CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Hold Off Bakersfield To Open Road Trip

Published on May 6, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


The San Jose Giants scored six runs in the first two innings and then held off several late Bakersfield rallies to post a 6-5 win on Tuesday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark in the opener of a season-long 13-game road trip. Roger Kieschnick collected four RBI's to lead the Giants offensive attack while San Jose relievers combined to strand six Blaze baserunners over the final three frames to preserve the lead. With the victory, the Giants improve their overall record to 16-10.

Kieschnick (2-for-4, 4 RBI), Brandon Crawford (2-for-5) and Buster Posey (2-for-3, RBI) each finished with more than one hit for San Jose. Both clubs ended the contest with 10 hits.

Adam Cowart (2-2), who entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, earned the victory for the Giants with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of work. David Mixon relieved Cowart to begin the bottom of the sixth and promptly fired a 1-2-3 inning before running into trouble in the seventh.

With the Giants ahead 6-4, Mixon issued back-to-back four-pitch walks with one out to put the potential tying runs on base. Wilmin Rodriguez was then summoned from the bullpen and he quickly induced Joey Butler to ground into a fielder's choice before Jonathan Greene struck out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, Rodriguez retired the first batter before he walked the next two hitters. Daniel Turpen then became the fifth San Jose pitcher of the night and after Renny Osuna grounded into a fielder's choice, Mitch Moreland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Blaze clean-up batter Mauro Gomez was up next, but Turpen struck out the dangerous hitter on a 2-2 pitch to keep the Giants lead at two runs.

Turpen remained in the game in the bottom of the ninth, but surrendered a leadoff single to Ian Gac before Butler grounded out to advance the runner to second. Pinch-hitter Timothy Smith followed with a hard ground ball off of the first base bag that went for a single and scored Gac to cut the San Jose lead to 6-5. However, Turpen recovered to set down Davis Stoneburner on a routine fly out to center before former San Jose Giant Elio Sarmiento struck out swinging to end the game.

Turpen (1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) was credited with his second save of the year.

The Giants quickly jumped in front against Bakersfield starting pitcher Tim Murphy with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Brandon Crawford singled before Buster Posey singled with two outs. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third and then Kieschnick blooped a single into shallow left center field to easily score both Crawford and Posey.

Giants starter Scott Barnes though would immediately give up the lead as the Blaze responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Matthew Lawson started the inning with a single before Moreland singled with one out and then Gomez ripped an RBI double to deep left center field. Gac followed with a sacrifice fly to right plating Moreland before Butler blooped a single into shallow center field to bring home the go-ahead run.

San Jose answered right back against Murphy in the top of the second inning sending all nine hitters to the plate and scoring four times. Michael Ambort led off with a ground ball single into left field before Thomas Neal lined a double off the fence in left to put runners on second and third. After Vladimir Frias struck out and Darren Ford walked to load the bases, Murphy induced Crawford to pop out to shallow left field. Nick Noonan was up next and the Giants second baseman worked a full-count walk to force home Ambort with the tying run. Then Posey reached base safely on a full-count walk of his own to give San Jose a 4-3 lead. Kieschnick followed with a sharp ground ball single into right field plating Ford and Noonan and the Giants were in front by a 6-3 margin.

Murphy (2-3) suffered the loss for the Blaze after yielding six runs (all earned) on six hits over two innings. The left-hander walked three and struck out one.

San Jose though was unable to score over the last seven innings against Bakersfield relievers as they mustered only four singles for the remainder of the contest. Ryan Falcon (4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO) and Tanner Roark (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) both pitched out of the Blaze bullpen.

Barnes did not receive a decision for the Giants after surrendering four runs (all earned) and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. Barnes walked three and struck out three during his 82-pitch outing.

Notes: Bakersfield left 13 runners on base compared to San Jose's five ... The Giants' 13-game road trip is the longest of the season ... San Jose won't play their next home game until Tuesday, May 19 ... Neal (1-for-4, 2B) extended his hitting streak to seven games ... Noonan (0-for-3, RBI) and Angel Villalona (0-for-4) saw their hitting streaks snapped at eight and seven games respectively ... The Giants pitching staff issued a season-high seven walks ... San Jose still leads the league with fewest walks (62) ... Tuesday's announced attendance was only 423 - the smallest crowd to witness a Giants game this season.

On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue this three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Sam Lynn Ballpark scheduled for 7:15 PM. Clayton Tanner (1-0, 4.26 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Michael Main (1-3, 8.69 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from May 6, 2009


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