Giants Earn Another 5-4 Victory Over Stockton
August 5, 2010 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Francisco Peguero drove home the go-ahead run with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the San Jose Giants earned their second consecutive 5-4 victory over the Stockton Ports on Wednesday evening at Municipal Stadium. Juan Perez finished a triple shy of the cycle to lead the San Jose offensive attack as the Giants secured their first home series win of the second half. The victory improves San Jose's overall record to 61-48.
Perez (3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) hit his ninth home run of the season and reached base in all four of his plate appearances. Ryan Verdugo (2-0) was credited with the victory after retiring the only two batters he faced in the top of the seventh before Jason Stoffel stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 20th save.
With the game tied 4-4, Jose Flores began the pivotal seventh inning rally by drawing a walk. After pinch-runner James Simmons stole second, Joel Weeks hit a low soft line drive to shortstop Grant Green that was mishandled for an error. Simmons was initially going to remain at second, but when Green's throw bounced past first baseman Mike Spina for another error, the lead runner advanced to third. Perez followed by drawing a walk to load the bases before new pitcher Trey Barham struck out Wendell Fairley for the first out of the inning. Peguero was up next and he grounded a 1-1 offering through the hole on the left side as Simmons raced home with the go-ahead run. Barham did recover to set down the next two hitters, Johnny Monell on a lineout to shortstop and Charlie Culberson on a groundout, to keep the deficit at one run.
Dan Otero (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO), in his 2010 Giants debut, induced three consecutive groundouts in a perfect top of the eighth before Stoffel (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) worked the ninth. Stoffel struck out Stephen Parker and Spina to begin the final inning before Yusuf Carter drew a full-count walk. Jeremy Barfield then lined a 3-2 pitch into right field for a single advancing Carter to third, but Stoffel settled down to retire Kent Walton on a pop out to shallow center ending the game.
Justin Fitzgerald started on the mound for the Giants and did not receive a decision after working six innings and matching a career-high with eight strikeouts. Fitzgerald surrendered only three hits and three hits (all earned) while issuing two walks.
Stockton took an early 1-0 lead when Parker blasted a solo home run to deep left field in the top of the second before Perez tied the score with a home run to begin the bottom of the fourth.
The Giants then rallied with two outs in the bottom of the fifth against Ports starter Shawn Haviland to take their first lead of the contest. After the first two batters of the inning had been retired, Ehire Adrianza singled before stealing second and then taking third on a wild pitch. Flores followed by drawing a walk before Weeks blooped a single into left center field plating Adrianza with the go-ahead tally. Perez then hammered an RBI double into the left field corner while Wendell Fairley capped the fifth-inning scoring with a sharp groundball off of Haviliand's leg as Weeks came home to make it 4-1.
Fitzgerald did not allow a hit from the third through the fifth innings before struggling in the top of the sixth. Todd Johnson started the inning by drawing a walk before scoring on Jermaine Mitchell's one-out triple to deep left center field. Tyler Ladendorf followed with a groundout to second plating Mitchell to bring Stockton to within 4-3.
Fitzgerald completed the top of the sixth with the Giants still ahead before the Ports continue their comeback in the seventh. Facing reliever Ben Wilshire (1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO), Spina led off with a single and then Carter doubled to put runners on second and third. Barfield followed with a sacrifice fly to score Spina with the tying run and advance Carter to third. Verdugo was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly struck out the pinch-hitter Walton before David Thomas bounced out to third base as the potential go-ahead run was left at third.
Notes: San Jose's last home series win was from June 11-13 when they swept three games from the Bakersfield Blaze ... The Giants had lost five straight home series' to begin the second half ... San Jose out-hit Stockton by a 7-6 margin ... Otero joined the club from the AZL-Giants (Rookie) on Monday ... He played for the Giants in 2008 and collected 16 saves and had a 3.67 ERA in 27 relief appearances ... Fitzgerald struck out eight batters for the third time this year ... He fanned at least one in all six of his innings ... Ports reliever Justin Murray (7-4) suffered the loss after surrendering the unearned run in the bottom of the seventh ... Perez hit his first home run since July 6 ... San Jose has won four out of their last five games.
On Deck: The Giants look for a sweep of the Stockton Ports when the teams conclude their three-game series on Thursday evening. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jorge Bucardo (1-0, 1.50 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Ben Hornbeck (4-3, 5.50 ERA). It's a KRTY Country Thursday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from August 5, 2010
- Quakes Home Through Sunday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Quakes Blow Late Lead, Remain One Game Out - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Earn Another 5-4 Victory Over Stockton - San Jose Giants
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