the eighth, but stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base to keep San Jose ahead. Rodolfo Martinez (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 S) then worked a perfect top of the ninth inning for his league-leading 20th save of the season.

Ty Ross (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Chris Shaw (2-for-2) had two hits apiece to lead the Giants offensively. Jonah Arenado (1-for-4, HR, RBI) added a solo home run to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Bickford began his start with three perfect innings collecting a total of eight strikeouts. Tim Locastro's one-out fly out to right was the only Rancho Cucamonga batter to put the ball in play in the opening three frames. Bickford notched three straight swinging strikeouts in a perfect top of the second before accomplishing the same feat in the third.

With the game still scoreless, the Quakes broke through against Bickford in the top of the fourth. After Erick Mejia fanned to start the inning for Bickford's eight straight strikeout, Locastro was hit by a pitch. Devan Ahart then singled before Matt Beaty also singled to bring home Locastro with the first run of the contest. Edwin Rios followed with a sacrifice fly to center plating Ahart for a 2-0 Rancho Cucamonga advantage.

San Jose managed only one hit over the first three innings - a Shaw single in the bottom of the second - before erupting in the fourth. Consecutive singles from Ronnie Jebavy and Steven Duggar began the frame to put runners on the corners with none out. Arenado then struck out, but a walk to Shaw loaded the bases. Brandon Bednar was up next and singled into shallow right to score Jebavy with the first Giants run of the day. Ross followed with a sharp grounder through the hole on the right side scoring both Duggar and Shaw to make it 3-2 San Jose. Daniel Carbonell then completed the fourth-inning scoring with a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 Giants cushion.

Bickford then breezed through the remainder of his outing. The right-hander struck out one in a perfect top of the fifth before two more punchouts in a 1-2-3 sixth inning to maintain the 4-2 lead. Bickford retired eight hitters in a row to end his start.

In the seventh, Romo surrendered a one-out double to Rios, but recovered with back-to-back swinging strikeouts of Johan Mieses and Michael Ahmed to end the inning.

With the score still 4-2, Moronta took the mound in the eighth. A one-out single from Joey Curletta and a two-out single off the bat of Locastro put runners on first and second. Ahart then lined a single into left to score Curletta trimming the Giants lead to 4-3. Moronta though prevented further damage when he retired Beaty on a 3-2 groundout to second.

In the bottom of the eighth, Arenado launched a towering solo homer to left off of Rancho Cucamonga reliever Bubby Rossman. The home run, Arenado's seventh of the season, extended the San Jose lead to 5-3.

Martinez then closed it out in the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame. The Giants closer notched consecutive strikeouts of Rios and Mieses before Ahmed flied out to right to end the game.

Quakes starter Andrew Sopko (7-1) suffered his first loss of the season after yielding four runs (all earned) on five hits over five innings. The All-Star right-hander walked one and struck out five.

Notes:

* The Giants went 4-3 on their homestand.

* San Jose is 39-30 overall this season. Officially, the Giants still have one first half game remaining on July 14 in Lancaster. The second game of the doubleheader on 7/14 will count towards the first half standings (make-up for the April 10 rainout at Municipal Stadium).

* Arenado matched the longest hit streak by a San Jose player this season (Jebavy).

* Bickford was 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts for Augusta this year before his promotion. His 13 strikeouts on Sunday is the highest total by a Giants pitcher in a game this season.

* The Giants out-hit the Quakes 8-6.

* With Sunday's loss, Rancho Cucamonga (42-28) was eliminated from first half South Division title contention. The Quakes entered the day one game behind High Desert.

* Moronta was added to the California League All-Star team earlier Sunday. Moronta (2.40 ERA) will be one of four San Jose players along with C.J Hinojosa, Shaw and Martinez that will participate in the California-Carolina League All-Star Game on Tuesday in Lake Elsinore.

On Deck: San Jose will now enjoy a three-day All-Star break before opening the second half in Stockton. The Giants and Ports begin a four-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:10 PM. D.J. Snelten (3-5, 4.55 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose. The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.

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California League Stories from June 19, 2016


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