Giants Fall 4-0, Split Series with Rawhide
Published on May 3, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Emilio Vargas and two Visalia relievers combined to shutout the Giants in a 4-0 Rawhide victory on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Vargas struck out seven over six scoreless innings in his masterful start while Visalia plated all four of their runs in the top of the sixth en route to the win. With the loss, San Jose (16-12) settles for a split of the four-game series.
Frandy De La Rosa (3-for-3) singled three times as part of a perfect day at the plate to lead the Giants offensively in defeat. San Jose was shutout for the first time this season.
Vargas (2-0) worked around four hits and one walk during his six-inning stint on the mound to pick-up the win. The right-hander leads the California League with a 1.23 ERA. Miguel Aguilar (2 IP) and Josh Taylor (1 IP) then combined for three scoreless innings of relief to close out the Giants.
Conner Menez (2-1) suffered the loss for San Jose despite matching a career-high with 10 strikeouts. Menez, who took a shutout into the sixth, was charged with three runs (all earned) on five hits over 5 1/3 innings of work.
The game was scoreless until the Rawhide broke through in the top of the sixth. Marcus Wilson led off with a single before Menez fanned Ramon Hernandez for the first out of the inning. Daulton Varsho then grounded a single through the hole on the right side to put runners on the corners. After Varsho stole second, Drew Ellis singled sharply up the middle to bring home Wilson with the first run of the contest. The RBI hit knocked Menez out of the game, but Pavin Smith then greeted new pitcher Dylan Rheault with his own RBI single to increase the lead to 2-0. Mark Karaviotis was up next and he also singled home a run to stretch the Visalia advantage to 3-0. Later in the inning with runners at first and third, Luis Silverio stole second and when the throw from catcher Connor Sabanosh bounced into center, the runner at third, Smith, raced home with the fourth run of the frame.
The Rawhide sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the sixth knocking out five hits - all singles - on their way to scoring four runs.
Meanwhile, Vargas cruised on the mound for Visalia. He pitched around a Jalen Miller one-out double in the bottom of the first and a Sandro Fabian leadoff double in the second inning to keep the game scoreless. In the third, De La Rosa led off with a single, but was promptly thrown out at second attempting to steal. Johneshwy Fargas then walked with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but was also thrown out trying to steal. De La Rosa led off the sixth with another single, but was stranded when the next three Giants batters were retired.
Aguilar then retired six out of the seven hitters over his two innings of relief work before Taylor pitched around a Bryce Johnson leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth to complete the shutout.
Notes
* Visalia out-hit San Jose 9-6.
* Menez's 10 strikeouts were the most by a Giants pitcher in a game this season. He also struck out 10 on April 27, 2017 at Rancho Cucamonga. Through five starts, Menez's season ERA stands at 1.42 - second in the league (behind only Vargas).
* Fargas' (0-for-2, BB) hitting streak was snapped at nine games.
* Connor Overton pitched two scoreless innings of relief for San Jose. Overton returned to the Giants on Wednesday after making one previous relief appearance on April 20.
* De La Rosa has five hits in his last six at-bats dating back to Tuesday.
* The Giants are one game behind Stockton (17-11) and Visalia (17-11) for first place in the North Division standings.
On Deck
The Giants embark on a six-game road trip to Lancaster (three games) and Modesto (three games). Friday's series opener against the JetHawks is a 6:35 PM first pitch at The Hangar. Mac Marshall (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Brandon Gold (3-1, 5.34 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:15 PM.
California League Stories from May 3, 2018
- Alexander, Ryan and Isaac Make History, No-Hit Storm - Inland Empire 66ers
- Two-Out Runs Doom Ports in 11-4 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Giants Fall 4-0, Split Series with Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- Rambo Strikes Early in Daytime Victory - Lancaster JetHawks
- JetHawks Power Past Ports 16-6 - Stockton Ports
- Giants Earn 4-1 Victory over Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Rout Ports with Season-High Night - Lancaster JetHawks
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