Bullpen Shines In Third Straight Win Over Fresno
June 18, 2022 - California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release
The San Jose Giants posted their third straight victory over first-place Fresno this week with a 3-1 win on Friday evening at Excite Ballpark. On a bullpen night for the club, five San Jose hurlers combined on a four-hitter and did not allow a run after the first inning as the Giants remained in contention in the first half North Division race. San Jose (35-26) pulled within four games of the Grizzlies with five to play in the first half.
Yorlis Rodriguez (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and added a solo homer in the eighth to lead the Giants offensively in the victory.
Fresno's only run of the night came in the top of the first inning. Facing Esmerlin Vinicio, who was making his first start of the year, three walks loaded the bases with two outs before Ben Sems was hit by a pitch to force home a run. Vinicio though was able to limit the damage in the inning as he induced the next hitter, Bryant Quijada, to groundout to leave the bases loaded.
Julio Rodriguez relieved Vinicio to begin the top of the second and worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to keep the deficit at 1-0. Rodriguez pitched around a leadoff walk in the second and a one-out double in the top of the third.
San Jose then scratched across a run in the bottom of the third to tie the game 1-1. Hayden Cantrelle walked with one out to start the rally. After Cantrelle stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, Grant McCray drew a walk. McCray then stole second before Aeverson Arteaga lined out sharply to second base for the second out of the inning. Vaun Brown was up next and his grounder to third was misplayed by Warming Bernabel for an error allowing Cantrelle to score bringing the Giants even.
Evan Gates then took over on the mound in the top of the fourth for San Jose and fired three shutout innings. Gates surrendered only one hit - a two-out single in the top of the fourth - during his impressive relief stint. The right-hander walked none, struck out one and retired the final six batters he faced.
The game was still tied 1-1 until the Giants pushed across a single run in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Victor Bericoto led off the inning with a double when Fresno right fielder Juan Guerrero overran a high fly ball down the right field line. Carter Williams then struck out on the 11th pitch of his bat, but was able to reach first safely on a passed ball. Bericoto also moved up to third on the play and then scored the go-ahead run when Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to right.
Spencer Bivens was next for San Jose on the mound and he tossed two scoreless innings over the seventh and eighth to maintain the one-run advantage. Bivens breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to begin his outing. In the eighth, Hunter Goodman singled with one out and then stole second with two down to put the potential tying run into scoring position. Bivens followed with a walk to Sems, but then struck out pinch-hitter Braxton Fulford to retire the side.
Rodriguez then extended the Giants lead to 3-1 when he connected for a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth. It was Rodriguez's fifth homer of the season.
Tyler Myrick slammed the door in the top of the ninth with a perfect inning on a pair of fly outs and a strikeout to seal the San Jose victory.
Evan Gates fired three scoreless innings of relief on Friday night to lower his season ERA to 0.87.
GIANTS NOTES
Bullpen Excels: Friday marked the Giants' first bullpen game of the season. Evan Gates (4-1) was credited with the win with Tyler Myrick earning his team-leading fifth save. The trio of Gates, Spencer Bivens and Myrick combined to retire 15 of the final 17 Fresno batters of the game. The Grizzlies managed only one hit after the fourth inning.
Inside The Box Score: San Jose out-hit Fresno 6-4. The two teams combined for no hits with runners in scoring position (Giants 0-for-12, Grizzlies 0-for-7). Hayden Cantrelle (1-for-2, 3B, SB) hit his second triple in four games with San Jose this season.
First Half Race: Fresno (39-22) still needs only one more victory in the series against the Giants this week to clinch the first half North Division title and secure a playoff berth. San Jose has won the last three games versus Fresno after dropping the series opener on Tuesday.
On Deck: The Giants and Grizzlies continue their series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Excite Ballpark set for 6:00 PM. Seth Lonsway is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher.
California League Stories from June 18, 2022
- Quakes Hold off 66ers on Saturday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Skid in the South Bay: Grizzlies Lose 11-3 to Giants - Fresno Grizzlies
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at San Jose - Fresno Grizzlies
- Bullpen Shines In Third Straight Win Over Fresno - San Jose Giants
- Virbitsky Shines, Ports Edge Rawhide 3-2 - Stockton Ports
- Castillo Dazzles But Fresno Drops Third Straight to San Jose - Fresno Grizzlies
- Quakes Remain Three Back After Tough Home Loss - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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