Giants Drop Series Opener to Nuts, 5-2
May 14, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - A squeeze bunt play gave the Nuts the lead in the top of the seventh inning before Modesto scored two more runs in the eighth en route to a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Giants on Friday evening at Municipal Stadium. In the opener of a four-game home-and-home series, San Jose was held to only four hits and struck out 12 times. The loss was just the Giants' (19-13) second in their last 11 games.
Jonah Arenado (2-for-4, 2B, HR, RBI) doubled and homered to lead San Jose offensively in defeat.
With the game tied 2-2, Modesto's pivotal seventh-inning rally began when Giants starter D.J. Snelten issued a one-out walk to Wilson Soriano. Omar Carrizales then grounded a 3-2 pitch through the hole on the right side for a single as Soriano, who was running on the play, advanced to third. Wes Rogers was up next and he perfectly executed a squeeze bunt. Snelten fielded the bunt and threw out Rogers at first, but Soriano easily scored on the play to give the Nuts a 3-2 lead.
Modesto then pushed across two more runs against reliever Jose Morel (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) in the top of the eighth. Shane Hoelscher led off with a single before Collin Ferguson doubled to left with one out putting runners on second and third. Luis Jean followed with a single up the middle plating both Hoelscher and Ferguson for a 5-2 Nuts advantage.
Modesto starter Sam Howard (2-1) earned the win after tossing seven impressive innings. The left-hander allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Logan Cozart didn't surrender a hit over the final two innings to pick-up his first save of the season.
The Nuts took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as singles from Carrizales and Rogers started the game before Hoelscher delivered a one-out RBI single. Snelten though used a double play to end the inning. The Giants starter also induced inning-ending double plays in the second and third.
Meanwhile, San Jose tied the contest in the bottom of the second on back-to-back two-out doubles from Arenado and Brandon Bednar. Arenado then gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when he launched a two-out solo home run to left. The homer was Arenado's fifth of the season. San Jose though wouldn't record another hit for the remainder of the game.
Modesto immediately tied the game in the top of the fifth against Snelten as Carrizales walked with one out, advanced to second on a Rogers groundout and scored when Dom Nunez produced an RBI single.
Snelten bounced back with a perfect top of the sixth - his only 1-2-3 inning of the game - before the Nuts reclaimed the lead in the seventh.
Snelten (1-3) was charged with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on nine hits over a season-high seven innings. He walked three and struck out four.
California League Stories from May 14, 2016
- First-Inning Outburst Wasted in 11-7 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Ports Lack Clutch Hitting in 4-1 Loss to Blaze - Stockton Ports
- Campbell Cruises, Blaze Win 4-1 - Bakersfield Blaze
- High Desert Homers Twice In 7-2 Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Howard Delivers the Nuts Second Straight Win - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Improve to 7-0 against Inland Empire - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Drop Series Opener to Nuts, 5-2 - San Jose Giants
- Lancaster defeats Lake Elsinore - Lancaster JetHawks
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.
