CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Conclude Regular Season With 6-4 Victory

Published on September 1, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Tyler Graham homered and Sharlon Schoop collected three RBI's to lead the San Jose Giants to a 6-4 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Monday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. In the final game of the regular season, the Giants scored six consecutive runs after initially falling behind by a 2-0 margin. With the victory, San Jose finishes the season with an 85-55 overall record - tops in the California League.

Brett Pill (3-for-4, 2B, RBI), Graham (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, SB), Schoop (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI) and Brad Boyer (2-for-4) each finished with more than one hit for the Giants. San Jose and Lancaster each rapped out 11 hits in the contest.

Steve Edlefsen (8-5) was credited with the victory after firing 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Dan Otero earned his 16th save with the Giants after holding the JetHawks off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth.

With San Jose trailing by a 2-0 score, Darren Ford began the fifth-inning rally by drawing a two-out walk. Graham then stepped to the plate and belted a 1-1 pitch from Felix Doubront over the fence in left center field for a two-run homer. The home run, Graham's second of the season, tied the score at 2-2.

The Giants took their first lead of the game with a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Consecutive one-out singles from Pill and Bobby Felmy put runners on first and second before Schoop grounded an RBI single up the middle.

San Jose added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Boyer singled before Pill delivered a two-out, RBI double to make it a 4-2 game. After Felmy drew a walk, Schoop hammered a double into the left field corner to score two more runs for a 6-2 advantage.

Lancaster cut into the Giants lead with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Joe Paterson allowed a leadoff single to Yamaico Navarro before a two-out hit by a pitch of Zak Farkes. Craig Whitaker was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly allowed back-to-back singles to score one run. Then with Reid Engel at the plate, Whitaker uncorked a wild pitch to plate Farkes bringing the JetHawks to within 6-4. Whitaker though did settle down inducing Engel to ground out on a routine play at first base stranding the potential tying run at second base.

Otero surrendered a one-out double to Ryan Kalish in the ninth inning, but recovered to set down the next two hitters, Navarro and Michael Jones, on fly outs to left field sealing the San Jose victory.

Daryl Maday started on the mound for the Giants and struck out nine batters with no walks over five effective innings. Maday surrendered six hits and two runs (both earned). The right-hander struck out at least one hitter in all five of his innings.

Farkes gave the JetHawks an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the top of the second inning. In the third, Aaron Reza led off with a double, but Maday struck out the next three hitters to retire the side. Farkes brought home Lancaster's second run when he singled off the third base bag with two outs. In the fifth, a pair of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs, but Maday then struck out Jones on three pitches to keep the deficit at 2-0.

Edlefsen relieved Maday to begin the sixth and retired five hitters in a row before Nava singled with two outs in the top of the seventh. Paterson was then brought into pitch and he struck out Kalish to maintain a 3-2 Giants lead.

Notes: The 85 wins is tied for fourth-most in the 21-year history of the San Jose Giants ... San Jose finishes the regular season with the lowest ERA in the California League at 3.26 ... The Giants are also tied for second in batting average (.278) and first in fielding percentage (.974) ... San Jose pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and no walks on Monday ... Otero finishes the regular season with 34 overall saves - second in minor league baseball (35) ... Graham stole his 47th base of the year, but ends the regular season second in the California League ... The Giants honored Matt Downs (.304 AVG, 17 HR, 75 RBI) as their team MVP in a ceremony before the game ... San Jose completes the regular season with a total attendance figure of 183,788 fans (2,625 per game) - a franchise record.

On Deck: The Giants will enjoy the next four days off before opening the postseason with Game One of the best-of-five North Division Series on Saturday. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. San Jose will play the winner of the North Mini-Series between the Modesto Nuts and Stockton Ports. Saturday's game features a spectacular post-game fireworks show presented by Blue Shield. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from September 1, 2008


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