CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Held To Three Hits In Narrow Loss To Bakersfield

Published on July 22, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


The Bakersfield Blaze scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning and then held off the San Jose Giants to post a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night in front of 4,552 fans at Municipal Stadium. San Jose's Mike Mooney blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score before the Blaze answered with a run of their own in the top of the eighth to take back the lead. Blaze pitchers held the Giants to only three hits in the contest as San Jose saw their overall record drop to 59-42.

Bakersfield starting pitcher Zach Phillips was sensational on the mound as he limited the Giants to a pair of hits and one run over six innings of work. Phillips, who at one point retired 10 consecutive San Jose hitters, finished his outing with three walks and eight strikeouts.

With the game tied 2-2, Giants reliever Steve Edlefsen began the top of the eighth inning with a strikeout of Marcus Lemon. Renny Osuna then grounded a single up the middle before Chad Tracy stepped to the plate and lined an 0-2 pitch to the gap in right center field. The hit resulted in Tracy's first triple of the season as Osuna raced home with the go-ahead run.

Edlefsen (4-4) did limit the Blaze to just one run in the frame before working a scoreless top of the ninth, but it was not enough to avoid suffering the loss. The right-hander surrendered one run on two hits during his two innings of work.

Trailing 2-0, the Giants finally got to Phillips in the bottom of the sixth inning. Darren Ford, who was playing in his first game with San Jose, led off by drawing a walk. After Brad Boyer struck out, Ford stole second base. Matt Downs then followed with a line drive double into left field to plate Ford with San Jose's first run of the contest.

Phillips was removed from the game to begin the bottom of the seventh as reliever John Bannister promptly allowed a home run to Mooney on the first pitch of his outing. The blast, a towering home run to left field, was Mooney's eighth round-tripper in the California League this season.

Down 3-2, the Giants had a golden opportunity to again tie the score in the bottom of the eighth. Ford led off the frame with a walk before advancing all the way to third base on Boyer's sacrifice bunt. But with the infield playing in, Downs hit a high-chopper to shortstop that Lemon fielded and threw home to retire Ford, who was trying to score. Brett Pill followed with a fly out to right field to strand Downs at first base.

Jordan Stewart worked a perfect bottom of the ninth inning for Bakersfield to earn his sixth save of the year. Bannister (4-6) was credited with the victory after allowing just one hit and one run over two innings.

Kevin Pucetas started on the mound for the Giants and tossed five effective innings with two runs (both earned) and six hits allowed. In the top of the first, Pucetas allowed a two-run homer to Tracy as Bakersfield jumped in front by a 2-0 margin. The Blaze then had at least one hitter reach base in all four of Pucetas' remaining innings, but could not push across any more runs. The right-hander struck out one and walked none during his 86-pitch performance.

Notes: The Giants have suffered back-to-back one-run losses to fall to 2-2 on the current homestand ... San Jose is 8-15 in one-run games this season - worst in the California League ... Pucetas allowed his first home run (third total) at Municipal Stadium this season ... His ERA now stands at 2.55 - third in the California League ... Mooney (2-for-4, HR, RBI, SB) was the lone Giants player to finish with a multiple-hit game ... Downs' sixth-inning double was San Jose's only other hit ... Ford (0-for-2, 2 BB, SB) was acquired via trade from the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday ... The stolen base was Ford's 49th of the year - second in all of minor league baseball ... Taylor Wilding (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO) worked perfect sixth and seventh innings out of the Giants bullpen ... Mike McBryde started his first game of the season in right field ... San Jose's second half record fell to 16-15 ... The crowd of 4,552 was San Jose's fourth-largest (and fifth over 4,000) at Municipal Stadium this season.

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California League Stories from July 22, 2008


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