CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Handle Bakersfield 12-2 To Earn Series Victory

Published on June 12, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Scott Barnes tossed seven effective innings and the Giants pounded out 16 hits in a 12-2 rout of the Bakersfield Blaze on Thursday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark. In the rubber game of the three-game series, Barnes limited the Blaze to just three hits during his stint on the mound while Tyler Graham, Thomas Neal and Roger Kieschnick each blasted home runs. San Jose has now won five out of their last six as they improved their overall record to 34-26 - three games behind the Visalia Rawhide (37-23) for the top spot in the first half North Division race.

Nick Noonan (3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI) and Conor Gillaspie (3-for-4, 2B, RBI) both produced three-hit games at the plate to lead the Giants offensive attack. Graham (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Neal (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and Angel Villalona (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) also finished with more than one hit.

Barnes (6-3) earned his team-leading sixth win of the year as the left-hander struck out seven and walked only one during his 95-pitch performance. Barnes allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, but only two hits for the remainder of his outing.

The Giants trailed 2-0 until erupting for six runs in the top of the fourth inning against Blaze starting pitcher Kennil Gomez. Neal led off the frame by reaching on an error committed by third baseman Jonathan Greene before Buster Posey drew a walk. Kieschnick followed by grounding into a fielder's choice and then Gillaspie delivered an RBI single to cut the Bakersfield lead in half. Villalona was up next and he lined a pitch from Gomez off of the top of the fence in deep left field to plate Kieschnick with the tying run as Gillaspie advanced to third. Noonan then grounded a sharp single into right field scoring two more runs for a 4-2 San Jose advantage.

Two batters later, Graham drove a high fly ball over the fence in deep left center field for a two-run homer and a 6-2 Giants lead. The home run was Graham's fourth in his last five games.

San Jose added to their lead with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the top of the sixth, Noonan singled with one out before scoring on Graham's two out ground ball single up the middle. Then in the seventh, Neal led off with a home run to straightaway center field. The homer, Neal's 10th of the year, pushed the Giants cushion to 8-2.

San Jose put the exclamation point on the game in the top of the ninth inning with four more runs. Consecutive singles from Neal and Aaron Lowenstein started the rally before Kieschnick belted a three-homer to right center field. A pair of doubles from Gillaspie and Noonan produced the 12th and final run of the contest for the Giants.

Barnes initially struggled in his start as Bakersfield jumped ahead in the bottom of the first. With one out, Engel Beltre drew a walk before stealing two bases and then scoring on Ian Gac's ground out. Mauro Gomez followed with a towering solo homer to left giving the Blaze a 2-0 lead. However, Bakersfield would not score again for the remainder of the night.

The Blaze's last two hits of the night were a leadoff single in the bottom of the third from Davis Stoneburner and a double in the seventh from Greene. Barnes had retired seven consecutive hitters and 12 out of 13 before surrendering Greene's leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh. Barnes though recovered to strike out the next two hitters before a Matthew Lawson ground out ended the threat.

Dan Runzler (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth in his California League debut before Daniel Turpen (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory.

Notes: The Giants achieved double figures in runs in back-to-back games for the first time this season ... San Jose scored 22 runs on 28 hits over the last two games of the series ... The Giants played their last seven games against Bakersfield, winning five times ... Posey (0-for-1, BB), who the left the game in the fourth inning, saw his 11-game hitting streak come to an end ... The six runs scored in the top of the fourth matched San Jose's highest scoring inning of the season ... Runzler joined San Jose from Augusta (Low-A) at the start of the series ... Only 10 games remain in the first half.

On Deck: The Giants return home on Friday evening to begin a critical three-game series against the second-place Modesto Nuts at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Clayton Tanner (4-1, 3.02 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Connor Graham (3-2, 3.06 ERA). It's a KFOX Family Friday and tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from June 12, 2009


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