Giants Hang on for 4-3 Victory over Blaze
May 11, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The San Jose Giants scored four runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead and then held off Bakersfield's ninth-inning rally to earn a 4-3 victory over the Blaze on Tuesday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The series-opening triumph was the Giants' (17-12) seventh win in their last eight games.
Jason Forjet (4-1) notched his team-leading fourth win of the season after tossing six effective innings to begin the contest. Forjet allowed just two unearned runs and four hits with no walks and five strikeouts during his start. Rodolfo Martinez escaped the ninth inning for his league-leading 10th save of the year. Bakersfield scored once in the bottom of the ninth to pull within 4-3, but the San Jose closer was able to leave the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position to seal the victory.
Ty Ross (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI) had two doubles and two RBI's to lead the Giants offensively. Ronnie Jebavy (2-for-4, 3B) also finished with a multi-hit game.
The Blaze took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs against Forjet in the bottom of the first. Fielding errors from shortstop C.J Hinojosa and third baseman Jose Vizcaino, Jr. allowed the first two hitters of the inning, Aaron Barbosa and Drew Jackson, to reach safely. Chantz Mack then grounded a single up the middle to plate Barbosa with the first run of the night. Following a fly out from Kyle Petty, Forjet balked home Jackson to make it 2-0.
Meanwhile, San Jose managed only one baserunner over the first four innings against Bakersfield starter Anthony Misiewicz - a double from Ross in the top of the third. Still trailing 2-0, the Giants though erupted in the fifth. Vizcaino, Jr. led off with a double into the left field corner before back-to-back full-count walks to Steven Duggar and Jonah Arenado loaded the bases with none out. Ross then stepped to the plate and laced the first pitch of his at-bat down the right field line for a double. The hit scored both Vizcaino and Duggar to tie the game. Brandon Bednar was up next and he grounded a single into right plating Arenado for a 3-2 San Jose lead. Johneshwy Fargas then grounded into a double play, however Ross was able to score for a 4-2 advantage.
Meanwhile, Forjet cruised after Bakersfield's first-inning rally. The Giants starter pitched around a leadoff single in the second and a one-out double in the bottom of the third. Forjet then struck out two in a perfect fourth inning. After San Jose took the lead in the top of the fifth, Forjet allowed a leadoff single to Gianfranco Wawoe in the bottom of the frame, but quickly worked out of the inning when Barbosa flied out to left and Jackson grounded into a double play. Forjet then fanned two more Blaze hitters during a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth. Forjet retired 10 out of the last 11 batters that he faced.
With the score still at 4-2, Jose Morel (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) pitched the bottom of the seventh for San Jose. Austin Wilson led off with an infield single and reached second on the play when Bednar threw the ball away for an error. Morel though recovered to strikeout Daniel Torres and then retire Arby Fields and Wawoe on consecutive groundouts.
In the bottom of the eighth, Reyes Moronta (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) set down the Blaze in order on a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
Martinez (1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) then took over in the bottom of the ninth. Following a strikeout of Petty to start the inning, Jay Baum drew a walk. Martinez then brought the Giants to within one out of victory with a strikeout of Wilson. However, Torres walked on a 3-2 pitch before a five-pitch walk to Fields loaded the bases. Then with Wawoe at the plate, a low pitch from Martinez glanced off the glove of Ross for a passed ball as Baum scored to cut the San Jose lead to 4-3. But with the potential tying run at third and winning run at second, Martinez recovered to strikeout Wawoe swinging on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.
Misiewicz (1-3) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits over seven innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Notes:
* Tuesday was the first of 26 meetings this season against Bakersfield - the Giants' most frequent opponent in 2016.
* San Jose out-hit the Blaze 8-5.
* Bakersfield was 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
* Forjet has won his last three starts. His four wins this season are tied for third in the California League.
* Hinojosa (0-for-4) saw his on-base streak end at 26 consecutive games. Tuesday was his first game of the season without reaching base safely.
* The Giants improved to 6-3 in one-run games this year.
* Martinez is 10-for-11 in save opportunities. He lowered his season ERA to 0.63.
* Before the game, pitcher Andrew Suarez (2-1, 2.43 ERA) was promoted to Double-A Richmond. Pitcher Martin Agosta returned to San Jose after a brief stint with Triple-A Sacramento.
* Catcher Aramis Garcia was also placed on the 7-day disabled list on Tuesday. Catcher Ben Turner, a San Jose Giant in 2014 and 2015, was added to the roster from Sacramento.
On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue their three-game series on Wednesday morning with first pitch at Sam Lynn Ballpark scheduled for 11:00 AM. Martin Agosta (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Tyler Herb (3-0, 2.61 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from May 11, 2016
- Visalia Blows Lead Late; Fall 6-5 to Stockton - Visalia Rawhide
- Ninth-Inning Rally Nets Ports 6-5 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Giants Top Blaze for Sixth Straight Road Win - San Jose Giants
- Late Rally Falls Three Runs Short - Bakersfield Blaze
- Ports to Go Silent for Communication Disorder Awareness - Stockton Ports
- Season's Biggest Frame Sends Ports Past Rawhide - Stockton Ports
- Locastro Hits for Cycle in Quakes' Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Hang on for 4-3 Victory over Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Late Strike Drops Nuts 3-2 - Modesto Nuts
- Laureano Reaches Four Times In 12-1 Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Offense Stuck in Park - Bakersfield Blaze
- Stockton Open Series with 11-3 Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Storm Snap Sixers' Streak - Inland Empire 66ers
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