Giants Defeat Mavericks, Set April Win Record
Published on April 30, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
The San Jose Giants set a team record for victories during the month of April with an 11-8 win over the High Desert Mavericks on Wednesday afternoon at Stater Bros. Stadium. The victory, San Jose's 18th of the month, is the most during the 21-year history of the club. Bobby Felmy and Elio Sarmiento each blasted home runs on Wednesday while Kevin Pucetas earned his team-leading fourth win of the season on the mound. The Giants improved their record to 18-9.
Pablo Sandoval (3-for-4, 3 2B, 2 RBI) and Sarmiento (3-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI) led a 16-hit San Jose offensive attack. Every starter for the Giants recorded at least one hit. Additionally, San Jose stole nine bases - the most for any California League team in a game this season.
The Giants went ahead for good with five runs in the top of the fourth inning against Mavericks starting pitcher Alfredo Venegas. With the score tied 3-3, Felmy led off by reaching on an error before a one-out single from Juan Ciriaco. Mike McBryde followed by reaching on a fielder's choice before stealing second base to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Tyler Graham followed with a sharp single into left field plating both Felmy and McBryde for a 5-3 San Jose advantage.
Graham then stole both second and third base before scoring when Brad Boyer reached on an error. Sandoval then delivered an RBI double off the fence in center field to force a pitching change. Reliever Jose Escalona entered the contest and promptly allowed a single to Ryan Rohlinger scoring Sandoval with the fifth run of the frame.
After High Desert scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Giants responded with consecutive home runs in the fifth. Felmy led off with a towering homer down the right field line for his third round-tripper of the year. Then Sarmiento stepped to the plate and smacked an opposite field home run to deep right center. The blast, Sarmiento's first of the season, extended San Jose's lead to 10-4.
Pucetas worked five innings yielding four runs (all earned) on seven hits. The right-hander walked two and matched a season-high with six strikeouts.
The Mavericks scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings against the Giants bullpen before San Jose plated their final run of the afternoon in the top of the eighth. Graham led off by drawing a walk before Boyer grounded a single into right field to put runners on the corners. Sandoval then scored Graham with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Steve Edlefsen (2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh and then tossed a scoreless eighth inning. However in the ninth, Matt Mangini singled with two outs to score one run. Then on the play, left fielder Dom Duggan mishandled the ball allowing a second run to score and bring High Desert to within 11-8.
Taylor Wilding was summoned into pitch and the Giants closer promptly struck out pinch-hittter Travis Scott to end the game and leave the potential tying run in the on-deck circle. Wilding was credited with his fourth save of the season.
Rohlinger (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Ciriaco (2-for-4, RBI, SB) and McBryde (2-for-5, RBI, 2 SB) also finished with multiple-hit games for San Jose.
Notes: San Jose's previous record for April victories was in 2007 (17-8) ... Graham was activated from the Disabled List prior to Wednesday's game ... Graham, who hit leadoff, was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts ... He now leads the California League with 18 steals (19 attempts) ... Sandoval improved his league-leading batting average to .453 ... Felmy has homered three times in his last six games ... San Jose out-hit High Desert by a 16-15 margin ... The Giants committed four errors ... McBryde and Boyer added two stolen bases each ... Pucetas tied Stockton's Brett Anderson (4-1) for the league-lead in victories ... To make room for Graham on the roster, catcher Tyler LaTorre was sent to Extended Spring Training.
On Deck: The Giants and Mavericks will play the rubber game of this three-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Stater Bros. Stadium scheduled for 7:05 P.M. Ben Snyder (3-0, 1.23 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while High Desert is expected to counter with Nick Hill (0-2, 6.00 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from April 30, 2008
- Lancaster-Rancho Cucamonga Game - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Defeat Mavericks, Set April Win Record - San Jose Giants
- Former JetHawks Star Greg Smith on Today's Clubhouse Show - Lancaster JetHawks
- John Lackey to return to the Epicenter mound on Sunday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Angels Lackey to Start for Quakes on May 4th - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- High Desert Rallies Past Giants, 8-5 - San Jose Giants
- July 4 Fireworks Spectacular Individual Game Tickets On Sale Thursday - Lancaster JetHawks
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