CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Handle Visalia Extending Win Streak To Seven

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


Craig Clark tossed seven innings with just one run allowed and Roger Kieschnick hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the top of the third leading the San Jose Giants to a 6-1 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Saturday evening at Recreation Park. Nick Noonan also homered as San Jose extended their winning streak to a season-high tying seven games. With the victory, the Giants have won 14 out of their first 17 games of the second half while improving their overall record to 56-31.

Clark (9-2) matched teammate Scott Barnes and three other pitchers for the league-lead in victories. The left-hander limited the Rawhide to five hits while walking two and striking out three during his 92-pitch performance.

Eight different San Jose players finished the contest with one hit as the Giants out-hit Visalia by an 8-7 margin. Kieschnick (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and Buster Posey (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) each drove in multiple runs to lead San Jose at the plate.

The Giants entered the top of the third inning trailing by a 1-0 score, but plated four runs in the frame to take the lead for good. With one out, Darren Ford began the rally by drawing a walk. After Brian Bocock lined a single into center, Thomas Neal walked to load the bases. Posey then delivered a sacrifice fly to right bringing home Ford with the tying run. Kieschnick was up next and he drove the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in left for an opposite field, three-run homer. The home run, Kieschnick's team-leading 18th of the season, gave San Jose their first lead of the night at 4-1.

Clark allowed his only run in the bottom of the second inning when Konrad Schmidt connected for a leadoff, solo homer to deep left center field.

In the third, Clark issued a two-out walk before Taylor Harbin singled, but the Giants starter pitched out of trouble by inducing James Skelton to pop out. Clark had retired seven Rawhide hitters in a row until Skelton drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth. Kyle Greene then singled with two outs to bring the potential tying run of the plate, but Clark set down Andrew Fie on a foul pop out to first keeping San Jose ahead by a 4-1 margin.

The Giants didn't manage another baserunner after Kieschnick's home run until Tyler Graham singled with two outs in the top of the seventh before breaking through with single runs in the eighth and ninth frames. In the top of the eighth, back-to-back two-out doubles from Neal and Posey produced one run. Then in the ninth, Noonan smacked a solo homer to deep right center field giving San Jose a 6-1 cushion.

Clark pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh to complete his outing before Mike Musgrave (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) worked the eighth and David Mixon (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) the ninth to seal the Giants victory.

Visalia starter Bryan Shaw (3-6) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on four hits over five innings of work. Shaw, who recovered to set down seven in a row after Kieschnick's home run to end his evening, walked two and struck out four. The home run allowed by Shaw was just his fourth in 79 1/3 innings pitched this season.

Notes: The Giants have outscored the opposition by a 59-13 margin during their current winning streak ... San Jose also won seven in a row from June 19-28 (last three games of the first half and the first four games of the second half) ... Clark is third in the California League in strikeouts (99) and fourth in ERA (2.98) ... The Giants bullpen has not allowed a run in the last eight games ... Musgrave made his first appearance this season with San Jose after going 3-0 with a 5.76 ERA in 23 games (one start) for Connecticut (AA) ... Kieschnick is tied for third in the league in home runs and second in RBI's (70) ... Visalia has lost nine out of their last 10 games ... The Giants need a victory on Sunday or Monday to extend their consecutive series win streak to 11.

On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide continue their series on Sunday evening with first pitch at Recreation Park scheduled for 6:05 PM. Scott Barnes (9-3, 2.92 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Josh Collmenter (6-5, 3.57 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from July 12, 2009


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