Bocock's Slam Propels Giants To Fourth Straight Win
Published on June 14, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Brian Bocock hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning to lead the San Jose Giants to a 7-3 victory over the Modesto Nuts on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. Angel Villalona also smacked a home run while Craig Craig tossed 5 2/3 effective innings on the mound to remain unbeaten at home this season. The win, San Jose's season-high tying fourth in a row and seventh in their last eight contests, improved the Giants' overall record to 36-26 as they remain two games behind the Visalia Rawhide (38-24) for the top spot in the first half North Division race.
Bocock (1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) connected for San Jose's first grand slam of the season to lead an eight-hit Giants offensive attack. Villalona (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and Thomas Neal (2-for-3) also produced multi-hit games at the plate.
With San Jose trailing by a 1-0 margin, the key bottom of the second inning rally began when Villalona ripped a single past Nuts third baseman Radames Nazario. After Conor Gillaspie drew a walk, Nick Noonan reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Modesto starting pitcher Kenny Durst though recovered to strikeout Darren Ford on three pitches before Tyler Graham bounced into a fielder's choice to third base as Villalona was forced out at home. Bocock was up next and the Giants shortstop crushed a 2-0 pitch from Durst over the fence in deep left center field for a grand slam. The home run, Bocock's second of the season, gave San Jose a 4-1 advantage.
The Giants added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Neal led off with a walk and Buster Posey singled before both runners scored on Roger Kieschnick's line drive double into the right center field gap.
Clark (6-2) was impressive on the mound as the left-hander struck out eight and walked one while allowing just one earned run (three runs total). Clark surrendered a two-out, solo homer to Nazario in the top of the first inning, but did not allow another run until the sixth.
Clark stranded a pair of Modesto baserunners in the second and third frames before working perfect fourth and fifth innings. The San Jose starter had retired nine consecutive hitters - five via the strikeout - until yielding a two-out single to Lars Davis in the top of the sixth. After the following hitter, Maikol Gonzalez, doubled into the right field corner to put runners on second and third, Clark was removed from the game in favor of Wilmin Rodriguez.
The first batter Rodriguez faced, Brian Rike, hit a soft ground ball to Gillaspie at third. However, Gillaspie's throw across the diamond was dropped by Villalona, on his stretch, as the ball rolled into foul territory. The error allowed both Davis and Gonzalez to score bringing the Nuts to within 6-3. Rodriguez did set down the next hitter, Jay Cox, on a routine fly out to left ending the rally.
The Giants scored their final run of the evening in the bottom of the eighth when Villalona laced a one-out, solo homer into the Modesto bullpen over the left field wall. Villalona's ninth home run of the season pushed the San Jose lead up to 7-3.
Rodriguez (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) struck out two hitters in a perfect top of the seventh before Daniel Turpen (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) worked around a one-out double in the eighth. Dan Runzler (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) finished the game out of the Giants bullpen with a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Notes: San Jose's previous four-game winning streak was the first four games of the season from April 9-12 ... Clark is 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts at home this season ... Clark has won his last four starts (5 ER/24.2 IP, 1.82 ERA) ... Durst (2-4) suffered the loss for the Nuts after allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits over six innings ... The home run allowed by Durst was the first surrendered by a Modesto pitcher this month ... Neal extended his hitting streak to nine games ... San Jose out-hit the Nuts by an 8-6 margin ... The Giants moved into a tie with Modesto for second place in the North Division ... Only eight games remain in the first half.
On Deck: The Giants look for a three-game sweep of the Nuts when their series concludes on Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM. Oliver Odle (2-6, 5.86 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Bruce Billings (5-5, 4.03 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
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