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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Begin Final Homestand With 4-2 Victory

August 25, 2009 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Kyle Nicholson tossed 6 2/3 innings with no earned runs allowed and Roger Kieschnick collected a pair of RBI's to give him 101 on the season as the San Jose opened their final homestand of the regular season with a 4-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium. Nick Noonan drove home the go-ahead run in the bottom of sixth inning with a sacrifice fly while Daniel Turpen earned the save after setting down the last seven Rawhide batters that came to the plate. The victory improves San Jose's overall record to 82-45.

Nicholson (3-0) was credited with the win on the mound to maintain a perfect record since joining the Giants. The right-hander allowed five hits and two unearned runs while walking two and striking out four. Turpen picked-up his sixth save of the year with 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief. The San Jose reliever struck out four, including 2009 National League All-Star Justin Upton, who represented the potential tying run, to end the top of the seventh inning.

Tyler Graham (2-for-4, SB) was the lone Giants player to finish with more than one hit in the contest. San Jose out-hit Visalia by an 8-5 margin.

Kieschnick (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) collected his 100th RBI of the season with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the first inning. He was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Kieschnick became the fourth player in San Jose Giants history (1988-2009) to record 100 RBI's in a season.

With the game tied 2-2, Brian Bocock led off the bottom of the sixth inning by drawing a walk. Nestor Rojas followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt, however Bocock was thrown out at second base by pitcher Matt Elliott. Rojas was safe on a fielder's choice before Graham singled to put runners on first and second. Darren Ford then drew a walk loading the bases to bring the Noonan to the plate. Noonan came through with the go-ahead RBI as he lifted a fly ball to left field that was caught for the second out as Rojas easily scored to make it 3-2.

The Giants continued the rally after Noonan's sacrifice fly as Thomas Neal drew a walk to again load the bases before Kieschnick was hit by a pitch to force home another run.

Nicholson returned to the mound in the top of the seventh inning and allowed a two-out single to Taylor Harbin prompting a pitching change as Turpen was summoned from the bullpen. Upton, who was playing in the first game of his rehabilitation assignment, was the next hitter and Turpen struck him out looking to end the inning.

Turpen struck out side in a perfect top of the eighth inning before retiring all three batters that he faced in the ninth to seal the victory.

San Jose initially took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Ford led off by reaching on an error and was standing at third base with two outs when Kieschnick hammered an RBI double off the fence in left center field. David Maroul followed with a line drive single off the fence in left plating Kieschnick to score the second run of the frame.

Visalia battled back with single runs in the third and sixth innings against Nicholson. In the top of the third, Brendan Duffy reached on an error with one out before a walk and a hit by pitch of the next two hitters loaded the bases. Upton followed with a fielder's choice ground out to shortstop bringing home Duffy to cut the Giants lead in half.

In the sixth, Nicholson allowed another unearned run as James Skelton singled with one out before Konrad Schmidt hit a ground ball to third base. On the play though, Conor Gillaspie threw wildly to second in an attempt to force out Skelton as the ball rolled into right field. The error allowed Skelton to advance to third before he scored on Kyle Greene's two-out ground ball single up the middle.

Notes: The Giants are 31-7 in their last 38 home games dating back to June 5 ... Mark Leonard (118, 1988), Rich Aldrete (108, 1988) and Sean McGowan (106, 2000) are the other three players in San Jose Giants history that reached the 100 RBI mark ... Gillaspie (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to nine games ... Ford (1-for-2, SB) and Noonan (1-for-4, RBI) both extended their hitting streaks to eight games ... Nicholson lowered his ERA to 2.89 with the Giants ... Upton finished 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts ... San Jose (40-17) maintained an eight-game lead over the Stockton Ports (32-25) for top spot in the second half North Division race ... Only 13 games remain in the regular season.

On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide continue their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Oliver Odle (7-10, 5.24 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Wade Miley (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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