Blackburn Pitches Giants to Fourth Straight Win
April 17, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE - Clayton Blackburn struck out nine and allowed just one run over six innings and Elliott Blair hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to lead the San Jose Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Stockton Ports on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. Blackburn and relievers Bryce Bandilla and Josh Osich combined on a four-hitter as San Jose won their fourth consecutive game.
Blackburn (2-0) finished one strikeout shy of matching his career-high as he recorded his second win of the season. The right-hander allowed just four hits and issued one walk during his 82-pitch performance.
Stockton's only run of the night was a solo home run from Antonio Lamas with one out in the top of the first inning.
The Giants immediately tied the game in the bottom of the first as Mac Williamson singled with two outs and scored when the next batter, Ryan Cavan, clubbed an 0-2 pitch into the left center field gap for a double.
San Jose then took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Blair connected for a solo home run to deep left center field. The home run was Blair's second of the season.
Meanwhile, Blackburn pitched around a one-out double off the bat of Josh Whitaker in the top of the second and a single and a walk in the third. Stockton didn't have a runner advance into scoring position after the third inning.
Blackburn had retired eight straight Ports hitters until Max Muncy singled with one out if the top of the sixth. Blackburn though induced Dusty Robinson to ground into a fielder's choice before B.A. Vollmuth struck out to end the inning.
Bandilla (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO) kept Stockton off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth innings to maintain the one-run advantage. He fanned two in a perfect top of the seventh before two more strikeouts in the eighth. Lamas drew a two-out walk in the top of the eighth to put the potential tying run on base, but Muncy followed by grounding out.
Osich (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) then needed just seven pitches to set down the Ports 1-2-3 in the ninth inning. Osich induced three straight fly outs to end the game and pick-up his second save of the season.
Stockton starter Sean Murphy (2-1) suffered his first loss of the year after tossing 6 2/3 innings with two runs (both earned) and seven hits allowed. He walked two and struck out eight.
Cavan (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) was the only San Jose player to finish with more than one hit. The Giants out-hit the Ports by an 8-4 margin.
Notes: San Jose has won five out of their first six games on the current homestand ... Blackburn owns a 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP) through his first three starts of the season ... Bandilla increased his season strikeout total to 21 through nine scoreless innings of relief ... Shawn Payne (1-for-3) extended his hitting streak to seven games with a first-inning double ... Both of Blair's home runs this season have come against the Ports ... The Giants improved their record to 10-3.
On Deck: The Giants will look for a three-game sweep of the Ports when the teams conclude their series on Wednesday night. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Edwin Escobar (0-0, 1.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Tanner Peters (1-0, 4.91 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
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