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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Edge Blaze for Third Straight Win

August 21, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - Christian Arroyo hit a go-ahead two-run double in the bottom of the fifth and the San Jose bullpen held off Bakersfield for the remainder of the contest in a 3-2 series-opening victory over the Blaze on Thursday evening at Municipal Stadium. Four San Jose pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Giants earned their third straight win. The victory moves San Jose (32-21) to within one game of Visalia (33-20) for first place in the second half North Division race.

Andrew Suarez tossed four shutout innings to begin the game in his SJ Giants debut with Ian Gardeck keeping Bakersfield off the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth frames for the save.

Arroyo (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) was the only Giants player to finish the game with more than one hit.

Suarez excelled on the mound limiting the Blaze to just one hit during his four-inning start. The left-hander walked one, struck out five and threw 69 pitches. Bakersfield's only hit against Suarez was a leadoff double to deep center off the bat of Austin Wilson in the top of the second. Wilson eventually made it to third base with two outs, but was stranded there when Suarez struck out Aaron Barbosa to end the inning.

In the top of the third, Suarez worked around a two-out walk. Tyler O'Neill led off the fourth by reaching on an error, but was then picked-off before Suarez registered consecutive strikeouts of Wilson and Chantz Mack to end his night.

The game was scoreless through four innings before the Blaze broke through in the top of the fifth. With reliever Christian Jones on the mound, Barbosa and Daniel Torres delivered back-to-back one-out singles to put runners on the corners. Nelson Ward then executed a squeeze bunt with Barbosa beating Jones' throw home to give Bakersfield a 1-0 lead. Jones though recovered to set down the next two batters to keep the deficit at a single run.

The Giants immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth against Blaze starter Ryan Yarbrough. With one out, Brian Ragira was hit by a pitch before Tyler Horan doubled off the wall in left putting runners on second and third. Jeff Kobernus followed with a sacrifice fly to center plating Ragira with the tying run. Then after Skyler Stromsmoe was plunked, Arroyo stepped to the plate and belted the first pitch of his at-bat into deep left center for a double. The hit scored both Horan and Stromsmoe giving San Jose a 3-1 lead.

Luis Ysla entered from the bullpen to begin the top of the sixth and promptly allowed a leadoff home run to O'Neill. The homer, O'Neill's league-leading 28th of the season, trimmed the Giants lead to 3-2. Ysla (2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) though recovered setting down the next three hitters before recording two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.

Gardeck (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 SO) was summoned in the top of the eighth with San Jose still ahead by a 3-2 score and pitched around a two-out single from O'Neill to maintain the one-run lead. In the ninth, Gardeck recorded two quick groundouts but then issued back-to-back walks to Barbosa and Torres as the Blaze put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base. The Giants reliever though settled down and induced Ward to foul out to third base on a 3-2 pitch to end the game. Gardeck was credited with his third save of the season.

Jones (6-1) picked-up the win for the Giants. He allowed one run in his only inning of relief work.

Yarbrough (2-7) struck out a season-high nine batters over six innings, but suffered the loss for Bakersfield. The left-hander was charged with three runs (all earned) on four hits with one walk issued.

Notes:

* San Jose won their 20th one-run game of the season (20-17) - second-most in the California League (Modesto 21).

* The Giants have allowed a total of just three runs during their current three-game winning streak.

* Arroyo committed three errors at shortstop over the first four innings before his go-ahead double in the bottom of the fifth.

* Suarez was added to the San Jose roster on Tuesday from Salem-Keizer (Short-Season level). Thursday's outing was just the ninth appearance (sixth start) of his professional career. He was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants in June.

* The Giants improved to 10-10 against Bakersfield this season. San Jose has won eight out of their last ten meetings versus the Blaze.

* Both teams finished with five hits. Bakersfield was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

* The Giants (62-61) moved above .500 for the first time since August 5 (55-54).

* San Jose is now in a three-way tie with Modesto (62-61) and Stockton (62-61) for the two Wild Card spots in the North Division.

On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jose Reyes (3-5, 6.75 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Brett Ash (5-8, 4.25 ERA). It's a KRTY Family Friday at the ballpark and a spectacular fireworks show, presented by Ledyard, will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.

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