CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Complete Four-Game Sweep of Lancaster

Published on June 9, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE - Devin Harris hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. The win improves San Jose's record to a league-best 39-24 as the Giants earn a four-game series sweep of the South Division leading JetHawks.

In addition to Harris' (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) key double, Mac Williamson (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, SB) hit his ninth home run of the season to help lead the offensive attack. Bobby Haney (2-for-4, RBI) and Chris Lofton (2-for-4) also finished with two hits apiece.

Lancaster scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 3-3 before the Giants immediately reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame. Brock Bond led off by getting hit by a pitch on an 0-2 offering from JetHawks reliever Brady Rodgers. Lofton then reached on a bunt single to put runners on first and second. After Angel Villalona struck out, Harris grounded the ninth pitch of his at-bat down the left field line for a double. The hit scored both Bond and Lofton to give San Jose a 5-3 lead.

Luis Rojas (6-3) was credited with the win out of the bullpen despite allowing two inherited runners to score in the top of the seventh. Rojas officially threw 2/3 of an inning without allowing a run.

Bryce Bandilla (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) struck out two in a perfect top of the eighth to maintain the two-run advantage before Josh Osich (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) needed just six pitches to cruise through a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Osich picked-up his seventh save of the season.

Eric Surkamp started on the mound for the Giants in the second appearance of his rehabilitation assignment. Surkamp worked two-plus innings with one run and one hit allowed. The left-hander walked one, struck out two and threw 42 pitches.

San Jose initially took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Williamson led off with a single before stealing second. After back-to-back strikeouts of the next two hitters, Haney lined a single into right to plate Williamson with the first run of the game.

Surkamp kept the JetHawks off the scoreboard over the first two innings tossing a 1-2-3 top of the first before pitching around a two-out single in the second. In the third, Surkamp issued a leadoff walk to Matt Duffy to end his outing. Jason Forjet was summoned from the bullpen and he walked Delino DeShields with one out before Joe Sclafani singled to load the bases. Andrew Aplin then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Duffy with the tying run. Forjet did limit the damage in the inning retiring Preston Tucker on a fly out to the warning track in right with the bases loaded to end the top of the third.

The Giants moved back in front in the bottom of the fourth as Villalona led off with a single before taking second on a wild pitch. Then with one out, Williamson crushed a two-run homer to left for a 3-1 advantage.

Meanwhile, Forjet fired scoreless fourth, fifth and sixth innings retiring eight out of the 10 batters in the process. Lancaster though rallied in the top of the seventh as Tyler Heineman walked to leadoff before a one-out walk to Chris Epps prompted a pitching change. Rojas entered the game and induced DeShields to ground into a force out. However, a wild pitch advanced the tying run, DeShields, into scoring position before Sclafani lined a two-RBI single into right to make it 3-3. Rojas did recover to set down the next batter, Aplin, on a groundout to end the inning before San Jose took back the lead in the bottom of the frame.

Rodgers (5-3) suffered the loss for the JetHawks after he was charged with two runs (both earned) on four hits over three innings of relief.

Notes: San Jose earned their first home series sweep of the season ... It was also the Giants' first four-game sweep of the year ... San Jose outscored Lancaster 28-10 in the four games ... Williamson extended his hitting streak to eight games ... Williamson finished the series 8-for-14 with two home runs and 10 RBI's ... The Giants out-hit the JetHawks 10-5 ... Forjet allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits over 4 1/3 innings of long relief ... He walked four and struck out none ... Harris has 16 doubles and 38 RBI's this season - tied with Villalona for the team-lead in both categories ... San Jose has seven games remaining in the first half ... The Giants entered Sunday with a three-game lead over Stockton and Visalia for first place in the North Division.

On Deck: The Giants continue their homestand on Monday evening with the opener of a three-game series versus the Modesto Nuts. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Kelvin Marte (2-2, 3.79 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Dan Winkler (8-2, 2.45 ERA). Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.

Check out the San Jose Giants Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



California League Stories from June 9, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central