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CalL San Jose Giants

Giants Bounce Back Offensively In 7-4 Win Over Nuts

July 3, 2022 - California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


The San Jose Giants shook off a sluggish start to the series offensively against Modesto with a seven-run, 10-hit output on Saturday night en route to a 7-4 victory over the Nuts at Excite Ballpark. The Giants (45-29, 5-3 second half) had been held to a total of only six runs over the first four games this week, including getting shutout on Friday before bouncing back at the plate Saturday evening to claim their second win of the series.

Riley Mahan (2-for-4, 2 RBI) had a pair of RBI singles, Grant McCray (1-for-3, 3B, RBI) hit a key run-scoring triple while Carter Williams (1-for-3, 2 RBI) drove in two to lead the way offensively. On the mound, five San Jose pitchers, led by starter Joe Kemlage in his California League debut, combined to record 13 strikeouts.

Kemlage, who was added to the Giants roster earlier in the week from the Arizona Complex League (Rookie-level), began the contest with two scoreless innings setting down six of the first seven Modesto hitters. Sam Jose then rallied for two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead. Victor Bericoto led off the inning with a double and immediately scored when the next batter, Mahan, grounded a single up the middle.

Later in the frame, Garrett Frechette singled with one out before a walk to Hayden Cantrelle loaded the bases. Rayner Santana then hit a sacrifice fly to right plating Mahan for a 2-0 advantage.

Kemlage put up another zero in the third striking out three hitters as he pitched around a one-out double and a two-out walk. The Giants then added to their lead with a single tally in the bottom of the inning. Williams walked with one out before Bericoto singled for his second hit of the night. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Mahan grounded a single into right plating Williams to make it 3-0.

The Nuts scored once in the top of the fourth to knock Kemlage out of the game, but couldn't add on in the inning thanks to stellar relief work from John Gavin. Robert Perez Jr. led off with a double before Walking Cabrera singled to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly to deep center from David Sheaffer brought home Perez Jr. to cut the San Jose lead to 3-1. After Kemlage walked Colin Davis, Gavin was summoned from the bullpen. Brett Rodriguez was up next and he grounded out weakly to third for the second out as the runners advanced to second and third. Gavin then retired Amador Arias on a pop out as Modesto left the potential tying runs in scoring position.

The Giants then came right back with a two-run bottom of the fourth on a pair of two-out RBI extra-base hits. With Cantrelle at first and two down, McCray hit an RBI triple off the left field wall for a 4-1 cushion. It was McCray's league-leading eighth triple of the season.

Arteaga then stepped to the plate and smashed a double off the fence in left as McCray scored to make it 5-1. The double was Arteaga's 22nd of the year - just one off the California League lead.

After Gavin breezed through a scoreless top of the fifth and JJ Santa Cruz kept the Nuts off the board in the top of the sixth, San Jose added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, McCray was hit by a pitch before Arteaga singled. Williams then came up and singled into left to plate McCray for a 6-1 advantage.

Modesto answered with two runs in the seventh and another run in the eighth to pull within 6-4, but would get no closer. In the seventh, Jonatan Clase hit a one-out double off of Santa Cruz and then with Spencer Bivens on the mound, back-to-back wild pitches allowed the run to score. A walk and an HBP later put two runners on with two outs before Cabrera's grounder to shortstop was thrown away by Arteaga for an error to plate another run. Bivens though would register a key strikeout of the next hitter, Sheaffer, to retire the side and leave two runners on base.

In the top of the eighth, Arias connected for a two-out solo home run to left off of Bivens to make it a 6-4 game. Clase followed with a single to bring the tying run to the plate, but Bivens came back to set down Edwin Arroyo, the league leader in hits, on a fly out to left.

The Giants scored their seventh and final run of the evening in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Santana walked, McCray was hit by a pitch again and Arteaga walked to load the bases. Williams then hit a sacrifice fly to left for a 7-4 San Jose lead.

Hunter Dula then tossed a 1-2-3 top of the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to seal the victory. Dula earned his fourth save of the season.

GIANTS NOTES

At The Plate: The Giants hit only .167 as a team and were 2-for-30 with runners in scoring position through the first four games of the series against Modesto prior to Saturday's triumph. San Jose went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position on Saturday. The seven-run output also marked the Giants' highest scoring game versus the Nuts at Excite Ballpark this season (4-7 record).

Kemlage's Start: Joe Kemlage pitched 3 1/3 innings in his start with only one run allowed. The left-hander surrendered four hits, walked two and struck out six during his 73-pitch outing. Kemlage had thrown 16 scoreless innings in the AZ Complex League this season prior to joining San Jose.

Gavin & Santa Cruz Return: John Gavin and JJ Santa Cruz made their returns to San Jose on Saturday. Both are coming back from arm injuries after each previously pitched with the SJ Giants during the 2019 season. Gavin was credited with the win after tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings with no hits allowed and one strikeout. Santa Cruz worked 1 1/3 innings in his outing with one run surrendered and one strikeout. Both hurlers were added to San Jose's roster earlier in the week from the AZ Complex League.

On Deck: The Giants and Nuts conclude their six-game series on Sunday evening with first pitch at Excite Ballpark set for 6:30 PM. Manuel Mercedes is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher.

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