Giants Edge Stockton To Begin Second Half
Published on June 26, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Roger Kieschnick homered and drove home a pair of runs and San Jose scored the go-ahead tally on an error in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Stockton Ports 3-2 on Thursday night at Municipal Stadium. In the opening game of the second half, two walks and a groundout preceded a fielding error committed by Stockton first baseman Steve Kleen on a ball hit by Kieschnick plating the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. The victory, the Giants' fourth in a row, improved San Jose's overall record to 43-28.
Craig Clark (7-2) earned the win for the Giants after tossing six innings of stellar long relief to finish the contest. Clark, who was making his first appearance out of the bullpen this season, allowed just one run on three hits. The left-hander walked one and struck out eight.
Clark was working in relief of San Francisco Giant Joe Martinez, who made the start on the mound as part of a rehabilitation assignment. Martinez pitched the first three innings and yielded one run on one hit - a solo homer to Stockton's Jemile Weeks. Martinez finished his outing by setting down seven consecutive Ports hitters. The right-hander, who was recovering from a concussion sustained on April 9 after he was struck in the head with a line drive, walked one and struck out five.
The Giants initially trailed 2-0 until breaking through against Ports starting pitcher Tyson Ross in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Kieschnick stepped to the plate and belted a 2-0 pitch over the fence in left center field for a home run. The homer, Kieschnick's 13th of the season, brought San Jose to within 2-1.
The Giants tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Conor Gillaspie led off with a double to deep right field, advanced to third on Ryan Lormand's ground out and scored when Ross uncorked a two-out wild pitch.
The game-deciding rally in the bottom of the eighth inning began when Stockton reliever Justin Friend issued consecutive walks to Nick Noonan and Thomas Neal putting runners on first and second with none out. After Buster Posey grounded into a fielder's choice forcing out Neal at second, Kieschnick hit a slow ground ball down the first base line. On the play, Kleen attempted to make a bare-handed pick-up of the baseball, but initially dropped it before his throw to first base was late. The play was officially scored an error on Kleen while Kieschnick was credited with an RBI as San Jose took their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Clark then promptly worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to seal the Giants victory. Michael Richard began the inning with a fly out to center before back-to-back strikeouts of Jermaine Mitchell and Weeks ended the contest.
Clark entered the game to begin the top of the fourth and surrendered a two-out, solo homer to Grant Desme in his first inning of work to give Stockton a 2-0 lead. Clark though recovered to set down the next nine Ports hitters, including five via the strikeout, before issuing a two-out walk to Kleen in the seventh. The southpaw though pitched out of the inning when Kleen was thrown out attempting to steal and then he worked a scoreless top of the eighth pitching around a two-out single off the bat of Yusuf Carter.
Martinez allowed a two-out, solo home run to Weeks in the top of the first inning as Stockton quickly jumped ahead. However, Martinez followed with a strikeout of Desme before a perfect top of the second. Then in the third, Martinez struck out all three hitters that he faced and was promptly taken out of the game after reaching his pitch count limit.
Gillaspie (2-for-4, 2 2B) was the lone San Jose player to finish with a multi-hit game. Both clubs ended the night with just four hits.
Notes: The Giants are 14-3 in their last 17 games ... San Jose has won their last three one-run games after six consecutive one-run losses ... Martinez spent all of 2007 with San Jose and was 10-10 with a 4.26 ERA and a league-high 151 strikeouts ... Martinez had pitched in two games out of San Francisco's bullpen this year before suffering the injury ... Kieschnick extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his fourth-inning home run ... He's collected 15 RBI's in his last eight games ... Ross took a no-decision for Stockton after yielding two runs (both earned) on three hits over 6 1/3 innings ... Ross walked two and struck out five ... Friend (1-4) was charged with the loss out of the Ports bullpen ... San Jose is 13-4 against Stockton this season.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their three-game series on Friday night with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Scott Barnes (7-3, 3.77 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Craig Italiano (5-6, 6.55 ERA). It's a KFOX Family Friday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 26, 2009
- Ports to Celebrate Re-Opening Night on June 28 - Stockton Ports
- Make This Monday Matter and Earn a Free Ticket to See Your Modesto Nuts - Modesto Nuts
- Septimo, Parker Selected for MLB Futures Game - Visalia Rawhide
- Mavs Send Pair to Futures Game - High Desert Mavericks
- Ports to host Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Extravaganza on July 3 - Stockton Ports
- JetHawks Start Second Half Hot, Beat Quakes - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Edge Stockton To Begin Second Half - San Jose Giants
- 66ers Get Wild in Fifth, Lose Second Half Opener 5-3 - Inland Empire 66ers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
