Four-Run Second Inning Enough For Giants In 5-3 Win
Published on April 26, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Thomas Neal homered and Buster Posey delivered a key two-out double in a four-run top of the second leading the San Jose Giants to a 5-3 victory over the High Desert Mavericks on Saturday night at Stater Bros. Stadium. Neal connected for a two-run homer early in the frame before Posey drove home two more runs with a double while the Giants pitching staff would maintain the lead for the remainder of the contest. With the win, San Jose has taken two out of the first three games in the series and improves their overall record to 12-5.
Oliver Odle (1-1) was credited with his first victory of the season after striking out a season-high eight batters over six innings. Odle allowed only two runs (one earned) on five hits while issuing just one walk. Daniel Turpen followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings before Edwin Quirarte worked out of tight situations in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his third save of the year.
With the game scoreless, Michael Ambort led off the top of the second inning for the Giants with an infield single to third base. After Mavericks starting pitcher J.C. Ramirez retired Roger Kieschnick on a ground out, Neal stepped to the plate and crushed a 1-1 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field. The home run, which sailed well over 400 feet, was Neal's third of the season.
Consecutive singles from the next two hitters, Shane Jordan and Brandon Crawford, put runners on the corners before Posey lined a two-out, two-RBI double to the fence in right field extending the San Jose lead to 4-0.
High Desert quickly responded against Odle in the bottom of the second inning when Travis Scott belted a two-out, solo homer to deep right center field. Then in the third, Tyson Gillies doubled with one out before eventually scoring on Ambort's throwing error at first base.
Odle though recovered to not allow a run for the remainder of his outing. The right-hander struck out five over the next three innings and set down seven of the last eight batters he faced.
The Giants plated their final run of the evening in the top of the sixth inning as Jordan led off with a walk, stole second base and scored on Nick Noonan's line drive single into right field.
Turpen entered the contest to begin the bottom of the seventh and worked through a two-out single in his first inning on the mound. In the eighth, Turpen quickly retired the first two High Desert batters before consecutive singles from Ian Bladergroen and Alex Liddi put runners on first and second. Quirarte was then brought into pitch, but he promptly allowed an infield single to Joe Dunigan to load the bases and bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, Quirarte easily retired Scott on a high pop out to shortstop ending the threat.
In the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Peguero led off by drawing a walk before consecutive ground outs from the next two hitters advanced the runner to third base. Quirarte then induced Edilio Colina to hit a grounder to Conor Gillaspie, but the San Jose third baseman mishandled the ball for an error allowing Peguero to score and bring the potential tying run to the plate. Jamie McOwen was up next, but the Mavericks' #3 hitter lifted a routine fly ball to shallow left field that was caught by Neal to end the game.
Crawford (3-for-4) led the 11-hit Giants offensive attack on Saturday. Posey (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Ambort (2-for-4) also finished with more than one hit.
Notes: Odle's eight strikeouts were the most for any San Jose pitcher in a game this season ... Quirarte had retired the first 12 batters he had faced this season before allowing the eighth-inning infield single to Dunigan ... The Giants closer is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities while maintaining a perfect 0.00 ERA (5 1/3 IP) ... San Jose out-hit High Desert by an 11-9 margin ... Kieschnick (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to seven games with an infield single in the top of the fifth ... Neal has homered twice in the first three games of the series ... The Giants pitching staff lowered their team ERA to 3.24 - tops in the California League ... Ramirez (2-1), who entered the game with the fifth-lowest ERA in the league, suffered the loss for High Desert after surrendering four runs (all earned) on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.
On Deck: The Giants and Mavericks conclude this four-game series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at Stater Bros. Stadium scheduled for 3:05 PM. Clayton Tanner (1-0, 4.32 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while High Desert is expected to counter with Donnie Hume (1-0, 2.57 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from April 26, 2009
- Four-Run Second Inning Enough For Giants In 5-3 Win - San Jose Giants
- Not Quite As Dramatic, But JetHawks Win Second Straight - Lancaster JetHawks
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