Giants Edge Modesto in Series Opener, 6-5
Published on June 15, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE - Luke Anders led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a triple before Devin Harris' sacrifice fly scored pinch-runner Chris Lofton with the go-ahead run to propel the San Jose Giants to a 6-5 victory over the Modesto Nuts on Thursday evening at Municipal Stadium. Modesto threatened in the top of the ninth putting runners at second and third with one out, but Giants reliever Jose Valdez registered consecutive strikeouts to secure the series-opening win. San Jose recorded their third straight victory to improve their overall record to 37-31.
Despite the win, the Giants were eliminated from first half title contention with Bakersfield's 4-2 victory over Lake Elsinore on Thursday. San Jose is three games behind the Blaze (40-28) with just two games remaining in the half. It marks the first time since 2004 that the Giants have not won the first half North Division title.
Anders (2-for-4, 3B), Alex Burg (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Ryan Lollis (2- for-4, 2B) had two hits apiece to lead San Jose offensively. Adam Duvall (1-for-4, HR, RBI) also hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season.
With the game tied 5-5, Anders began the bottom of the eighth with a sharp grounder into the right field corner for a triple. The triple was Anders' first of the season. Harris was up next and he lined a 3-1 pitch into left field that was caught by Juan Crousset for the first out. However, the pinch-runner Lofton tagged-up from third and easily scored the go-ahead run.
Valdez (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) entered the contest to begin the top of the ninth and immediately got into a jam as Dustin Garneau led off by reaching on a throwing error committed by second baseman Bobby Haney. Cristhian Adames then hit a grounder to first that was mishandled by Ricky Oropesa for another error. A sacrifice bunt from Chandler Laurent advanced the runners to second and third, but Valdez struck out Casey Frawley on three pitches and then struck out Brett Tanos on a 2-2 slider in the dirt to end the game.
Drew Bowlin (3-1) was credited with the win out of the Giants bullpen after working a 1-2-3 top of the eighth inning. Valdez earned his second save of the year.
San Jose jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Duvall clubbed a two- out, solo homer to deep left center in the bottom of the first against Modesto starter Tyler Matzek. The Nuts though responded with two runs in the top of the second to move in front. With two outs, Adames singled before Laurent drew a walk. Frawley then lined an RBI single to right center field while Tanos' infield single to shortstop made it 2-1.
The Giants reclaimed the lead with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. Anders singled with one out before Dan Burkhart drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Haney then stepped to the plate and lined an RBI single into center to tie the game. Burkhart moved to third on the play and then scored on a wild pitch.
San Jose extended their lead to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth against Matzek. Lollis started the rally with a double to right center field before Joe Panik's bunt single put another runner on base. After Duvall grounded out to move Panik to second, Burg lined a double to right scoring both runners to make it 5-2.
Giants starter Danny Sandbrink worked the first five innings and surrendered two runs (both earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Sandbrink finished his outing by setting down the last seven batters that he faced.
Chris Wilson (2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) relieved Sandbrink to begin the top of the sixth and immediately gave up three runs as the Nuts tied the score. Kyle Parker led off with a single before Mark Tracy doubled. Juan Crousset then smacked a three-run homer to deep left center for a 5-5 tie. The home run was Crousset's second of the season.
Wilson settled down retiring the next six batters before Bowlin needed just eight pitches to cruise through the top of the eighth. Crousset's home run was Modesto's last hit of the game. San Jose out- hit the Nuts by a 10-9 margin.
Notes: The Giants are a California League-best 15-6 in one-run games ... Lollis is 11-for-21 (.524) over his last four games ... Burg hit fourth in the lineup for the first time this season ... Panik (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to seven games with the fifth-inning bunt single ... San Jose is 8-3 against Modesto this year ... The Giants had won a California League record seven consecutive first half North Division titles (2005-2011).
On Deck: The Giants and Nuts continue their three-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Ryan Bradley (3-3, 3.76 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Craig Bennigson (0-1, 5.57 ERA). It's a KRTY Family Friday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 15, 2012
- Banner Island Ballpark to Host 2013 WCC Baseball Championship - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Move to Within One Win of Pennant - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Edge Modesto in Series Opener, 6-5 - San Jose Giants
- Bakersfield Wins First Half Title, Beats Elsinore 4-2 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Lancaster Launches Five Homers in Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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