CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Drop Second Straight To Oaks, 9-2

Published on July 10, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


The Visalia Oaks used a six-run top of the ninth inning to break open a close game and defeat the San Jose Giants 9-2 on Wednesday night to take their second straight contest in the series. In front of 3,701 fans at Municipal Stadium, Visalia's Mike Mee belted a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to erase a 2-0 Giants lead before the Oaks erupted in the final frame. With the loss, San Jose's overall record drops to 56-33.

Jesse English (9-3) suffered the loss on the mound for the Giants despite throwing a season-high 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander, who carried a shutout into the seventh inning, allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. English walked two and struck out four.

With San Jose ahead 2-0, English began the top of the seventh by striking out Pete Clifford. Ed Easley then reached on a four-pitch walk before Joey Side was safe at first after a fielding error committed by first baseman Daniel Ortmeier on a dropped throw. Mee was up next and he smacked a 2-0 pitch from English over the fence in right field for the go-ahead home run. Mee was playing in his first game this season with Visalia after a promotion from South Bend (Low-A) earlier in the day.

The Oaks broke the game open in the top of the ninth inning against Giants reliever Dan Otero. Side started the frame with a single before Mee hammered an RBI double to deep left center field to make the score 4-2. Greg Thomson followed with a single to plate Mee for a 5-2 advantage. After a diving catch in center field from Mike McBryde for the first out, Evan Frey was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Pedro Ciriaco was up next and he crushed a double to the fence in deep left center field to score both Thomson and Frey to make it 7-2 Visalia. Mark Hallberg followed with a soft line drive single down the right field line to bring home another run. Then two batters later, Easley connected for an RBI single to plate the Oaks' sixth and final run of the inning. All total, Visalia sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.

The Giants scored their only two runs of the contest in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Brett Pill singled before McBryde reached on a bunt single. Sharlon Schoop followed with an infield single to third base loading the bases, then with Jackson Williams at the plate, Visalia starting pitcher Bryan Augenstein uncorked a wild pitch to the backstop. The errant pitch scored both Pill and McBryde after the Oaks catcher Mercado was initially unable to locate the ball.

San Jose managed just two more hits over the next four innings against Augenstein. In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Graham led off with a single and he eventually stood at third base with one out. Augenstein though pitched out of the inning as Ortmeier grounded out to second and then Bobby Felmy struck out looking. Graham was attempting to steal home on the final pitch of the at-bat to Felmy, but it was ruled strike three and thus the end of the inning.

With the Giants trailing by a 3-2 margin, Pill led off the bottom of the seventh with a single against Visalia reliever Evan Scribner. Then with two outs, Williams drew a walk to move the potential tying run into scoring position. However, Brock Bond ended the inning when he grounded out sharply to first base as the Oaks lead remained intact. San Jose would manage just one more baserunner - a ninth-inning walk of Pill - for the remainder of the night.

The Giants finished the evening with six hits as Pill (2-for-3) led the offensive charge.

English began his outing with six consecutive scoreless innings. The left-hander allowed only three hits during that span while throwing just 65 pitches. Visalia loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth, but English induced Easley to ground into a double play to shortstop ending the threat.

Notes: After winning a season-high seven games in a row, San Jose has now lost three straight ... Visalia is 5-3 this season at Municipal Stadium (7-9 overall versus the Giants) ... English is still tied for second in the California League in victories and second in ERA (2.50) ... The left-hander is also now second in strikeouts with 91 ... Mike Musgrave (1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO), Otero (1/3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO) and Craig Whitaker (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) all pitched out of the San Jose bullpen ... Visalia out-hit the Giants by a 12-8 margin with nine of those hits coming in the final three innings ... Mee was 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI in his California League debut ... Augenstein (2-1) was credited with the victory after surrendering two runs (both earned) on five hits over six innings ... Ortmeier (0-for-4) has recorded just one hit in 10 at-bats during his rehabilitation assignment with San Jose ... 7,712 fans have witnessed the first two games of the series at Municipal Stadium ... San Jose's second half record dropped to 13-6.

On Deck: The Giants and Oaks continue this four-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 P.M. It's a KRTY Country Thursday and 70's night at the ballpark. Fans that wear a 70's outfit will receive two free tickets to a future San Jose Giants home game. Clayton Tanner (5-4, 4.41 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Eddie Romero (4-8, 4.79 ERA). Tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from July 10, 2008


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