CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Edge JetHawks in Season Opener, 4-3

Published on April 8, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - Johneshwy Fargas hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Giants held on late for a season-opening 4-3 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Thursday evening at Municipal Stadium.

Fargas (2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI), Steven Duggar (2-for-5, RBI), Ronnie Jebavy (2-for-5), C.J Hinojosa (2-for-4) and Brandon Bednar (2-for-4) each collected two hits to lead the Giants offensively in the win.

With the game tied 2-2, the key seventh inning rally began with a two-out walk to Aramis Garcia. Jose Vizcaino, Jr. followed by drawing a walk before Fargas stepped to the plate and lined an 0-1 pitch from JetHawks reliever Kevin Comer over the head of right fielder Ramon Laureano and to the fence. Fargas easily raced into third with a triple on the play as Garcia and Vizcaino, Jr. scored to give San Jose a 4-2 lead.

Reyes Moronta pitched around a leadoff single in the top of the eighth recording a pair of strikeouts to complete the inning as the two-run lead remained intact. In the top of the ninth, Rodolfo Martinez surrendered consecutive one-out singles as Lancaster put runners on the corners and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Martinez recovered to strikeout Bobby Boyd for the second out, however a passed ball on the strike three pitch allowed Fernandez to score cutting the lead to 4-3. Drew Ferguson was up next and with the tying run at second, Martinez induced the JetHawks hitter to groundout to second ending the game.

Martin Agosta (1-0) was credited with the win after tossing two scoreless innings of relief in the sixth and seventh frames. Agosta, who retired six out of the seven batters he faced, struck out three and allowed just one hit. Martinez (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) earned his first save of the year.

Comer (0-1) was charged with the loss for Lancaster.

Andrew Suarez started on the mound for the Giants and tossed five innings with two runs (both earned) and three hits allowed. The left-hander walked one and struck out a career-high tying six. Suarez didn't surrender his first hit until a fourth-inning single to Bryan Muniz.

San Jose took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a one-out bases loaded single to left off the bat of Vizcaino, Jr. The JetHawks immediately tied the score in the fourth on an RBI groundout before the Giants reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame. After consecutive singles from Bednar and Jebavy put runners on the corners with one out, Duggar delivered an RBI groundout to make it 2-1. Lancaster though responded in the fifth against Suarez when Jason Martin produced a game-tying two-out RBI double. The score would remain deadlocked until Fargas' hit in the seventh.

Notes:

* The Giants opened the season at home for the first time since 2009.

* It marked the second straight year San Jose started the year versus Lancaster. Last season, the JetHawks defeated the Giants on opening night by a 3-2 score at The Hangar.

* Suarez was making just the ninth start of his professional career. He also struck out six batters in his final regular season start of 2015 (September 2 versus Modesto).

* Agosta celebrated his 25th birthday on Thursday.

* Lancaster committed four errors. The JetHawks were also a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.

* Martinez's save was the first of his professional career (51st appearance).

* The Giants left eight runners on base over the first four innings (10 for the game).

* Fargas had two triples in 102 games with Augusta (A) last season.

On Deck: The Giants and JetHawks continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Sam Coonrod (0-0, --- ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Andrew Walter (0-0, --- ERA). It's a KRTY Family Friday at the ballpark while a spectacular fireworks show will follow the game. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from April 8, 2016


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