CalL1 San Jose Giants

Fitzgerald Pitches Giants Past Mavericks, 3-2

Published on July 25, 2010 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Justin Fitzgerald retired 21 consecutive High Desert hitters during a career-high eight-inning start as the San Jose Giants earned a 3-2 victory over the Mavericks on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. Michael Sandoval smacked a go-ahead two-run homer in the second inning before Johnny Monell added a solo shot in the eighth to supply the Giants offense. The win improves San Jose's overall record to 57-43.

Fitzgerald (8-2) limited the Mavericks to a pair of hits and one run during his stint on the mound. The right-hander matched a career-high with eight strikeouts and walked three. Jason Stoffel surrendered a solo home run in the top of the ninth, but stranded the potential tying run at second base to earn his 17th save of the year.

James Simmons (2-for-3) was the only Giants player to finish with a multi-hit game. San Jose out-hit High Desert by a 6-4 margin.

The Mavericks took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Jake Shaffer began the rally with a one-out double to deep right field. After Shaffer advanced to third on a Fitzgerald wild pitch, Dennis Raben bounced out back to the pitcher's mound. Fitzgerald then issued consecutive walks to Eddy Martinez-Esteve and Rich Poythress to load the bases before a four-pitch walk to Johermyn Chavez forced home a run. Fitzgerald did then recover to strikeout Denny Almonte to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Charlie Culberson led off by reaching on a fielding error committed by shortstop Shaver Hansen. Sandoval was up next and he crushed the first pitch of his at-bat well over the fence in left center field for a two-run homer. The home run, Sandoval's second of the year, gave the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Fitzgerald tossed six consecutive perfect innings from the second through the seventh frames and didn't allow another baserunner until Kyle Seager singled with two outs in the top of the eighth. The Giants starter needed fewer than 10 pitches in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh frames. He struck out a pair to end the top of the seventh before two more strikeouts to begin the eighth. After Seager's single, Shaffer grounded out weakly to second base ending Fitzgerald's evening.

Monell gave San Jose a key insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when he lined a 1-0 pitch from reliever Chayne Hann over the wall in right field. The home run was Monell's second of the series and 11th of the year.

Stoffel (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) entered the game to begin the top of the ninth and quickly retired the first two batters before surrendering a solo homer to Poythress as High Desert climbed to within 3-2. Chavez followed with a single while a wild pitch advanced the potential tying run to second base, however Stoffel came back to retire Almonte on a ground out to shortstop ending the game.

Mavericks starter Jon Hesketh (0-3) was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings of work.

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California League Stories from July 25, 2010


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