CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Open Road Trip with Wild 11-Inning Victory

Published on August 25, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Brian Ragira capped a four-hit night with a go-ahead two-out RBI single in the top of the 11th inning to help lead the San Jose Giants to a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers on Monday evening at San Manuel Stadium. The wild back-and-forth contest saw Inland Empire tie the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth before the Giants went back in front in the 11th. The series-opening win increased San Jose's (64-63) lead over Modesto to 1 1/2 games for the second Wild Card spot in the North Division.

Ragira (4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) led a 13-hit Giants offensive attack on Monday. Angel Villalona (3-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI) added three hits, including his 10th home run of the season.

The 66ers came back from a 4-1 deficit scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth and then plating one run in the ninth to draw even. In the bottom of the 10th, San Jose left fielder Daniel Carbonell threw out the potential winning run at the plate before the Giants reclaimed the lead an inning later.

With Ray Black (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) on the mound in the bottom of the eighth, Inland Empire's Bo Way delivered a two-out, two-run double to deep right trimming the San Jose lead to 4-3. A wild pitch then advanced Way to third, but Black recovered to strikeout Mike Fish ending the inning.

Dan Slania (2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) then entered from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the ninth with the Giants still ahead by a run. Eric Aguilera led off with a single up the middle. Andrew Daniel was up next and he lifted a fly ball to deep left field. Carbonell went back, but saw the ball bounce off his glove as he brushed up against the fence. The play was ruled a double as pinch-runner Quinten Davis advanced to third. San Jose then elected to intentionally walk Kody Eaves to load the bases with none out. Pinch-hitter Brandon Bayardi was up next and he delivered a sacrifice fly into center plating Davis with the tying run. However on the play, Giants center fielder Seth Harrison threw out Daniel, the potential winning run, at third. Slania then struck out Roberto Baldoquin on three pitches to force extra innings.

After San Jose went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th, the 66ers threatened to win the game against Slania in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Tyler Palmer singled to put the potential winning run on base. After Way popped out, Palmer stole second. A pitch later, Fish grounded a single into left, but Carbonell picked-up the ball quickly and executed a perfect throw home to retire Palmer, who was attempting to score from second, prolonging the game.

The Giants then rallied in the top of the 11th with back-to-back two-out hits producing a pair of runs. With one down, Villalona singled through the hole on the left side. After Ryder Jones struck out, Aramis Garcia grounded a single into right advancing pinch-runner Brandon Bednar to third. Ragira was up next and he hit a grounder up the middle that was stopped by a diving Baldoquin behind second base. Baldoquin though had no play on any runner as Bednar crossed home with the go-ahead tally. Ragira was credited with a single on the play while Garcia advanced to second. Tyler Horan then stepped to the plate and laced a double into the right center field gap. The hit plated Garcia to make it 6-4, however Ragira was thrown at the plate on a relay throw to end the inning.

Jake Smith (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) was summoned from the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the 11th and quickly set down the Sixers 1-2-3 on a strikeout, a groundout to shortstop and a fly out to center to seal the victory. Smith earned his 14th save of the season.

Slania (4-5) was credited with the win for San Jose.

Alex Blackford (2-4), who gave up both runs in the top of the 11th, suffered the loss out of the Inland Empire bullpen.

The Giants built a 3-0 lead in the contest with single runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the second, Villalona led off with a double to deep right center and scored on Ragira's two-out line drive single into right. In the fourth, Ragira began the rally with a double into the left field corner, advanced to third on Horan's groundout and scored when Harrison hit a sacrifice fly to center. Villalona pushed the lead to 3-0 with a towering solo home run to left center in the sixth inning.

Jordan Johnson started on the mound for San Jose and worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings scattering seven hits. Johnson overcame a career-high four walks while striking out three during his 88-pitch outing. The 66ers stranded a runner at third base in each of the first three innings. In the bottom of the sixth, two singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs before Ian Gardeck (1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) entered and induced Palmer to pop out to shortstop ending the threat.

The 66ers finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh as Way led off with a double and immediately scored when the next batter, Fish, grounded a single up the middle. Gardeck though settled down to retire the next three batters preserving a 3-1 Giants lead.

San Jose then got the run right back in the top of the eighth as Skyler Stromsmoe led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and came home on Christian Arroyo's single down the left field line. The lead stood at 4-1 before Inland Empire mounted their comeback over the next two frames.

66ers starter Ryan Etsell pitched the first seven innings and surrendered three runs (all earned) on six hits. Etsell did not issue a walk or record a strikeout.

Notes:

* The Giants have now played 21 extra-inning games this season (10-11 record) - tied with the Ft. Myers Miracle of the Florida State League for the most of any team in Minor League Baseball.

* Prior to Monday's victory, San Jose had dropped their last five extra-inning contests (last win: July 27 at Visalia, 9-5 in 10 innings).

* Ragira is 12-for-23 (.522) over his last six games.

* Inland Empire out-hit the Giants 15-13. The 66ers left 13 runners on base.

* Villalona's home run was his 33rd with the San Jose Giants - sixth in team history.

* The Giants are 26-1 in their last 27 games in which they've scored first.

* Johnson lowered his ERA to 2.28 through four starts with San Jose.

* The Giants (34-23) remained two games behind Visalia (36-21) in the second half North Division race. 13 games are left in the regular season.

On Deck: The Giants and 66ers continue their four-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at San Manuel Stadium scheduled for 7:05 PM. Jason Forjet (5-4, 3.14 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Jeremy Rhoades (4-3, 8.74 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.

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California League Stories from August 25, 2015


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