CalL San Jose Giants

Giants Lose 10-9 Slugfest To Stockton

Published on August 12, 2022 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


The San Jose Giants dropped a 10-9 slugfest to the Stockton Ports on Thursday night at Excite Ballpark in a game that featured a combined six home runs. The Giants rallied from an early 7-0 deficit on the strength of a Grant McCray grand slam and a three-run homer from Alexander Suarez, but never claimed the lead and ultimately saw their ninth-inning rally fall short to suffer the narrow setback. The loss was San Jose's (59-46, 19-20 second half) second straight in the series to Stockton.

It was a wild start to Thursday's contest with the teams combining for 16 runs over the first three innings as the Giants battled back to tie the game 8-8. The Ports hit a pair of homers during a five-run top of the first inning against San Jose starter Eric Silva to take an early 5-0 lead. Caeden Trinkle hit a leadoff home run for Stockton - the first of the six long balls on the night. Then after Danny Bautista singled, T.J. Schofield-Sam homered to right giving the Ports a 3-0 advantage just three batters into the game. A two-out RBI double from CJ Rodriguez followed by an RBI single off the bat of Cameron Masterman then pushed the Stockton lead to 5-0 as the Ports batted around in the inning.

Stockton stretched their lead to 7-0 in the top of the second when Schofield-Sam hit his second two-run homer of the night - a drive out to deep center off of Silva.

The Giants though would immediately get back into the game with a five-run inning of their own in the bottom of the second. Victor Bericoto reached on an error to leadoff before Adrian Sugastey singled and Suarez walked with one out to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Garrett Frechette then brought home Bericoto with the first San Jose run. After Anyesber Sivira was hit by a pitch, McCray stepped to the plate and launched a fly ball over the fence in deep right center for a grand slam. The 448-foot blast was McCray's team-leading 18th home run of the season and it brought the Giants within 7-5.

Joe Kemlage relieved Silva to begin the top of the third and surrendered an unearned run in his first inning of work. A two-out error extended the inning for the Ports before Trenkle produced an RBI single to make it an 8-5 game. San Jose, however, kept the pressure on in the bottom of the frame hitting another home run to completely erase the deficit. A leadoff walk to Jared Dupere and a one-out single from Sugastey put two runners on base for the Giants. Then with two down, Suarez crushed an 0-2 pitch out to deep left center for a three-run home run. The round-tripper was Suarez's 10th of the year and it tied the game 8-8.

San Jose though wouldn't score again until the bottom of the ninth and Stockton eventually reclaimed the lead before ultimately holding on for the victory. In the top of the fifth, Rodriguez led off with a single before Masterman doubled to put runners on second and third. After Kemlage fanned Dereck Salom for the first out, Trenkle hit a sacrifice fly to center putting the Ports back in front by a 9-8 margin. Masterman then made it 10-8 in the top of the seventh when he he connected for a solo home run off of Kemlage.

The Giants got the leadoff hitter on base in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but did not score. San Jose then stranded two runners on in the seventh before going down in order in the bottom of the eighth. Finally in the bottom of the ninth, with the deficit still at two runs, McCray led off with a double down the right field line before Aeverson Arteaga worked a walk. After Dupere struck out, Bericoto singled sharply into left plating McCray to cut the Stockton lead to 10-9. The hit also moved Arteaga, the potential tying run, to second. The Giants though could not complete the late comeback as new Ports pitcher Aaron Cohn retired Sugastey and Yorlis Rodriguez on back-to-back fly outs to end the game.

GIANTS NOTES

Series Update: Stockton has now won two of the first three in the series. The Ports have scored a total of 19 runs on 28 hits over the last two games - both Stockton wins. Despite losses the last two days, the Giants are still 15-6 versus the Ports this season.

Grand Slam: Grant McCray (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI) hit his second grand slam of the season - both of which have come against Stockton. The Giants have hit three grand slams this year.

Inside The Box Score: Stockton out-hit the Giants 15-9. The Ports had nine extra-base hits: five doubles and four home runs. Stockton was 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position compared to 4-for-15 for San Jose. Victor Bericoto (3-for-5, RBI), Adrian Sugastey (2-for-5) and Alexander Suarez (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) also had multi-hit games for the Giants.

On The Mound: Eric Silva allowed a season-high tying seven runs (all earned) on eight hits over his two innings of work. Five of the six outs he recorded were via the strikeout. Joe Kemlage (1-1) suffered his first loss, but was effective in long relief pitching five innings with two earned runs surrendered (three runs total). Kemlage walked two and struck out five.

Below .500: The Giants (19-20) fell below .500 in the second half for the first time since July 23. San Jose is now six games behind Modesto in the second half North Division race. Exactly one month remains in the regular season.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their series on Friday evening with first pitch at Excite Ballpark set for 6:30 PM. Nick Sinacola is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher.

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California League Stories from August 12, 2022


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