Giants Drop First Series Since May With 4-3 Defeat
Published on July 30, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
The San Jose Giants suffered their first series loss since May with a 4-3 defeat to the Stockton Ports on Wednesday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. Ports starting pitcher Anthony Capra held the Giants to three hits and two runs over six effective innings while Stockton stole a season-high five bases en route to claiming their second consecutive game of the series. The loss drops San Jose's second half record to 26-8.
Roger Kieschnick (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit his team-leading 21st home run of the season to lead the Giants offensive attack. San Jose attempted a late rally with a single run in the top of the ninth inning, but stranded the potential tying run at second base.
The Ports initially took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs against Giants starter Oliver Odle. Jermaine Mitchell led off with an infield single before stealing second and then advancing to third on Shane Keough's ground out. Michael Richard then hit a ground ball to shortstop that resulted in a run as Mitchell raced to the plate and ran over San Jose catcher Nestor Rojas before the backstop could take the throw from Brian Bocock. Two batters later, Steve Kleen came through with a two-out, RBI double to the fence in left center field for the second run of the inning.
The Giants though immediately answered in the top of the fourth as Thomas Neal drew a one-out walk before Kieschnick lined a 1-1 pitch from Capra over the fence down the right field line for a two-run homer. The home run, San Jose's first hit of the contest, tied the score at 2-2.
The Giants' momentum was short-lived however as Stockton scored an unearned run against Odle in the bottom of the fourth inning. Grant Desme started the inning by taking a walk before stealing second. After a strikeout of Todd Johnson, Frank Martinez hit a sharp ground ball to third base that deflected off of Conor Gillaspie's glove and bounced toward Bocock. Bocock quickly picked up the baseball, but his short throw to third base in an attempt to retire Desme sailed wide of Gillaspie and into foul territory. The play was officially ruled an infield single for Martinez while Desme was able to score on the throwing error.
Desme then accounted for the Ports' final run of the evening when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning against Odle with a deep home run to left center field. The homer was Desme's third in his last five games - all against the Giants.
Odle (7-8) suffered the loss for San Jose after yielding four runs (three earned) on seven hits over six innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.
The Giants mustered little offense throughout most of the night going down 1-2-3 in four out of the first eight innings. San Jose though nearly tied the game in the top of the ninth as pinch-hitter Darren Ford delivered a one-out single to left before advancing to second on a passed ball. Gillaspie followed with a high fly ball to right field that just eluded the leaping Mitchell and bounced off the very top of the fence. The play, which was argued by Giants manager Andy Skeels, who contended the ball bounced over the fence and back onto the field, resulted in an RBI double to bring the Giants to within 4-3. Gillaspie though was ultimately stranded at second base when Ports closer Mickey Storey retired pinch-hitter Nick Noonan on a pop out before striking out Rojas. Storey was credited with his seventh save in seven opportunities.
Stockton out-hit San Jose by a 9-6 margin with no Giants starter finishing the contest with a multi-hit game.
Notes: The Giants saw their 16 series unbeaten streak come to an end ... San Jose had won 14 series' and earned a pair of series splits during the streak ... Their last series loss occurred from May 27-30 when they dropped three out of four games at Visalia ... Odle had won his last three starts before Wednesday ... Neal (1-for-3) hit his league-leading 36th double of the season ... Stockton hit into four double plays ... David Mixon (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) and Trey Webb (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) both worked out of the Giants bullpen ... San Jose's overall record fell to 68-36 ... The five stolen bases allowed by the Giants was a season-high.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports will conclude their three-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:05 PM. Clayton Tanner (8-5, 3.29 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Carlos Hernandez (7-5, 4.54 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from July 30, 2009
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