Giants Drop Series Opener to Nuts
Published on May 9, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
MODESTO, CA - Nuts starting pitcher Ljay Newsome tossed six scoreless innings and the Modesto bullpen held off a late San Jose rally to post a 4-2 series-opening victory over the Giants on Tuesday evening at John Thurman Field. San Jose (18-14) scored twice in the top of the eighth and had the potential tying run on base in both the eighth and ninth innings before falling short.
Gio Brusa (3-for-4) had three hits while Heath Quinn (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs with a double to lead the Giants offensively in defeat. Matt Winn (1-for-3, 2B) also extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Newsome (2-2) surrendered just four hits, walked none and struck out six during his masterful start to pick-up the win. Seth Elledge finished the game with 1 1/3 hitless innings of relief for the Nuts to earn his third save of the season.
Modesto built an early 4-0 lead against San Jose starter Logan Webb with two runs in both the first and third innings. In the bottom of the first, Webb quickly set down the first two batters before giving up back-to-back singles to Evan White and Logan Taylor. Nick Zammarelli then stepped to the plate and belted a triple to the fence in deep right center easily scoring both runners for a 2-0 Nuts advantage.
Modesto then extended their lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third. With Taylor at first base and two outs, Zammarelli again provided a run-scoring hit as he laced an RBI double down the right field line to make it 3-0. Anthony Jimenez then delivered an RBI single for a 4-0 Nuts cushion.
The score remained at 4-0 all the way until the top of the eighth. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Jalen Miller and Wander Franco produced consecutive singles to put two runners on base. Quinn then lined a double to deep right bringing home both Miller and Franco to cut the Modesto lead in half at 4-2. The hit prompted a pitching change as Elledge entered from the bullpen and he was greeted by a Brusa single to right. Quinn advanced to third on the hit, but suffered an apparent injury on the play and had to leave the game. Elledge then retired the next hitter, Sandro Fabian, on a pop out to second to end the inning.
Still down 4-2, the Giants threatened in the top of the ninth as Jacob Heyward and Winn drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. However with the potential tying run at first, Brandon Van Horn popped out to the catcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt before Bryce Johnson grounded into a game-ending double play.
Webb (1-2) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on eight hits over three innings of work. The right-hander struck out one and did not issue a walk.
DJ Myers relieved Webb to begin the bottom of the fourth and fired five dominant innings of long relief for San Jose. Myers surrendered just one hit during his stint on the mound - a leadoff single to White in the bottom of the eighth. Myers walked one and struck out 10. The 10 strikeouts matched the most by a Giants pitcher in a game this season.
Notes
* The Giants fell to 2-2 on their road trip.
* Both teams finished with nine hits.
* San Jose is 4-4 against Modesto this season (1-3 at John Thurman Field).
* Over his last two relief appearances, Myers has thrown nine scoreless innings with four hits allowed and 13 strikeouts.
* Winn extended his hitting streak with a fifth-inning double.
* Pitcher Jeff Burke joined the Giants from Extended Spring Training before the game on Tuesday. Pitcher Nolan Riggs was transferred to Sacramento (AAA).
On Deck
The Giants and Nuts continue their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at John Thurman Field scheduled for 4:05 PM. Mac Marshall (0-0, 1.20 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Reggie McClain (1-0, 3.00 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 3:45 PM.
California League Stories from May 9, 2018
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- Zammarelli Delivers While Newsome Deals in 4-2 Win - Modesto Nuts
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