CalL1 San Jose Giants

Early Offense Keys 9-1 Giants Victory

July 27, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


BAKERSFIELD, CA - The San Jose Giants scored eight runs over the first three innings en route to a 9-1 thrashing of the Bakersfield Blaze on Sunday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Brandon Bednar and Angel Villalona each homered in the win as the Giants (49-50) earned a split of the four-game series. San Jose has now won 15 out of their last 18 games overall.

Bednar (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) smacked a key three-run homer during the Giants' five-run outburst in the top of the third inning to lead the way offensively. Villalona (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) added three hits, including a late solo shot. Jeff Kobernus (3-for-4), Christian Arroyo (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Brian Ragira (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) also finished with multi-hit games for San Jose.

Chase Johnson (7-3) picked-up the win after limiting the Blaze to a single run over 6 2/3 innings. Johnson surrendered just four hits, walked two and struck out seven during his 103-pitch performance. Dan Slania (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Ian Gardeck (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) then combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to finish the contest.

The Giants immediately jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a single run in the top of the first against Bakersfield starter Brett Ash. With one out, Arroyo laced a double into right field corner and then scored when Villalona grounded a two-out single into right.

Arroyo then delivered a clutch two-out hit in the top of the second to extend the San Jose lead to 3-0. With one out, Seth Harrison reached on a fielding error committed by Blaze shortstop Rayder Ascanio. Bednar then singled to put runners on first and second before a two-out walk to Kobernus loaded the bases. Arroyo was up next and he lined the first pitch of his at-bat into center field for a single plating both Harrison and Bednar.

The Giants then exploded for five runs in the top of the third to break the game open. The first five batters of the inning reached base against Ash with all five coming home to score. Villalona led off with a single to deep left center before Tyler Horan drew a walk. Ragira then doubled down the right field line to score Villalona with the first run of the inning. Harrison followed with a grounder through the hole on the left side bringing home Horan to make it 5-0. Bednar then launched a high fly ball down the left field line that sailed over the fence for a three-run homer. The home run, Bednar's second of the season, pushed the lead to 8-0.

Meanwhile, Johnson faced the minimum nine hitters over the first three innings. Bakersfield's only baserunner in the first three frames was a bunt single from Ascanio, who was promptly erased on a double play.

The Blaze's lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the fourth. A walk to Aaron Barbosa started the frame before a wild pitch advanced the runner to second. Barbosa was at third base with two down when Johnson uncorked a second wild pitch of the inning allowing the run to score.

Trailing 8-1, Bakersfield threatened in the bottom of the fifth putting runners on the corners with none out. Estarlyn Morales led off with a double before Nelson Ward reached on a bunt single. However, Johnson struck out Ascanio, induced Justin Seager to pop out and then retired Daniel Torres on a groundout to end the inning.

Johnson cruised through a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth and had set down six straight hitters until Burt Reynolds walked to leadoff the bottom of the seventh. Morales followed with a single to put runners on first and second with none out, but Johnson recovered to retire Ward on a fly out before Ascanio struck out. Slania was summoned from the bullpen and he walked to Seager to load the bases, but then induced Torres to fly out to retire the side.

Slania struck out three batters in the bottom of the eighth to pitch around a single and an error before Villalona capped the scoring for the night with a towering solo home run to left in the top of the ninth. Gardeck then went 3 up, 3 down in the bottom of the ninth inning to seal the victory.

Ash (4-7), who entered the game with the fourth-lowest ERA in the league (3.15), suffered the loss for the Blaze. The right-hander was charged with eight runs (six earned) on nine hits over 2 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Notes:

* Sunday's win was San Jose's largest margin of victory in a road game this season.

* The Giants out-hit the Blaze 13-5.

* San Jose was 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position compared to 1-for-11 for Bakersfield.

* Over his last five starts, Johnson is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA (4 ER/31.0 IP).

* Villalona has hit seven home runs in 28 games with the Giants this season. Sunday was his 30th career home run with the San Jose Giants.

* The Giants boast a 2.12 team ERA over their last 18 games (15-3 record).

* Arroyo's double was his 20th of the season (in 53 games).

* San Jose (19-10) remained one game behind Modesto (20-9) in the second half North Division race.

On Deck: The Giants continue their road trip on Monday evening with the opener of a three-game series against the Visalia Rawhide. First pitch at Recreation Park is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jose Reyes (1-4, 9.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Blake Perry (7-3, 4.62 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:30 PM.

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