CalL1 San Jose Giants

Brett Pill's Grand Slam Sparks 8-2 Giants Victory

Published on July 31, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Brett Pill hit a grand slam as part of a six-run bottom of the third inning to lead the San Jose Giants to an 8-2 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Andy D'Alessio added three hits while Clayton Tanner earned the win on the mound with six effective innings of work. The victory completed a four-game series sweep for the Giants and was San Jose's fifth win in a row overall. The Giants now own a 66-44 overall record - tops in the California League.

Tanner (6-7) notched his first win since June 3 after scattering seven hits and allowing two runs (both earned). The left-hander struck out four and walked none during his 87-pitch performance.

With the Giants ahead by a 2-1 margin, Sharlon Schoop led off the third-inning rally by reaching on a throwing error committed by Quakes starting pitcher Michael Anton. After a walk to Darren Ford, Brad Boyer advanced the runners to second and third base with a sacrifice bunt. Anton then walked Matt Downs to load the bases before D'Alessio lined a single into left field to score Schoop with the first run of the frame. Pill then stepped to the plate and lined a 2-0 pitch from Anton over the fence in left center field for a grand slam. The home run, Pill's ninth of the year, extended the San Jose lead to 7-1.

Bobby Felmy followed the grand slam with a double to the gap in right center field and immediately scored when the next hitter, Mike McBryde, blooped a single into shallow right. The Giants sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third, striking for six runs on four hits.

Tanner pitched out of a jam in the top of the fourth as Rancho Cucamonga put runners on second and third with one out. C.J. Bressoud though flied out to shallow left field before Efran Navarro lined out to right ending the threat.

In the fifth, Anderson Rosario led off with a double before eventually scoring on Abel Nieves' two-out single. The hit brought the Quakes to within 8-2 and neither team would score a run for the remainder of the contest.

Tanner held Rancho Cucamonga off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth before giving way to Craig Whitaker out of the bullpen to begin the seventh. Whitaker (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 SO) loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, but Juan Trinidad kept the six-run lead intact when he entered the game and induced Rosario to pop out to shortstop. Trinidad (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) then pitched through a leadoff walk in the ninth to seal the Giants victory.

San Jose initially jumped in front with a single run in the bottom of the first. With one out, Boyer clubbed a triple to the right center field gap before scoring on Downs' sacrifice fly to right.

The Quakes tied the game in the top of the second when Bressoud scored Ryan Mount from third base with a two-out bloop single into shallow right field. But in the bottom of the frame, Felmy doubled to the fence in right center with one out and scored the go-ahead run when Jackson Williams grounded a two-out single up the middle.

D'Alessio (3-for-4, RBI), Boyer (2-for-4, 2B, 3B) and Felmy (2-for-4, 2 2B) each finished with multiple-hit games for the Giants.

Notes: San Jose finished July with a 15-14 record ... The Giants have posted four consecutive winning months to begin the season ... In addition to having won five straight overall, San Jose has also claimed seven victories in their last eight games ... D'Alessio finished the four-game series with nine hits in 16 at-bats (.563 AVG) and four RBI's ... Boyer raised his California League batting average to .361 ... Pill's grand slam was the first at home this season for the Giants ... San Jose's only other grand slam was Schoop's on May 17 at Stockton (9-7 loss) ... The Giants are 6-1 against Rancho Cucamonga this season (all games at Municipal Stadium).

On Deck: The Giants continue their homestand on Friday night with the opener of a three-game series against the Modesto Nuts. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. Kevin Pucetas (8-0, 2.56 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Jhoulys Chacin (5-1, 2.23 ERA). It's a KFOX Family Friday and Raider Nation Night at the ballpark. Fans that wear Raiders gear will receive a free ticket to the game. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from July 31, 2008


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