CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Bullpen Falters In 6-3 Loss To Lake Elsinore

Published on April 22, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


The Lake Elsinore Storm scored five runs in the last two innings against the San Jose bullpen to overcome a deficit and beat the Giants 6-3 on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose carried a 3-1 lead into the top of the eighth before Giants reliever David Mixon allowed three runs in the frame and then Craig Whitaker was tagged for two more runs in the ninth. With the loss, San Jose's overall record drops to 9-4.

Tim Alderson started on the mound for the Giants and fired six effective innings with just one run and three hits allowed. The right-hander walked one and struck out four during his 77-pitch performance.

San Jose relievers Wilmin Rodriguez and Mitch Lively combined to hold the Storm off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning before Mixon struggled in the top of the eighth. Robert Perry led off the inning by drawing a walk before Cole Figueroa advanced the runner to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Lance Zawadzki was up next and the Lake Elsinore designated hitter ripped a two-run homer to center field to tie the game at 3-3.

Felix Carrasco followed the home run with a ground out before Logan Forsythe hammered a double to deep left center field. Yefri Carvajal then singled into center field to easily score Forsythe from second base giving the Storm a 4-3 lead.

The Giants threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning when Trent Kline led off by drawing a walk before Vladimir Frias blooped a single into right field to put runners at first and second. Lake Elsinore then brought in Bryan Oland to pitch and the Storm closer would need just four pitches to get out of the inning and keep his team ahead. Darren Ford was up next and after two strikes on failed bunt attempts, the San Jose leadoff hitter grounded a ball to shortstop that saw Frias forced out at second base. Kline, who represented the potential tying run, did advance to third base on the play.

Brandon Crawford followed with a sharp ground ball to second base that was gloved neatly by Beamer Weems, who started an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

The Storm added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning against Craig Whitaker to move in front by a 6-3 margin. Weems led off by reaching on a fielding error committed Nick Noonan at second base. After Andy Parrino singled to put runners on the corners, Perry struck out swinging. Parrino then stole second base before Figueroa singled home both runners to extend the Lake Elsinore lead.

Oland retired the Giants 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning to seal the Storm victory.

Ford (2-for-4, RBI, SB), Thomas Neal (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Roger Kieschnick (2-for-4, RBI) led the 10-hit Giants offensive attack. San Jose had at least one hitter reach base in every inning except the bottom of the ninth, but left 11 runners on base.

Alderson began his outing by retiring 11 consecutive Lake Elsinore hitters, including four via the strikeout. Zawadzki though then stepped to the plate with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and connected for a solo homer to give the Storm a 1-0 lead.

The Giants quickly answered in the bottom of the fourth inning against Lake Elsinore starting pitcher Cory Luebke. With one out, Gillaspie doubled to center field on a ball lost in the lights by Brad Chalk. Neal followed with an RBI double to deep left center field before the next hitter, Kieschnick, delivered an RBI single to give San Jose their first lead of the contest.

The Giants moved in front 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kieschnick singled with one out and scored on Ford's two-out single into left.

Lake Elsinore threatened in the top of the seventh when Rodriguez allowed consecutive one-out singles before a two-out walk of Weems loaded the bases. Lively then entered the game and retired Parrino on a deep fly out to right center field to temporarily keep the lead with the Giants.

Notes: The victory for Lake Elsinore snapped a 13-game losing streak for the Storm (includes post-season) at Municipal Stadium ... San Jose has still won 23 out of their 25 home games against the Storm dating back to 2005 ... Both clubs finished the evening with 10 hits ... The Giants were just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position ... Rodriguez (2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO), Lively (1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO), Mixon (1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Whitaker (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) all pitched out of the San Jose bullpen ... Mixon (0-1) was charged with the loss.

On Deck: The Giants and Storm will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 12:35 PM. Madison Bumgarner (2-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lake Elsinore is expected to counter with Jeremy McBryde (1-0, 1.80 ERA). Tickets are available by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from April 22, 2009


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